New Hardox® 500 Tuf wear steel helps heavy-duty bucket manufacturer Winkelbauer get tough on wear

By using Hardox^® 500 Tuf in a thinner dimension, the new generation of Winkelbauer heavy-duty buckets has 10-16% less tare weight with the same service life as the previous generation. This allows for an increase of loaded volume by 6-10% at the same total weight.

To meet a particular customer’s request, Winkelbauer designed a bucket that allows the operator to load a truck to its maximum capacity of 24 tons (52,911 lbs.) with only 3 turns. This saves 25% of the time required for a loading cycle, and the operator knows that 3 full buckets are enough.

Hardox^® 500 Tuf combines the best properties from the Hardox^® 450 and Hardox^® 500 wear steel grades. It has a guaranteed impact energy of 27 J at -20°C (20 ft-lb at 4°F) and, for 20 mm plate, a typical value of 45 J at -40°C (20ft-lb at 4°F). It also has an unusually narrow hardness window of 475-505 HBW. The estimated relative service life for Hardox 500 Tuf is 85-100% longer than for Hardox^® 400 according to SSAB’s wear calculation software WearCalc, based on sliding wear with granite.

Winkelbauer is impressed not just by the quality of the new steel grade, but by SSAB’s unwavering commitment to support and service life.

“We would generally need a timeframe of 1-2 years for a conventional test of a new material. We don’t have that time, which is why we need a partner we can trust and rely upon. The depth of service that we have enjoyed from SSAB employees from the very outset is one-of-a-kind, and this level of quality cannot be found in any competing products on the market. When SSAB releases a material, we know for sure it delivers as promised,” says Michael Winkelbauer.

The welding and machining of Hardox^® 500 Tuf can be performed with the same kind of equipment used for other Hardox^® grades. Bendability recommendations are similar to those for Hardox^® 450.

“Before going into production, we have naturally experimented with the material and tested it in welding. Since it’s important to reduce welding seams in order to minimize production costs and improve performance, we have analyzed wear patterns and modified the design and construction of our buckets to make best possible use of the mechanical properties offered by Hardox 500 Tuf,” says Michael Winkelbauer.

Hardox^® 500 Tuf is perfectly suited for making hard-working buckets of all sizes and shapes. The bucket will last longer and keep its original shape thanks to the wear steel’s combination of high strength, extreme hardness and guaranteed toughness.

• Extended service life
Hardox^® 500 Tuf can deliver double the service life compared to Hardox^® 400 according to calculations with Hardox^® WearCalc for sliding wear with granite.


 

• Tough also in the cold
Hardox^® 500 Tuf has high impact toughness even at freezing temperatures. All thicknesses have a guaranteed impact energy of 27 J at -20°C (20 ft-lb at -4°F). For 20 mm plate, the typical value is 45 J at -40°C (33 ft-lb at -40°F).


 

• Workshop-friendly
Hardox^® 500 Tuf can be processed by the same kind of machinery used for other Hardox^® grades. Bendability recommendations are similar to those for Hardox^® 450.