Now available from the
Swiss Steel Group is UGIMA-X. The company’s third generation of high-machinability stainless steels, it is configured to deliver significant advancements in machining efficiency, tool life, and process reproducibility, and is the result of over three decades of application-oriented research, as well as close collaboration with industrial partners.
This latest generation consists of three grades: UGIMA-X 4021, a martensitic stainless steel designed for demanding mechanical applications or food and beverage applications requiring high strength; UGIMA-X 4028, a martensitic stainless steel offering enhanced mechanical resistance, along with food and beverage compatibility for precision components; and UGIMA-X 4460, a duplex stainless steel that combines ‘excellent mechanical properties with outstanding resistance to corrosive environments, while at the same time being easy to machine’.
Swiss Steel says these newly developed steels provide an average 20% increase in productivity, 25-50% longer tool life, improved chip breakability, and exceptional reproducibility across production batches. “The development of UGIMA-X is based on precise modifications of non-metallic inclusions, particularly through the targeted introduction of oxides during the melting process. This refinement enhances chip formation, reduces tool wear, and ensures exceptional consistency in machining properties across different heats.
“A critical advantage of this new generation is the significant reduction of quality variations that have traditionally been a challenge in stainless steel machining. Extensive scientific studies, conducted both at our research laboratories and through real-world industrial trials, confirm the consistent performance of UGIMA-X, which was developed over a three-year period involving the production of 2,000 tonnes of material and 3,000hr of testing.”
Furthermore, Swiss Steel says that UGIMA-X grades are not only technologically advanced but also ‘aligned with sustainable production strategies’, which means these grades are available in an environment-friendly ‘Climate+’ version, produced exclusively using electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower.