14 Tool Steel Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for tool steel as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 tool steel manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked tool steel companies as of November, 2024: 1.O’Hare Precision Metals, LLC., 2.Tremblay Tool Steels LLC, 3.TGK Special Steel PVT. LTD..
Table of Contents
What Is Tool Steel?
Tool Steel is a steel material used for cutting, forming, and other tool steel applications, with properties such as high hardness, wear resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance.
Tool steel is classified into three types: carbon tool steel, alloy tool steel, and high speed tool steel.
Carbon tool steel is the most commonly used tool steel. Alloy tool steel is a special type of tool steel used for cutting, forming, and other tool steel applications due to its high hardness, wear resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance.
Alloy Tool Steel is available for cold or hot molds, while high speed tool steel includes tungsten-based and molybdenum-based tool steels.
Uses of Tool Steel
The following are examples of major uses of tool steel.
1. Cutting Tools
Cutting tools for lathes, milling machines, drill bits, etc.
2. Rolling Tools
Rolling tools for processing metal sheets and bars, press dies for forming metal bars, etc.
3. Dies
Molds for forming plastic and metal.
4. Control Device Parts
Parts for machinery such as automobiles and aircrafts.
5. Electronic Parts
Tubes for high-frequency heaters, vacuum tubes, etc.
6. Cutting Tools
Blades such as kitchen knives, scissors, cutter blades, etc.
7. Bearings
High-hardness, wear-resistant bearing parts used in high-load rotating parts.
Types of Tool Steel
As previously mentioned, tool steel is classified into three types: carbon tool steel, alloy tool steel, and high speed tool steel.
1. Carbon Tool Steel
Carbon tool steel is a high-carbon steel mainly used for tools such as cutting tools and dies. It generally has high hardness and excellent wear resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance.
2. Alloy Tool Steel
Alloy tool steel generally has high hardness, wear resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance, and is used in the manufacture of tools and dies.
3. High-Speed Tool Steel
High-speed tool steels are generally classified into three groups: tungsten-based, molybdenum-based manufactured by powder metallurgy, and molybdenum-based. There are a total of 15 types of steel available under this category.
Tungsten-based high-speed tool steel is a type of tool steel that contains tungsten as the main alloying element, and has properties such as high hardness, wear resistance, heat resistance, and machinability. It is mainly used in the manufacture of tools and dies for cutting metals, and is suitable for cutting operations at high speeds.
Molybdenum-based high-speed tool steel is a type of tool steel that contains molybdenum as a major alloying element and is characterized by high wear resistance, heat resistance, and toughness when cutting at high speeds.
Molybdenum-based high-speed tool steel produced by powder metallurgy has a uniform structure and density, and can exhibit high wear resistance, heat resistance, and toughness. In addition, the uniform blending and sintering generally results in higher hardness and longer life than conventional steels.
Properties of Tool Steel
The main properties of tool steels are as follows:
1. Hardness
Tool steel is characterized by its high hardness and its ability to withstand high-load operations such as cutting and machining. It is used in the manufacture of tools, dies, and other parts for which durability is required.
2. Wear Resistance
Tool steel has excellent wear resistance and can withstand long-term use. It is widely used for high-speed cutting tools and molds because it is resistant to deformation and wear caused by friction and heat generated during cutting and machining operations.
3. Heat Resistance
Tool steel is resistant to deformation and heat softening even under high heat conditions. Therefore, it is suitable for work in high-temperature environments, such as high-temperature cutting and casting processes.
4. Malleability
Tool steel is suitable for forging operations and can be formed into various shapes. Therefore, it is suitable for manufacturing parts that require high precision, such as molds and blades with complex shapes.
5. Steel Grades
There are various types of tool steel, such as high speed steel, high carbon steel, and special tool steel. Each steel grade has different characteristics, and the appropriate steel should be selected for each application.
Other Information on Tool Steel
1. Dimensional Stability
Tool steel is required to have high hardness, wear resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance, so it is important to have less deformation and wear even after being used for a long period of time.
In addition, products and parts made of tool steel are sometimes required to have high form accuracy. Tool steel is made to have high dimensional stability and little change in shape after heat treatment.
To improve dimensional stability, it is important to remove impurities from the steel and to apply appropriate heat treatment. For example, impurities in steel, such as oxides and carbon, can react at high temperatures, causing oxidation and alteration, so the production of tool steel includes a refining process at high temperatures.
Heat treatment is also an important process used to adjust mechanical properties such as hardness and strength by changing the properties of the steel.
2. Corrosion Resistance
Since tool steel is often used in humid and corrosive environments, corrosion resistance is another important property. Molds and cutting tools, for example, may come in contact with moisture or corrosive materials, which can shorten the life of parts and products.
Corrosion resistance is especially important for tools and dies that come into contact with corrosive materials, such as plastics and food processing.
In general, the corrosion resistance of tool steel can be improved by the addition of alloying elements or special treatments. For example, chromium, molybdenum, or other alloying elements may be added to improve corrosion resistance.
Another feature is that the corrosion resistance of tool steel can be improved by appropriate heat treatment or surface treatment.
3. Control of Mechanical Properties
Tool steel has various mechanical properties depending on the constituent materials and heat treatment. The main mechanical properties of tool steel are hardness, strength, toughness, fatigue strength, heat resistance, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. These mechanical properties are controlled by the amount of alloying elements added, the cooling method, and the type and conditions of heat treatment.
In general, heat treatment of tool steel includes quenching, tempering, annealing, and surface hardening. Quenching is a method of increasing the hardness of tool steel by heating it to a high temperature and then cooling it rapidly.
Tempering is a method of softening hardness by heating and cooling again after quenching. Annealing improves the toughness of tool steel by heating it at a low temperature for a long time. Surface hardening is a method of increasing hardness by heating the surface with high frequency.
The amount of alloying elements added to tool steel is also important to control mechanical properties such as hardness, strength, and toughness.
Common alloying elements include chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, cobalt, tungsten, manganese, silicon, nickel, and copper. By adding these alloying elements, the properties of tool steel can be adjusted.
List of 14 Tool Steel Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- Brazil
- Canada
- India
- Japan
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
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Huyett
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
Huyett, established in 1906 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of industrial fasteners and related products. The company offers an array of pins like cotter pins and spring pins, retaining rings such as external and internal rings, key stock in shapes like square and hexagonal, various types of grease fittings, and a range of O-rings including buna-n, viton, and silicone varieties. These components serve diverse applications in securing, aligning, transmitting torque, reducing friction, and sealing against leakage in machinery and structures.
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O’Hare Precision Metals, LLC.
Tool steel
Manufacturer Overview
O’Hare Precision Metals is a manufacturer of fabricated metal products, engineering materials, and machining services since 1970 and is headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The company manufactures bar stocks, round stocks, and round bars made of copper, carbon, aluminum, steel, and nickel. The products are used in the automotive, aerospace, construction, mining, and medical industries. The company runs a service department offering packaging and various machining services such as milling, chamfering, saw cutting, polishing, and burnishing.
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Drill Rod & Tool Steels Inc.
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
Drill Rod & Tool Steels, Inc. was founded in 1973 and is based in Illinois, U.S.A., and is a manufacturer of tool steel products for various industries. The company's product line includes stainless-steel products such as tool bits, milling cutters, structural sections, reinforcement bars, and masonry supports that have applications in construction, machinery manufacturing, furniture production, mining, and, metalworking industries. The company stocks 6 grades of tool steel finished products and also offers tight tolerance grinding, high-capacity plate saw cutting, and, six-sided surface grinding services.
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Tremblay Tool Steels LLC
Tool Steels
Distributor Overview
Tremblay Tool Steel, established in 1987, based in Macedonia, Ohio is a supplier of engineered solutions for the tooling steel industries in the United States and Canada. The company’s product portfolio includes tool steels, as well as carbon and alloy steels. Its in-house machining capabilities includes Blanchard grinding, surface grinding, milling, various saw cutting options, and plate burning. The company’s aim is to be a provider of tool steel solutions that improve tooling efficiencies, extend tool life and reduce overall product costs. It is the first American company to be granted the Approved Vendor status for Doerrenberg Edelstahl in Germany.
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SANYO SPECIAL STEEL Co., Ltd.
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
SANYO SPECIAL STEEL Co., Ltd. was founded in 1935 and is a manufacturer and supplier of various steel products based in Himeji, Hyogo, Japan. The company produces steel based products such as rolled steel, cut rings, bimetallic steel materials, metal powders, and steel bars. The products are used and applied in various industries such as automobiles, industrial machines, plants, and manufactures. The company has obtained ISO 14001 certification for environmental management system and enacted policies to reduce CO2 emissions from the business.
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SSAB
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
SSAB, established in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1878 is a manufacturer of steel products used in industries such as Construction and Infrastructure, Automotive and Transportation and Oil and Gas. Their product portfolio includes Steel Pipes and Tubes, Steel Sheets and plates used in fabrication and automotive industries, steel coils used in the manufacturing of electrical appliances, and structural steel used for building construction and infrastructure projects. The company also manufactures fossil-free steel which replaces coal in the iron ore reduction process with hydrogen resulting in removal of the fossil carbon emissions.
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TGK Special Steel PVT. LTD.
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
TGK Special Steel PVT. LTD was founded in 2012 and is based in Mumbai, India, as a manufacturer of High-Speed Steel and die Steel products for various industrial applications. The company's product folio includes hot work steel, cold work tool steel, plastic mold steel, HSS cutting tools, and, titanium alloys, along with carbide cutting toop precision forging machines for applications in construction, machinery manufacturing, mining, metalworking, and, appliances arenas. The company's manufacturing unit is equipped with radial forging and flat bar rolling machinery, electrical arc furnaces, precision forging machines, and, flat steel production lines.
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Smiths Metal Centres Limited
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
Smiths Metal Centres Limited, originally established in 1780 as J. Smith & Sons to become Smiths Metal Centres with headquarters in the UK, is a manufacturer and supplier of materials for industrial engineering and provides additional supply support to meet customer requirements. From originally producing clocks, Smiths Metal Centres Limited has grown into a global provider of high-tolerance metal materials that are used in a wide range of applications, including aerospace construction and components. Smiths Metal Centres supplies billets, tooling plates, and metal in sheet form that includes aluminum, copper, bronze, brass, and a wide range of cast alloys.
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Uddeholm USA
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
Uddeholm USA based in Illinois, U.S.A., is a manufacturer of steel tools for various industrial and commercial applications. The company provides hot work tool steel, cold work tool steel, plastic molding tool steel, and, flow filters as well as offers services such as heat treatment and machining for construction, mining, machinery manufacturing, and, power production sectors. The company has achieved ISO9001: 2015 certification and its products have applications in food processing, metal extrusion, medical, and, molding sectors.
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Swiss Steel Group
Tool Steel
Manufacturer Overview
Swiss Steel Group was founded in 1996 and is based in Lucerne, Switzerland, and is a manufacturer of tool steel and non-corrosive long steel products for various industrial and commercial applications. The company's product line includes stainless steel, heat-resistant steel, special materials, and bright steel products that have applications in food & packaging, medical technology, oil & gas, automotive, and, aerospace sectors. The company also offers technical consultancy and prefabrication services for mechanical and civil engineering, hydraulic components, chemical, and, marine industries.
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Samuel Pressure Vessel Group Inc.
Tool Steel
Company Overview
Samuel Pressure Vessel Group Inc is a manufacturer, designer, and distributor of pressure vessel solutions on a global scale. The company's extensive offerings encompass a complete range of air receivers, pressure vessels, and vessel heads, serving OEMs, engineering firms, and end-users across industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and more. Beyond its productiion, the group provides an array of services, including quality testing, codes and standards engineering, certifications, and inventory programs.
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Sheffield Gauge Plate
Tool Steel
Company Overview
Sheffield Gauge Plate, established in 2003, operates as a manufacturer and supplier of precision ground flat stock and gauge plate steel and is headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom. The company's profound expertise has facilitated the establishment of a heterogeneous clientele spanning various industries on a global scale. The organization has a very proficient internal grinding facility, enabling it to manufacture steel sizes that deviate from normal specifications. The comprehensive assortment of standard gauge plate sizes, in conjunction with the aforementioned, ensures that the steel requirements of any customer are adequately addressed.
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Villares Metals
Tool Steel
Company Overview
Villares Metals was founded in 1984 and is based in the Netherlands is a manufacturer and supplier of metal alloys for various industrial applications. The company's product folio consists of Nickel Alloys, super duplex and specialty stainless wire rods, and round & flat bars that have applications in aerospace, automobile, mining, oil & gas, and, material handling sectors. The company has ISO 9001: 2015, QS9001, AS9100, and TS16949 certifications and is also approved by Norsok as well and several aerospace companies.
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Tool Steel Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | O’Hare Precision Metals, LLC. |
13.2%
|
| 2 | Tremblay Tool Steels LLC |
11.4%
|
| 3 | TGK Special Steel PVT. LTD. |
9.8%
|
| 4 | Huyett |
8.7%
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| 5 | Uddeholm USA |
8.2%
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| 6 | Drill Rod & Tool Steels Inc. |
7.9%
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| 7 | SANYO SPECIAL STEEL Co., Ltd. |
7.7%
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| 8 | Hitachi Metals, Ltd. |
7.4%
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| 9 | Samuel Pressure Vessel Group Inc. |
5.3%
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| 10 | SSAB |
5.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the tool steel page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- Hitachi Metals, Ltd.: 27,771
- SSAB: 14,000
- SANYO SPECIAL STEEL Co., Ltd.: 6,402
Newly Established Company
- Tremblay Tool Steels LLC: 1987 (37 years ago)
- Hitachi Metals, Ltd.: 1956 (68 years ago)
- SANYO SPECIAL STEEL Co., Ltd.: 1935 (89 years ago)
Company with a History
- Smiths Metal Centres Limited: 1780 (244 years ago)
- SSAB: 1878 (146 years ago)
- Huyett: 1899 (125 years ago)
Tool Steel Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Tool Steel Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
4 | 33.3% |
Japan
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2 | 16.7% |
United Kingdom
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2 | 16.7% |
Sweden
|
1 | 8.3% |
India
|
1 | 8.3% |
Canada
|
1 | 8.3% |
Brazil
|
1 | 8.3% |
