The packaging industry uses extrusion, molding, thermoforming, and cutting processes to convert plastics, paper, and composites into functional packaging. Precision tooling enables high-speed production for food, pharma, personal care, and industrial applications.
The packaging industry encompasses processes and technologies used to convert raw materials into functional packaging for protection, transport, and product presentation. Key processes include film extrusion, thermoforming, injection molding, blow moulding, die-cutting, printing, laminating, and sealing. Materials range from polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and PVC to paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, aluminum foils, and multilayer barrier composites. Tooling plays a central role: extrusion dies, thermoforming moulds, injection moulds, cutting dies, sealing tools, and print cylinders ensure dimensional accuracy, repeatability, and high-speed operation. Automated filling and packaging lines rely on precision components such as forming shoulders, sealing jaws, knives, and conveyors. Applications span food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, personal care, household goods, logistics, and industrial packaging. The industry prioritizes efficiency, product safety, and increasingly sustainable solutions such as lightweighting, recyclability, and bio-based materials.
Uddeholm Arne is a general purpose oil hardening tool steel for short to medium production runs. The steel is suitable for the manufacture of tooling with good tool life and production economy. Uddeholm Arne can be supplied in various finishes including hot-rolled, pre-machined, fine-machined and precision ground. It is also available in the form of hollow bar. Benefits good machinability good dimensional stability in hardening a good combination of high surface hardness and toughness after hardening and tempering In East and South East Asian countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Arne is sold as DF-2. Standard specification W.nr 1.2510 / AISI O1 / AFNOR 90 MCW 5
Read MoreUddeholm Caldie is a medium alloyed tool steel suitable for short and medium run tooling in applications where a combination of very high chipping resistance and compressive strength is required. The property profile makes Uddeholm Caldie a robust cold work tool steel for heavy duty blanking and forming of AHSS (Advanced high strength steel). Benefits Uddeholm Caldie is very useful for severe cold work applications where there are high demands on both chipping resistance and compressive strength Uddeholm Caldie can easily be surface treated for improved wear resistance Very good dimensional stability Reduced maintenance and downtime costs combined with increased productivity due to the reduced likelihood of premature failures. Reduced maintenance and downtime costs combined with increased productivity due to simplified maintenance procedures Good weldability and the availability of welding electrodes with the same chemical composition as Uddeholm Caldie Good flame-, induction- and laser hardenability
Read MoreUddeholm Calmax is a medium alloyed tool steel suitable for short and medium run tooling in applications where a very high chipping resistance is required. The property profile makes Uddeholm Calmax a robust cold work tool steel for heavy duty blanking and forming. Benefits Uddeholm Calmax is very useful for severe cold work applications where there are very high demands on chipping resistance Reduced maintenance and downtime costs combined with increased productivity due to the reduced likelihood of premature failures. Reduced maintenance and downtime costs combined with increased productivity due to simplified maintenance procedures Good weldability and the availability of welding electrodes with the same chemical composition as Uddeholm Calmax Good flame-, induction- and laser hardenability Standard specification W.nr 1.2379 / AISI D2 / AFNOR 60CMDV 18
Read MoreUddeholm Elmax Super Clean is a powder metallurgically produced mould steel characterized by a combination of very good wear resistance, corrosion resistance and dimensional stability. Recommended for long production runs of smaller and complicated shapes and/or reinforced plastics. High wear resistance is normally connected to low corrosion resistance and vice versa. In Uddeholm Elmax SuperClean it has however been able to achieve this unique combination of properties by a powder-metallurgy-based production. Uddeholm Elmax SuperClean offers a possibility to make long-life, low maintenance moulds for the best overall moulding economy. Benefits Less wear because of god wear resistance Less indentations because of compressive strength Less maintenance because of corrosion resistance Less adjustments after heat treatment because of good dimensional stability Standard specification AFNOR Z170 CVD 17.3
Read MoreUddeholm Mirrax 40 is a prehardened remelted stainless tool steel, supplied at 40 HRC. Uddeholm Mirrax 40 is produced using the electroslag remelting (ESR) process – an additional step in the steelmaking process that ensures very clean steel. Consequently, Uddeholm Mirrax 40 is capable of being polished to a very high surface finish. In addition, the combination of high hardness with high toughness results in a mould with good resistance to indentations and minimize the risk of unexpected failures, leading to a safer mould and a prolonged tool life. Benefits Lower production costs Fast tool making Excellent surface finish possible Less maintenance work Safe production
Read MoreUddeholm Mirrax ESR is a through hardening corrosion resistant steel with very good polishability. Mainly intended for medium to large cross sections. It has a unique combination of toughness, corrosion resistance and through hardening properties. Benefits Low mould maintenance costs: The surface of cavity impressions retain their original finish over extended running periods. Moulds stored or operated in humid conditions require less protection. Low production costs: Water cooling channels are less affected by corrosion Heat transfer characteristics, and therefore cooling efficiency, are constant throughout the mould life, ensuring consistent cycle times. Safe mould use because of good toughness also in big dimensions
Read MoreUddeholm Ramax HH is a corrosion resistant holder steel with good machinability, supplied in a high prehardened condition. Good machinability and corrosion resistance reduces tool manufacturing and maintenance costs. Benefits Low mould production cost thanks to low wear of the cutting edges in the milling and drilling operations and shorter machining time thanks to increased cutting speed possible. Lower mould maintenance costs due to corrosion resistance Lower production costs since water cooling channels are less effected by corrosion, ensuring consistent cycle time Uddeholm Ramax HH is supplied at a hardness level that is higher than other corrosion resistant prehardened grades, resulting in a more durable mould and a longer life time. By combining Uddeholm Ramax HH with one of our other products within the Stainless Concept, you can create a completely stainless mould.
Read MoreUddeholm Rigor is a medium alloyed tool steel with a good resistance to both the abrasive and adhesive types of wear as well as good resistance to cracking. This combination makes Uddeholm Rigor an all purpose tool steel for medium run cold work applications. Short tool making lead times Safe and consistent production Good tooling economy for short and medium run tooling Benefits Uddeholm Rigor is a tool steel offering good tooling economy for short and medium run tooling when the cost of making the tool is a significant portion of the total cost for producing the required number of parts Uddeholm Rigor is a medium alloyed cold work tool steel with a very good balance between tool performance properties and tool making properties Uddeholm Rigor has a good hardenability and can therefore be used for larger short and medium run tools In East/South East Asia countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Rigor is sold as XW-10. Standard specification W.nr 1.2363 / AISI A2 / AFNOR Z100 CDV5
Read MoreUddeholm Sleipner is a general purpose steel for cold work tooling. It has a mixed-abrasive wear profile and a good resistance to chipping. Furthermore a high hardness (>60 HRC) can be obtained after high temperature tempering. This means that surface treatments such as nitriding or PVD can be made on a high strength substrate. Also, it means that complicated shapes with hardness levels >60 HRC can be wire EDM’d from blocks with relatively thick cross-sections with a much reduced risk of cracking. Uddeholm Sleipner is recommended for medium run tooling applications where a resistance to mixed or abrasive wear and a good resistance to chipping are required. Benefits Very broad property profile Very good steel for all types of surface treatments Extremely versatile conventional tool steel for medium run cold work tooling Suitable upgrade where added chipping or wear resistance is needed over traditional AISI A2 or AISI D2 In East/South East Asian countries served by ASSAB, Uddeholm Sleipner is sold as ASSAB 88.
Read MoreUddeholm Stavax ESR is a premium stainless mould steel for small and medium inserts and cores. Uddeholm Stavax ESR combines corrosion and wear resistance with excellent polishability, good machinability and stability in hardening. Mould maintenance requirement is reduced by assuring that core and cavity surfaces retain their original finish over extended operating periods. When compared with non stainless mould steel, Uddeholm Stavax ESR offers lower production costs by maintaining rust free cooling channels, assuring consistent cooling and cycle time. This classic stainless tool steel is the right choice when rust in production is unacceptable and where requirements for good hygiene are high, as within the medical industry, optical industry and for other high quality transparent parts. Uddeholm Stavax ESR is a part of the Uddeholm Stainless Concept. Benefits Low mould maintenance because of corrosion resistance: Surfaces retain their original finish Less production during storing and operation in humid condition Lower production costs: Since water-cooling channels are unaffected by corrosion Heat transfer characteristics, and therefore cooling efficiency, are constant throughout the mould life, ensuring consistent cycle times. Long life mould Standard specification W.nr 1.2083 / AISI 420 / AFNOR Z40 CV 14 (RSL)
Read MoreUddeholm Sverker 21 is a high alloyed tool steel suitable for medium run tooling in applications where primarily a good resistance to abrasive wear is required. The 12-% chromium steel is the most common tool steel type used for cold work tooling. In East/South East Asian countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Sverker 21 is sold as Assab XW-41 or Assab XW-42. Uddeholm Sverker 21 is a premium grade close to W. No. 1.2379. Thanks to the production method, it has a more consistent microstructure, giving it improved mechanical properties and tooling performance compared to the standard grade. High wear resistance resulting in long tool life in applications where wear is the main problem Good compressive strength for general cold work applications Benefits Uddeholm Sverker 21 is a tool steel offering good tooling economy for medium run tooling when the cost of the tool is a significant portion of the total cost for producing the required number of parts. Uddeholm Sverker 21 is very useful in applications with high demands on abrasive wear but where demands on chipping resistance are less pronounced. Pressing of abrasive work materials, blanking of thin work materials in general, back-up and punch holder plates are examples As Uddeholm Sverker 21 is the most common tool steel type for cold work tooling, the size programme is more extensive than for most of the other cold work steel grades Standard specification W.nr 1.2379 / AISI D2 / AFNOR Z160 CDV 12
Read MoreUddeholm Sverker 3 is a high alloyed tool steel suitable for medium and long run tooling in applications where a very good abrasive wear resistance is needed. Uddeholm Sverker 3 contains large carbides which are advantageous for abrasive wear resistance but which reduce the chipping resistance. Benefits Uddeholm Sverker 3 is a tool steel offering good tooling economy for medium run tooling when the cost of the tool is a significant portion of the total cost for producing the required number of parts Uddeholm Sverker 3 is very useful in applications with very high demands on abrasive wear but where demands on chipping resistance are small, e.g. for the blanking of electrical sheets containing hard silicon oxide particles, slitting of paper and foils Uddeholm Sverker 3 is a tool steel with good tooling economy for medium to long run tooling in special applications where a very high abrasive wear resistance is needed The coarse carbides make Uddeholm Sverker 3 particularly suitable for applications where the wear is created by coarse abrasive particles as in brick pressing, tile pressing, and in the compacting of ceramic materials in general In East/South East Asian countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Sverker 3 is sold as AS XW-5. Standard specification W.nr 1.2436 / AISI D6 / AFNOR Z200 CW 13
Read MoreUddeholm Tyrax ESR combines best in class toughness, corrosion and wear resistance. This grade was developed for molding of high performance plastics often filled with glass fiber reinforcements and additives like flame retardants. This matrix- based microstructure is designed to achieve a high-gloss surface by only a few polishing steps, dramatically reducing the tool lead time and enabling production of top quality plastic parts. Uddeholm Tyrax ESR can achieve a high hardness (up to 58 HRC) and is a suitable upgrade from AISI 420 ESR, AISI S7 and AISI 440C. Benefits good dimensional stability at heat treatment and in service even microstructure and small grain size good hardenability Uddeholm Tyrax is also available for Additive Manufacturing, powder for processing Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Laser Metal Deposition (LMD).
Read MoreUddeholm Unimax is a high hardness hot work tool steel which provides great wear resistance even over extended time at elevated temperatures. It performs very well in precision forging and hot stamping. Benefits Improved durability and wear resistance in moulding processes that wear hard on the mould like, long run production, moulding of reinforced plastics and compression moulding Longer tool life and a smoother production run with fewer disturbances for maintenance due to the high ductility Problem solver in severe cold work applications where high chipping resistance is required The high hardness and toughness together with the good dimension stability makes Unimax suitable as a substrate steel for surface coating when needed The very good hardenability and the unique properties profile of Unimax make it especially suitable for larger moulds. Unimax is therefore supplied in larger dimensions
Read MoreUddeholm Unimax is a high hardness hot work tool steel which provides great wear resistance even over extended time at elevated temperatures. It performs very well in precision forging and hot stamping. Benefits Improved durability and wear resistance in moulding processes that wear hard on the mould like, long run production, moulding of reinforced plastics and compression moulding Longer tool life and a smoother production run with fewer disturbances for maintenance due to the high ductility Problem solver in severe cold work applications where high chipping resistance is required The high hardness and toughness together with the good dimension stability makes Unimax suitable as a substrate steel for surface coating when needed The very good hardenability and the unique properties profile of Unimax make it especially suitable for larger moulds. Unimax is therefore supplied in larger dimensions
Read MoreUddeholm Vanadis 23 SuperClean is a high alloyed powder metallurgical high speed steel with a good abrasive wear resistance in combination with a high compressive strength. It is suitable for demanding cold work applications like blanking of harder materials such as carbon steel or cold rolled strip steel and for cutting tools. Benefits Uddeholm Vanadis 23 SuperClean is a powder metallurgical tool steel offering an excellent combination of wear resistance and toughness. The machinability and grindability are superior to conventional high speed steel and so is the dimensional stability after heat treatment. The superclean powder metallurgy process ensures that the cleanliness is on a high level with a low amount of non-metallic inclusions. In east/south east asian countries served by Assab, Uddeholm Vanadis 23 SuperClean is sold as Assab pm 23. Standard specification W.nr 1.3395 / AISI D2 / AFNOR Z130 WDCV 6.5.4.3
Read MoreUddeholm Vanadis 4 Extra SuperClean is the most versatile pm tool steel on the market today, combining high wear resistance with very good ductility and resistance to chipping of edges. Excellent machinability in both soft and hard condition ensures advantages in both tool making and tool maintenance. Uddeholm Vanadis 4 Extra SuperClean is also available as powder for processing by electron beam melting technology (EBM). This powder has the same chemical composition as the PM material. Benefits Reliable production with low risk of edge chipping Best combination of high hardness, wear resistance and chipping resistance High compressive strength Best stock standard program of all PM grades Standard specification AISI D2 / AFNOR de type Z136 CDV 5.4
Read MoreUddeholm Vanadis 8 SuperClean sets a new standard for Powder Metallurgical Tool Steel. The technological advancements makes this cold work tool steel superior to its predecessors. The unprecedented combination of extremely high wear and chipping resistance paired with improved machining properties raises production rates and reduces costs. Benefits Lower price per produced part Longer tool life Predictable Production Standard specification AISI D2 / AFNOR de type Z230VCD8.5.4
Read MoreUddeholm Viking is a versatile, high alloyed tool steel characterized by the right combination of toughness and wear resistance required for heavy duty blanking and forming. Benefits The chemical composition of Uddeholm Viking gives a hardness potential of 58 HRC with compressive strength and wear resistance accordingly. The small amount of primary carbides means a high chipping resistance and with 8 % chromium follows a very good hardenability and also a fairly good resistance to corrosion. Both flame and induction hardening methods can be applied to Uddeholm Viking. The good tempering resistance and dimensional stability during heat treatment means good possibilities for CVD and PVD coating of Uddeholm Viking. Standard specification W.nr 1.2631 / AFNOR Z 50CDV 8 Uddeholm Viking is formerly known as Uddeholm Chipper.
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