Steel

Premium high-carbon high-chromium cold-work tool steel with vanadium and molybdenum. Air-hardening with minimal distortion. Superior wear resistance and edge retention. The global benchmark for cold stamping dies, blanking tools, shear blades, and forming tools.

Cold-rolled unalloyed low-carbon steel for cold forming. Base grade of the DC family (DC01-DC07). Good formability for bending, coining, beading, and simple drawing operations. Smooth surface suitable for coating and painting. Formerly designated St12.

Cold-rolled steel for moderate drawing applications. Better formability than DC01, not as good as DC04. The "middle" grade in the EN 10130 drawing steel series. Used for moderate deep-drawing applications, automotive body panels (non-critical areas), white goods housings, and general presswork.

Cold-rolled low-carbon steel for deep drawing. Higher formability than DC01/DC03 — suitable for difficult drawing and profiling operations. Used for automotive body panels, deep-drawn kitchen sinks, complex stampings, and precision-formed components.

Cold-rolled steel for extra deep drawing. The highest formability grade in the EN 10130 drawing steel series (r-value ≥1.8). Very low yield strength for excellent deep drawability. Used for complex deep-drawn automotive body panels (doors, fenders), kitchen sinks, washing machine drums, and any severe stamping application.

Interstitial-free (IF) cold-rolled steel — the absolute best formability of all automotive steels. Ultra-low carbon (<0.02%) with Ti/Nb microalloying to scavenge interstitial C and N. r-value ≥2.1. Used for the most demanding deep-drawn body panels (door inners, complex fenders, quarter panels) and structural reinforcements requiring extreme formability.

Modified D2 cold-work tool steel developed by Daido Steel (Japan). Refined Cr-Mo-V composition with higher tempering temperature capability gives ~2x the toughness of standard D2 at equal hardness (62-63 HRC). Used as D2 replacement for progressive dies, blanking tools, and cold forging where chipping is a problem.

The most widely used duplex (austenitic-ferritic) stainless steel. Balanced 50/50 microstructure provides twice the yield strength of 304/316L with superior chloride and stress corrosion resistance. Used in oil & gas, chemical processing, marine, and pulp & paper industries.

General-purpose engineering structural steel — ReH >=295 MPa. Formerly St 50-2 (DIN 17100). Higher strength than S235 but not intended for welded structures (higher C, no guaranteed weldability). Used for machine bases, frames, pins, keys, and general engineering parts where moderate strength without welding is sufficient. Not suitable for cold forming.

Highest-strength unalloyed structural steel in EN 10025-2 — former designation St60-2 (DIN 17100). Higher C and Mn than S355 giving UTS 570-710 MPa. Not intended for welding (high CEV). Used for shafts, axles, bolts, and machine parts where weldability is not required but higher strength than S355 is needed. "E" designates engineering steel (vs "S" for structural).

Highest-strength unalloyed structural steel in EN 10025-2 — ReH ≥360 MPa minimum. Not intended for welding (high C ~0.57%). Used for general engineering where maximum unalloyed strength is needed without heat treatment: machine beds, crane components, wear plates, and structural members not requiring welding. Formerly St 70-2 (DIN 17100).

Cr-Mo-V hot-work tool steel — close relative of H13 with slightly lower C and V. Good hot hardness, thermal fatigue resistance and toughness. Used for forging dies, extrusion tooling, mandrels, and die-casting tools. Often preferred over H13 where higher toughness is needed.

The most widely used hot-work tool steel globally. Excellent combination of hot hardness, toughness, and thermal fatigue resistance. Used for die-casting dies (aluminum, zinc, magnesium), forging dies, extrusion tooling, and hot shear blades.

The most widely used high-speed steel worldwide, known as AISI M2. Contains 6% W, 5% Mo and 2% V providing excellent red hardness (retains cutting ability at 600°C+), high wear resistance and good toughness. Hardened to 62–65 HRC. Standard material for twist drills, milling cutters, taps, reamers, broaches, saw blades, cold forming tools and punches. PM (powder metallurgy) variants available for improved toughness and grindability.

Standard cobalt high speed steel with 5% Co — the most widely used cobalt HSS grade. Also known as M35 or HSS-E/HSSE. Better hot hardness and cutting performance than M2, lower cost than M42. HRC 64-66 hardened. The "go-to upgrade" when M2 performance is insufficient. Used for drill bits (HSS-Co branded), taps, end mills, saw blades, and general-purpose cutting tools for stainless steel and medium-hard alloys.

Lean duplex stainless steel with minimal Ni and Mo — the most cost-effective duplex grade. Uses Mn and N instead of expensive Ni for austenite stability. Double the yield strength of 304 (450 MPa vs 190 MPa). Used as a direct replacement for 304/316L where higher strength or better SCC resistance is needed.

Lean duplex stainless steel with low Mo content. More economical than 2205 with better corrosion resistance than 304/316L. Developed for construction, water treatment, and storage tanks where full duplex properties are not required.

The most widely used high-speed steel worldwide. W-Mo-Cr-V composition gives excellent red hardness (cuts at temperatures up to 600°C). Used for twist drills, end mills, taps, reamers, bandsaw blades, and general-purpose cutting tools. The benchmark HSS grade.

Cobalt super high speed steel — 8% Co for maximum hot hardness (HRC 69 at 550°C). THE HSS for machining superalloys, titanium, and pre-hardened steels where M2 burns out. Mo-series (not W-series like T15). Reaches HRC 68-70 after hardening — among the hardest HSS grades. Also known as HS2-9-1-8 (EN) or SKH59 (JIS). Used for drills, end mills, taps, broaches, and milling cutters for difficult-to-machine materials.

Oil-hardening cold-work tool steel. Good balance of wear resistance, toughness, and machinability at moderate cost. Very predictable heat treatment response. The standard choice for hand tools, gauges, jigs, fixtures, taps, reamers, and general precision tooling.

Pre-hardened plastic mold steel (usually delivered at 28-34 HRC). The most widely used mold base steel globally. Good machinability in pre-hardened condition, good polishability. Used for injection molds, die-casting dies, extrusion tooling, and structural mold components.

Lowest-strength pressure vessel steel — ReH >=235 MPa. Excellent weldability due to very low C (max 0.16%). THE entry-level boiler/pressure vessel plate in EN 10028-2. Used for low-pressure vessels, boiler drums, heat exchangers, and steam piping at modest pressures and temperatures to ~400°C.

Unalloyed pressure vessel steel — THE standard boiler plate material in Europe. ReH >=265 MPa, good weldability, guaranteed elevated-temperature properties to ~450°C. "GH" = suitable for use at elevated temperatures. Used for boilers, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and steam drums per EN 10028-2 and PED 2014/68/EU.

Mid-range pressure vessel steel — ReH >=295 MPa. Between P265GH and P355GH. Used for unfired pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and boiler components per EN 10028-2. Good weldability and guaranteed elevated-temperature yield strength. Widely specified in European process plant design.