Induction Hardening for Industrial Tools & Dies

Introduction: Why Tools and Dies Need Hardening

In the world of manufacturing and forging, tools and dies are the silent heroes — continuously cutting, forming, shaping, or pressing metal parts under extreme conditions. These components face intense wear, impact, and thermal stress every day. Without proper heat treatment, even the best tool steels like D2, H13, or M2 can lose hardness, chip, or deform — leading to downtime and costly replacements.

That’s where induction hardening makes the difference. It strengthens the working surfaces of dies, punches, and forming tools — without affecting their internal toughness.

At Thakur Induction, Ludhiana, we specialize in industrial tool heat treatment that delivers precision hardness, minimal distortion, and maximum tool life — trusted by industries across Punjab, Haryana, and North India.

What Is Induction Hardening for Tools and Dies?

Induction hardening is a process in which the surface of a metallic tool or die is heated rapidly by electromagnetic induction and then quenched to achieve a hard, wear-resistant martensitic layer. The core remains ductile, ensuring the tool can absorb stress and impact without cracking.

The Process in Brief:

• Surface Heating: Using an induction coil tuned for the die’s geometry.
• Rapid Heating: The surface reaches ~900°C within seconds.
• Controlled Quenching: Polymer or water cooling to form a hardened case.
• Tempering (if required): For stress relief and toughness balancing.

Only the working zones are hardened — preserving the die’s flexibility and inner strength.

Common Tools and Dies Treated Using Induction Hardening

Why Choose Induction Hardening for Tool & Die Applications

1. Superior Wear Resistance

The hardened surface resists abrasion, metal-to-metal contact, and erosion, extending the life of tools in continuous operations.

2. High Impact Strength

Since only the outer layer is hardened, the core retains its ductility — preventing cracking under heavy press loads.

3. Minimal Distortion

Local heating avoids warping or dimensional deviation, maintaining precise tool geometry for high-tolerance applications.

4. Customizable Hardness Profiles

By adjusting power, frequency, and coil design, different zones of the die can be hardened to varying depths (2–6 mm).

5. Cost-Effective and Reusable

Old dies can often be re-hardened by induction, restoring their surface performance without full remanufacturing.

Induction hardening increases tool lifespan by up to 3× compared to conventional furnace hardening.

Case Study: Induction Hardening of H13 Forging Dies

A forging unit in Ludhiana faced premature surface wear on H13 upper and lower forging dies after just 3,000 cycles. We implemented a controlled induction hardening process:

• Frequency: 15 kHz (medium frequency)
• Heating temperature: 890°C
• Quenching: 12% polymer solution
• Case depth: 3.5 mm
• Surface hardness achieved: 56–58 HRC

Result: Die life increased from 3,000 to 9,500 cycles, wear reduced by 70%, and there was no dimensional distortion. Controlled induction hardening tripled productivity while maintaining die precision.

Technical Parameters for Tool and Die Hardening

Conclusion: Extend Tool Life with Precision Hardening

Every tool or die’s value lies in its strength, precision, and durability. With induction hardening, you can achieve longer operational life, higher hardness and wear resistance, better consistency and performance, and lower tooling replacement costs. At Thakur Induction, Ludhiana, we combine advanced induction systems with decades of metallurgical expertise to deliver flawless tool and die hardening for industries across Punjab and North India.