Specialty as Normality: Why Certain Special Steels Have Become Industry Standards

In the metallurgical industry, the evolution of materials often follows a precise path: it begins with a specific request, leads to the development of a steel grade with particular characteristics, and over time that material becomes a benchmark for the entire market. At DEW, this process is part of the company’s identity: transforming what is born as “special” into everyday production normality.

This philosophy is the foundation of the series “Specialty as Normality,” dedicated to special steels that have gained increasingly widespread use in the daily work of operators, mold makers, and processors. Specifically, we are referring to Thermodur® E38K Superclean, Thermodur® E40K Superclean, Corroplast®, and Formadur® PH X—materials that, over the years, have established themselves for their performance, reliability, and consistent quality.

Many of these steels were originally developed to address very precise challenges: high temperatures, intense thermal cycles, the need for high machinability, or resistance to corrosion. Over time, thanks to the continuous refinement of production processes, they have become increasingly sought after even in less specialized applications, where continuity and consistent performance remain essential.

DEW’s ability to maintain a stable and reliable quality standard over time is one of the main reasons behind the success of these steels.

Each steel examined in this series presents characteristics that have driven its widespread adoption. Generally speaking, these materials stand out for:

• Reliable technical performance: Mechanical strength, response to heat treatment, structural stability.
• Consistent process quality: Material homogeneity, purity, and repeatability of results in production.
• Operational durability: Longer tool life, reduced maintenance, improved productivity.
• Application versatility: Over time, many of these steels have expanded their use even beyond their original application fields.

For these reasons, Thermodur® E38K Superclean, Thermodur® E40K Superclean, Corroplast® and Formadur® PH X are now among the most appreciated steels by operators and industry technicians.

This series has a clear objective: to offer companies a simple, immediate, and technically reliable tool to better understand the most requested steels in our catalogue and to help them choose the solution best suited to their production needs.

Through these insights, we aim to support:

• technical departments
• production managers
• mold makers and processors
• companies seeking high-performance, durable materials
• new customers interested in discovering the potential of DEW steels