Punch tooling is exposed to repeated impact, wear and demanding production conditions. Wilson Tool’s proprietary Ultima® Premium Tool Steel increases wear resistance to help punches and dies maintain their cutting edge longer, reduce micro-chipping and extend the time between regrinds.
Ultima is designed for demanding punch press applications where abrasive materials, high-tensile-strength materials and long production runs can accelerate tooling wear.
Built to Perform Longer
The tool steel behind a punch or die plays an important role in how tooling responds to repeated wear and stress. Ultima® Premium Tool Steel combines increased wear resistance with the durability needed for demanding punching applications.
In the right application, Ultima can provide up to twice the time between regrinds compared with conventional tool steel.
Ultima provides:
- Up to 2X longer between regrinds
- Increased wear resistance
- Reduced micro-chipping
- Longer usable punch life
- Fewer tooling changes
- Reduced tooling-related downtime
- Lower overall tooling costs
Reduce Cutting-Edge Wear
Every hit puts stress on the cutting edge of a punch. Abrasive materials, higher tensile strengths and production volume can accelerate wear and contribute to premature edge breakdown.
Ultima is engineered to resist wear and reduce micro-chipping, helping the cutting edge remain usable longer in demanding punch press applications.
Extend Time Between Regrinds
Frequent sharpening takes tooling—and production time—out of the machine.
Ultima punches can provide up to twice as long between regrinds compared with conventional tool steel. Longer grind life means fewer sharpening interruptions, fewer tool changes and more productive time at the punch press.
Built for Demanding Punching Applications
Ultima Premium Tool Steel can provide added value when the application puts greater demands on conventional tooling.
Consider Ultima for:
- Abrasive materials
- High-tensile-strength materials
- Long production runs
- High-use punches and dies
- Applications experiencing premature wear
- Tooling that requires frequent sharpening
The right tooling choice still depends on the complete application, including material, thickness, punch-to-die clearance, geometry, machine and production requirements.
Lower the Cost of Every Hit
Longer-lasting punch tooling affects more than replacement cost. Frequent sharpening, tool changes and setup interruptions all add time and cost to production.
By increasing wear resistance and extending the usable time between regrinds, Ultima can help manufacturers:
- Sharpen tooling less frequently
- Reduce premature punch replacement
- Limit tooling-related production interruptions
- Keep punch presses running longer
- Get more value from each tooling investment
- Lower the total cost of tooling ownership
Exclusive to Wilson Tool
Ultima® Premium Tool Steel is proprietary to Wilson Tool International and available exclusively on Wilson Tool tooling. Ultima is available across select Wilson Tool punch press tooling solutions, including replaceable-tip and thick turret tooling, giving manufacturers another way to match the tooling to the demands of the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ultima® Premium Tool Steel?
Ultima is Wilson Tool International’s proprietary premium tool steel for punch press tooling. It is engineered for increased wear resistance and durability in demanding punching applications.
How can Ultima increase punch life?
Ultima’s increased wear resistance helps reduce cutting-edge wear and micro-chipping, allowing tooling to maintain a usable cutting edge longer.
How much longer can Ultima go between regrinds?
Ultima punches can provide up to twice as long between regrinds compared with conventional tool steel. Actual performance varies based on the material, application, tooling and maintenance practices.
When should I consider Ultima tool steel?
Ultima can be especially beneficial for long production runs, abrasive materials, high-tensile-strength materials and applications where punches are wearing or requiring sharpening more frequently than expected.
Is Ultima the same as a tooling coating?
No. Ultima is the tool steel from which the tooling is manufactured. Coatings and surface treatments can provide additional performance benefits depending on the material and application.
Can Ultima tooling be sharpened?
Yes. Ultima punch tooling can be reground as part of normal tooling maintenance, allowing manufacturers to continue using the tooling through multiple sharpening cycles.
Is Ultima right for my punching application?
A Wilson Tool specialist can review your material, thickness, machine, tooling and production requirements to help determine whether Ultima or another tooling option is appropriate for the application.