Radial-forging is an incremental process for diameter reduction of full and hollow shafts. The advantages of the method are the good material properties of the workpiece, the diversity of shapes, the variable dimensions and the minor shape-tolerances. Typical applications are the automotive industry, plant construction, power generation and the offshore industry. The axial-radial-forming is an extension of the radial forging process. Due to the stress rate during incremental radial forging and axial compression, the process is classified as forming process in compression. By means of local inductive heating and subsequent forming of the workpiece, it is possible to control the wall thickness. As a result of the increasing demand for lightweight constructions, it is important to be able to control local wall thicknesses for optimal material utilization. This paper deals with the axial-radial forming process simulated with FEM models. For the simulation, the finite element program SIMUFACT was used. The accuracy of the 2D simulation are researched by using values from the literature and from measurements with real components. The parametric studies analyse the influence of the temperature and the gathering velocity on the resulting wall thickness. This effect is investigated for the example of a truck rear axle. The tools of an axial-radial-forming machine are controlled by the use of CNC. It is therefore possible to control the flow of material by radial contra compression in the machine without producing any folds. In the case of “radial control”, the position of the tools drifts outward during the forming process. “Radial contra compression” is an extension of “radial control”. This method periodically forces the material backward. The comparison of the three variants of the process shows that “radial contra compression” generates greater wall thicknesses than the conventional axial-radial forming.