Tools for hot forming processes require fracture resistance, hot wear resistance and resistance to thermal fatigue. Tempered 3% and 5% CrMoV steels with a hardness of approximately 35 to 55 HRC fulfil these requirements perfectly. Particularly highly stressed tool inserts are also manufactured from maraging steels of the type Fe-18% Ni-Co-Mo-Ti.
Hot‑work tool steels are engineered for extreme thermal and mechanical loads in die casting, forging, hot stamping, and extrusion. Their superior performance is driven by highest purity levels, achieved through advanced remelting technologies such as ESR and VAR, which minimize inclusions and ensure exceptional homogeneity. These steels offer a robust combination of
making them ideal for demanding hot‑work environments. Thanks to their stability, durability, and availability in large dimensions, they also perform strongly in selected cold‑work and plastics processing applications. By selecting the right BÖHLER or Uddeholm grade, manufacturers can significantly extend tool life, reduce thermal fatigue and cracking, and achieve a lower cost per produced part. Developed in the dedicated tool steel mills in Kapfenberg (Austria) and Hagfors (Sweden), these high‑performance materials set global benchmarks in hot‑work tooling efficiency, reliability, and tool life.
BÖHLER W303 ISODISC is a 5% chromium steel and corresponds to material number 1.2367 (X38CrMoV5-3). This tool steel has good hot toughness as well as a very high hot hardness and resistance against heat-checkings. Compared to an X37CrMoV5-1 (material number 1.2343), the steel has an increased molybdenum content, which significantly increases its thermal resistance and thus makes it the ideal material in die closed-die forging, open-die forging and extrusion.
Read MoreBÖHLER W350 ISOBLOC is a material produced by the electroslag remelting process (ESR) which is particularly suitable for use in large casting and forging molds. Although the steel can be classified as a 5% chromium steel, the chemical composition has been chosen to provide the best possible through-hardenability without any loss of toughness or resistance against heat-checkings. These properties make the steel the perfect choice to produce very large die casting molds, for example for mega- or giga-casting.
Read MoreBÖHLER W720 VMR is not a classic hot work tool steel, but an ultra-high strength maraging steel. Compared to quenched and tempered steels, the material generates its high strength not through a hardened and tempered martensitic structure with a high carbon content and secondary hardening carbides, but through the precipitation of intermetallic phases from a tough nickel martensitic matrix. BÖHLER W720 VMR corresponds to material number 1.6358 (X2NiCoMoTi18-9-5) and has proven to be ideally suited for many tool steel applications in cold and hot work (e.g., for extrusion stems) up to 450 °C.
Read MoreUddeholm Formvar is a high performance hot work tool steel which offers a very good resistance to hot wear and plastic deformation. It is a solid upgrade choice especially from H13 and H11 forging tools on the market. With good tempering back resistance and hot yield strength, Uddeholm Formvar will ensure increased tool life over H13/H11 dies. This gives a longer tool life and reduced maintenance and tooling costs. Benefits Longer tool life Reduced maintenance Reduced tooling costs Standard specification AISI H13 / AFNOR Z35 CDV 5.3
Read MoreUddeholm Orvar 2 Microdized is a premium hot work tool steel engineered for demanding applications where high-temperature strength, wear resistance, and dimensional stability are critical. With its exceptional through-hardening properties and uniform microstructure, this steel delivers consistent performance across a wide range of tooling environments. Benefits Designed to meet the rigorous standards of aluminum extrusion tooling and die casting, Uddeholm Orvar 2 Microdized offers outstanding resistance to thermal fatigue, plastic deformation, and premature cracking. Thanks to its high level of machinability and polishability, manufacturers benefit from reduced production time and enhanced surface finishes. The material’s availability in large round dimensions further supports versatility in design and tooling applications. In east/south east asian countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Orvar 2 Microdized is sold as AS 8407 2M. Standard specification W.nr 1.2344 / AISI H13 / AFNOR Z40 CDV 5.1
Read MoreUddeholm QRO 90 HT is a hot rolled, pre-machined and pre-hardened QRO 90 Supreme material. The properties of Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme in combination of pre-machined, pre-hardened round dimension makes the product extremely robust for core pins and other thermal stability inserts for high pressure die casting. Benefits Reduced maintenance and downtime costs combined with increased productivity due to the reduced likelihood of premature failures. Excellent machinability in pre-hardened condition ensures advantages in both tool making and tool maintenance. Standard specification AISI H13
Read MoreUddeholm QRO 90 Supreme is a specially premium hot work steel developed by Uddeholm to provide better performance in high temperature tooling. The name “supreme” implies that by special manufacturing techniques, including electro-slag remelting the steel attains high purity and good mechanical properties. This together with the optimum balance of alloying elements in Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme gives a property profile which is unique among hot work die steel. Benefits Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme excels as a tool steels where tools tempers down quickly to lower hardness. Uddeholm QRO 90 Supreme has given improved service life in die casting and extrusion. Standard specification AISI H13 / AFNOR 40 CDV 10 (ESR)
Read MoreOne of the main challenges in selecting materials for hot forming dies is ensuring hot wear resistance. With high contact pressures and temperatures, the die surface can wear significantly, leading to a decrease in dimensional accuracy of the final product. Uddeholm offers a wide range of high-quality hot forming material for superior performance in a variety of applications. Uddeholm Skolvar is specifically designed for hot forming tools and has the best combination of hot wear resistance, hot strength and high temper-back resistance. This is achieved through an optimized manufacturing process and a fine-tuned chemical composition. Together it gives a superior property profile, tailor-made for your next demanding hot forging application. Benefits Designed to withstand extreme heat, pressure, and wear without losing hardness or durability, Uddeholm Skolvar improves the heat resistance of hot forming dies and reduce the risk for wear. For superior hot forming tools these properties lead to increased efficiency and decreased maintenance costs. Ideal for the most demanding hot forming applications, e.g. automotive, aerospace, energy and medical Developed to meet your strictest quality standards through ESR Standard specification AISI H13
Read MoreAISI S7 is a shock-resistant tool steel known for its exceptional toughness, high impact resistance, and superior machinability. With its excellent combination of strength and wear resistance, S7 is ideal for mould-making and tooling applications requiring durability under extreme conditions. The steel is very clean and has a homogeneous microstructure. These features are achieved through strict processing control and a maximum sulfur content of 0.005%. Best Coatings Our DLC and PVD ultrafine coatings ensure enhanced part release and minimize demolding issues, perfectly supporting tooling that requires toughness and durability under high impact and wear conditions. Explore our coating guide to select the ideal solution for your tooling needs.
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