STEELS
Strength
Ability to withstand an applied stress without failure or deformation of punch tips and edges.
Fatigue Resistance
Resistance against progressive and localised structural damage that occurs when a material is subject to cyclic loading.
Toughness
Resistance to chipping, cracking, adhesive wear, galling, or punch tip breakage.
As one of the worlds leading tablet tooling manufacturers I Holland has been instrumental in introducing many innovative and unique developments to the industry. I Holland continues to invest and drive the company forward through a commitment to research and development and problem solving initiatives.
Selecting the right steel for each application is absolutely key to the successful performance of your tablet compression tooling. Good steel selection will achieve an optimum balance of the following steel properties:
- Toughness
- Abrasive wear resistance.
- Adhesive wear resistance
- High hardness levels
- Compressive strength
- Corrosion resistance
- Good machinability and formability
- Clean structure
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HPG-s
HPG-S has recently been improved through I Holland's ongoing R&D programme. A high quality ESR grade punch material suitable for general purpose applications typically used in more than 60 percent of cases. Superior quality to other 'standard' steels.
Features
- Harder and more wear resistant compared to equivalent steels used for tablet tool Very high toughness properties.
- High strength profile
- Good polish-ability (due to ESR process)
- Optimised for PharmaCote® products
Benefits
Homogeneous uniform structure gives balanced properties and results in performance benefits associated with:
- Long tooling life
- Resistant to fracture
- Reduced tabletting problems (i.e. sticking etc)
Application
For standard application on punches especially deep cupped tips and complex shapes.
HPG-P
HPG-P has also been improved through I Holland's ongoing R&D programme. A high quality ESR grade punch and die material suitable for formulations that are particularly abrasive. Superior quality to other 'premium' steels.
Features
- Higher wear resistance compared to HPG-S
- High compressive strength for improved die performance
- Good polish-ability (due to ESR process)
- Optimised for PharmaCote® products
- Higher chrome content than HPG-S
Benefits
- Long tooling life
- Resistant to fracture and die bore ringing
- Reduced tabletting problems (i.e. sticking etc)
- Improved corrosion resistance over HPG-S
Application
- For standard application on dies and punches requiring improved wear resistance.
HPG-TC
A sintered micro-grained tungsten carbide cemented with cobalt. Used for dies only.
Features
- High compressive strength
- Extremely high wear resistance insert
Benefits
- Reduced die bore wear compared to HPG-P
- Reduced die bore ringing compared to HPG-P
- Will last longer than HPG-D when compressing abrasive formulation.
Application
Used to improve wear resistance of die bores when compressing abrasive product.

HPG-MD
A specialist powder metallurgy grade steel with uniform carbide distribution and small carbide size giving extremely high wear resistance over and above that of Premium steel. Used for dies only.
Features
- High wear resistance
- Extremely high compressive strength
- Reduced risk of formulation reacting to elements within the die material (unlike Tungsten Carbide)
Benefits
- Reduces die bore wear compared to HPG-P
- Reduced die bore ringing compared to HPG-P
- No black marks on tablets
Application
- A specialist solution for dies used to eliminate black marks caused by tungsten carbide for highly abrasive product
HPG-MP
A specialist powder metallurgy grade steel with uniform carbide distribution and small carbide size giving extremely high wear resistance over and above that of Premium steel. Used for punches only.
Features
- Very high wear resistance
- High fatigue resistance
- Good polish-ability (due to uniform carbide distribution)
Benefits
- Extended product life over HPG-P due to enhanced wear resistance
- Resistant to fracture
- Reduced tabletting problems (i.e. sticking etc)
- Has been proven to increase product life by up to 115% over HPG-P
Application
- A specialist solution for punches when compressing highly abrasive compounds
HPG-SS
HPG-SS is a martensitic fine carbide structured stainless steel, a tried and tested solution used for punches and dies where corrosion resistance is a primary requirement.
Features
- Excellent corrosion resistant properties
- Good polish-ability (due to fine carbide structure)
- Optimised for PharmaCote® products
- Higher chrome content than HPG-S and HPG-P
Benefits
- Extended tooling life when compressing corrosive formulations
Application
- For punches and dies to be used with corrosive formulations, wash in place systems (WIP) and other aggressive cleaning processes

HPG-s
HPG-S has recently been improved through I Holland's ongoing R&D programme. A high quality ESR grade punch material suitable for general purpose applications typically used in more than 60 percent of cases. Superior quality to other 'standard' steels.
Features
- Harder and more wear resistant compared to equivalent steels used for tablet tool Very high toughness properties.
- High strength profile
- Good polish-ability (due to ESR process)
- Optimised for PharmaCote® products
Benefits
Homogeneous uniform structure gives balanced properties and results in performance benefits associated with:
- Long tooling life
- Resistant to fracture
- Reduced tabletting problems (i.e. sticking etc)
Application
For standard application on punches especially deep cupped tips and complex shapes.
HPG-P
HPG-P has also been improved through I Holland's ongoing R&D programme. A high quality ESR grade punch and die material suitable for formulations that are particularly abrasive. Superior quality to other 'premium' steels
Features
- Higher wear resistance compared to HPG-S
- High compressive strength for improved die performance
- Good polish-ability (due to ESR process)
- Optimised for PharmaCote® products
- Higher chrome content than HPG-S
Benefits
- Long tooling life
- Resistant to fracture and die bore ringing
- Reduced tabletting problems (i.e. sticking etc)
- Improved corrosion resistance over HPG-S
Application
- For standard application on dies and punches requiring improved wear resistance.
HPG-TC
A sintered micro-grained tungsten carbide cemented with cobalt
Features
- High compressive strength
- Extremely high wear resistance Inert
Benefits
- Reduced die bore wear compared to HPG-P
- Reduced die bore ringing compared to HPG-P
- Will last longer than HPG-D when compressing abrasive formulation.
Application
Used to improve wear resistance of die bores when compressing abrasive product.
HPG-MD
A specialist powder metallurgy grade steel with uniform carbide distribution and small carbide size giving extremely high wear resistance over and above that of Premium steel. Used for dies only
Description
- A specialist powder metallurgy grade steel with uniform carbide distribution and small carbide size giving extremely high wear resistance over and above that of Premium steel. Used for dies only
Features
- High wear resistance
- Extremely high compressive strength
- Reduced risk of formulation reacting to elements within the die material (unlike Tungsten Carbide)
Benefits
- Reduces die bore wear compared to HPG-P
- Reduced die bore ringing compared to HPG-P
- No black marks on tablets
Application
- A specialist solution for dies used to eliminate black marks caused by tungsten carbide for highly abrasive product
HPG-MP
A specialist powder metallurgy grade steel with uniform carbide distribution and small carbide size giving extremely high wear resistance over and above that of Premium steel. Used for punches only
Features
- Very high wear resistance
- High fatigue resistance
- Good polish-ability (due to uniform carbide distribution)
Benefits
- Extended product life over HPG-P due to enhanced wear resistance
- Resistant to fracture
- Reduced tabletting problems (i.e. sticking etc)
- Has been proven to increase product life by up to 115% over HPG-P
Application
- A specialist solution for punches when compressing highly abrasive compounds
HPG-SS
HPG-SS is a martensitic fine carbide structured stainless steel, a tried and tested solution used for punches and dies where corrosion resistance is a primary requirement
Features
- Excellent corrosion resistant properties
- Good polish-ability (due to fine carbide structure)
- Optimised for PharmaCote® products
- Higher chrome content than HPG-S and HPG-P
Benefits
- Extended tooling life when compressing corrosive formulations
Application
- For punches and dies to be used with corrosive formulations, wash in place systems (WIP) and other aggressive cleaning processes