The requirements for mould steels are more diverse than in any other manufacturing process. Wear resistance, especially when processing fibre-reinforced plastics, and in addition corrosion resistance, machinability, polishability, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties are among the most important criteria.
The plastics processing industry asks for a comprehensive portfolio of tool steels and high‑performance remelted or powder‑metallurgical tooling materials. These materials are used in demanding applications such as injection moulding, blow moulding and plastic extrusion, where tool steels must combine wear resistance, corrosion resistance, toughness, thermal stability and excellent polishability.
With the industry’s most versatile program of stainless mould steels, BÖHLER and Uddeholm are regarded as market leaders for tool steels for plastic processing and the materials ensure:
• high tool life,
• precise processing,
• stable cooling performance,
• flawless surface quality on plastic components.
Tailored steel grades meet specific challenges such as high temperatures (up to ~400 °C), aggressive plastics (e.g., PVC), fibre‑reinforced materials (GRP), and large tool dimensions.
Through decades of metallurgical expertise, Uddeholm’s Stainless Concept and BÖHLER’s advanced ESR and PM steels deliver optimised combinations of corrosion resistance, wear resistance, polishability and toughness, enabling reliable production of high‑volume, high‑quality plastic parts.
The correct steel selection—combined with value‑adding services like heat treatment, PVD coatings and additive manufacturing—ensures superior tool performance and reduced cost per part.
BÖHLER and Uddeholm tool steels are developed and manufactured in dedicated facilities in Kapfenberg (Austria) and Hagfors (Sweden), supporting tooling manufacturers worldwide with premium materials engineered for the most demanding mould applications.