Price hike for tool steel powders
January 10, 2011
According to a report in American Metal Market (January 3, 2011) Crucible Industries (formerly Crucible Materials) is raising the price of all its gas atomised tool steel CPM powder products by between 4 and 8%, effective March 1, 2011. The recession in North America forced Crucible to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009, and on October 23, 2009 JP Industries LLC, a private equity group, purchased the operating assets of the former Crucible Specialty Metals Division and formed Crucible Industries LLC. The Research and Compaction Metals division of Crucible Materials were purchased by Allegheny Technologies Inc (ATI).
The CPM range of PM tool steels are considered to be among the premier products of the reconstituted company’s production portfolio at the Syracuse steel mill in upper state New York. Modern melting facilities include a unique induction-melt gas atomizer to produce tool steel powder which is consolidated into fully dense semi-products in a HIP (hot isostatic pressing) vessel. The HIPed PM semi-products are processed through the steel mill alongside conventional ingot products.
The CPM process enables the production of alloys with unique or enhanced properties that cannot be made by conventional steelmaking methods. In most applications CPM tool steels offer improved wear resistance, toughness, grindability and superior corrosion resistance.
Under an arrangement entered into with Latrobe Specialty Steel Distribution in 2010, Crucible CPM products are sold through Latrobe’s eight locations throughout North America.
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