Customized material solutions – maximum performance for the most demanding applications

At a time when precision, efficiency and reliability make the difference in industrial manufacturing, Dörrenberg Edelstahl GmbH is repositioning itself. The traditional company, headquartered in Engelskirchen with international locations in Asia, America and Europe, places the customer and their requirements consistently at the center.
“We support our customers as their central point of contact – from material selection and machining through to surface technology. With technical consulting, high material availability and a well-designed logistics concept, we shape the entire process in a partnership-based and efficient way,” emphasizes Dr. Torsten Schlüter, Chief Sales Officer at Dörrenberg. “Our goal is to flexibly meet individual requirements, ensure short delivery times and provide the highest quality – also beyond the classic portfolio.”

 

Powder metallurgy for maximum performance

A current example of this approach is the PMD550. This advanced material was specifically designed for applications with extreme requirements in terms of wear and corrosion resistance. The powder-metallurgically produced martensitic stainless steel combines state-of-the-art material technology with practical application flexibility.

“PMD550 is a true all-rounder. Typical applications can be found in the plastics industry, especially in the processing of glass fiber reinforced and highly abrasive plastics. In the food industry, where the highest hygiene and corrosion standards are required, it also offers significant advantages thanks to its resistance and hardness. In addition, the material is ideally suited for highly loaded wear parts in mechanical engineering and forming technology,” explains Andreas Kappenstein, Head of Key Accounts D / A / CH / Benelux.

The PMD550 impresses with its fine, homogeneous microstructure achieved through the powder-metallurgical manufacturing process. Evenly distributed, fine carbides ensure exceptional wear resistance while simultaneously increasing the material’s temperature stability. Compared to conventional steels or the proven PMD440, PMD550 offers an extended performance spectrum – especially under high mechanical and thermal loads.

The chemical composition with cobalt increases the hardness of the martensitic matrix as a solid solution strengthener, providing excellent support for the wear-resistant carbides. Cobalt also raises the martensite start temperature. Thus, after hardening, PMD550 is less prone to retained austenite compared to a cobalt-free steel variant. The chemical composition with a high chromium content of around 17% ensures excellent corrosion resistance, while the increased carbon and vanadium content promotes the formation of hard carbides.

 

For maximum performance: hardening and coating

One of the key advantages of PMD550 is its excellent heat treatability. Through targeted austenitizing followed by appropriate quenching, a highly strong martensitic structure can be generated. Subsequent tempering allows precise adjustment of final hardness and toughness, with hardness values above 62 HRC achievable. Despite the high hardness, corrosion resistance remains at a very good level – a decisive advantage over conventional tool steels.

In addition, combining PMD550 with modern PVD coatings offers further performance benefits. These can be applied to the hardened material, further enhancing wear resistance and tribological properties, especially in highly abrasive applications. Due to the high hot strength of the base material, coating performance and service life are maintained even at elevated process temperatures. This makes PMD550 ideal for hybrid solutions that must meet both maximum surface hardness and demanding corrosion protection requirements.