HARDOX Wearparts – What is it?

There will be a dedicated Hardox Wearparts stand at Hillhead show this year - come and visit us.  Representatives from SSAB and the UK Hardox Wearparts network will be at hand to meet you. There will be a display of various products from the Hardox Wearparts network. Examples of our steels will be available for inspection as well as a demonstration of the impact toughness of Hardox 450 compared to mild steel grades. There will also be a demonstration of stud welding of Hardox 600. We look forward to welcoming you onto our stand at Hillhead. See us at stand F8.

The beginnings of Hardox go back to the seventies when the Oxelösund plate mill needed to find alternative customers, after the collapse of the Swedish shipbuilding industry. A quenching line had already been installed, and it was decided to further develop the products from this process. The first products were very basic compared to today, and much development has taken place over the years to develop different grades and thicknesses. Workshop properties have also been developed to enable cutting, welding, machining etc. by conventional means.

The pioneers of quenched and tempered steels at SSAB soon realised, that the only true way to develop the market for these new steels, was to have direct contact with the people who use them. This is still valid today, as it was during the seventies and eighties. And of course it was important to have a brand to identify with. After some creative thinking, Hardox was born.

Over the years SSAB built up a competence in supplying a complete package to the users of Hardox and other high strength steels:

• Technical support
• Dedicated sales force
• Stocks
• Product development

Technical support is seen as key in terms of customer and market development and takes a number of forms:

• Workshop recommendations are key in ensuring proper use of the different steels, resulting in the best quality products from our customers
• Dedicated engineers working with customers to select the best materials and procedures, and to deal with those sometimes tricky questions. They are also at hand to guide customers through development projects whenever required.
• Customer education programmes covering a variety of topics and aimed at different market segments.
• Technical experts looking in detail at such things as material flows, wear rates from different materials, software for wear calculations et al.

A dedicated sales force, who have a high awareness of the industries they operate in, and well educated in the offering from SSAB, with a focus on the end user.

Stocks and availability is an important part of the offering, especially when operating in a market that demands quick turnaround in areas such as repair and maintenance. Hardox is available from stocks around the world.

Product development is there for pushing the limits; harder, tougher, thicker, thinner steels. New grades, improvements to existing grades, production methods, the dimension programme, are all under constant development. There is a constant demand for harder and tougher steels.

Where does Hardox Wearparts fit in?
SSAB has a complete offering for Hardox as a flat product. The Hardox Wearparts network is made up of customers who have developed an expertise in the processing and uses of Hardox. They convert the offering from SSAB into parts, used in a variety of industries, where wear is a critical factor.

Hardox Wearparts members play a critical role in developing the markets for Hardox; new industries, applications and customers.

• Working in close proximity to their customers
• Developing expertise in different segments
• Investment in capabilities to process the highest Hardox grades
• Quick turnaround for service and reliability
• Working to increase customers’ productivity
• A complete offering with complementary products.

Hardox Wearparts offer a complete service wherever wear is a factor.

What is the relationship with SSAB?
The vast majority of Hardox Wearparts members are independently owned. A few members are fully owned by SSAB and SSAB has part ownership in some. SSAB expects members to reach and maintain high standards regards equipment, capability and approach to the market, and loyalty to the Hardox brand. Access to the network is based on these criteria. Hardox is a significant part of any member’s business. This is not a franchise arrangement, and there are no fees involved in becoming a member. It is a business to business relationship based on being mutually beneficial with regards the development of Hardox to a range of industries.

All centres have access to specific marketing information and support, and to the full range of support services that SSAB has to offer. There is a dedicated team within SSAB who work specifically with the Hardox Wearparts network, whose task involves enhancing the SSAB offer, and to aid the business development of the network.

Is there a Hardox Wearparts near you?
The first members were appointed in 2001, with a steady growth until around 2012 to around 100 members. The number of members is now closer to 200 with many more in the pipeline.
The main growth areas are in the Americas and Asia, although some growth is also planned for Western Europe where a mature network exists.

The Hardox Wearparts network is seen as one of the most effective ways to demonstrate the benefits that Hardox can bring to the end-user, and members are able to benefit from the business that this brings.

The ambition is to cover all significant industrial and agricultural areas where wear is a factor, and where service and availability can benefit the productivity of the local industry.

The UK network
The UK currently has 10 members. All have a long experience in the use of Hardox and have a solid foundation on which to build for the future. All are unique, and together offer a range of services to different industries and customer groups.

Barrnon Ltd has specialised in the use of Hardox 600 for scallop fishing, and supplies a complete service to this niche industry. Another focus is the development of solutions for nuclear decommissioning.
Located in Appleby, Cumbria. www.barrnon.com

Bruce Engineering Ltd, is a family business with an extensive capability to supply high quality Hardox parts as well as on site services. In addition they produce a range of their own machines for the quarrying industry.
Located in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. www.bruce-eng.co.uk

Edwards Steel Services Ltd prides itself on market leading service with very quick turnaround of requirements. This is backed up by impressive availability of Hardox products. Their offer is complemented by other GET products.
Located in Bridgend, Wales. www.edwardssteelservices.co.uk

JJ Bullen (Plant and Equipment) Ltd offers a diverse service, meeting a range of customer requirements. In addition to offering repair and maintenance services from their well-equipped workshop, which is being extended, they also do so on-site across the UK.
Located in Ormskirk, Lancashire. www.jjbullen.co.uk

Hardox Wearparts Centre Stirling Ltd (formerly JL Steel Services) works across a wide range of industries, and the extensive workshop and prime location close to the industrial heartland of Scotland, means they are perfectly situated for servicing their customers.
Located in Sirling, Scotland. www.hardoxwearparts.com/stirling

LH Quarry Plant Ltd is a specialist supplier to the crushing and quarrying industry. An extensive workshop with an impressive range of machining capabilities results in a fantastic offering to the market. This is backed up by a stock of crusher parts and Hardox plate for a quick service.
Located in Thornaby, Teesside. www.lhgroup.co.uk

MST Parts Group Ltd is well established in the mining and quarrying industry, and in addition to a complete Hardox offering, backed up by a well-equipped workshop, they are undercarriage and GET specialists. They offer nationwide coverage.
Located in Birtley, Tyne and Wear. www.mstpartsgroup.com

MTL Advanced Ltd is equipped to offer a full cutting, machining and fabrication service. They operate across a wide range of industries and customer groups. Hardox played an important part in the establishment of MTL, and its importance continues today.
Located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. www.mtladv.com

Pegasus Profiles Ltd is using its full range of capabilities to further develop the use of Hardox into a range of industries including fabrication, aggregates, recycling and agriculture. Pegasus is well positioned and is involved in some ground-breaking projects for Hardox applications.
Located in Thetford, Norfolk. www.pegasusprofiles.co.uk

Steelpro Ltd. Need the thickest Hardox plate available? As well as offering parts from the full range of Hardox grades, Steelpro has positioned themselves as the prime supplier for parts made from the thickest plates. This is backed up by CNC machining and a range of other equipment.
Located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. www.steelpro.co.uk

Want to learn more?
More information is available on www.hardoxwearparts.com
There will be a dedicated Hardox Wearparts stand at Hillhead show this year. Representatives from SSAB and the UK Hardox Wearparts network will be at hand to meet you.

There will be a display of various products from the Hardox Wearparts network. Examples of our steels will be available for inspection as well as a demonstration of the impact toughness of Hardox 450 compared to mild steel grades. There will also be a demonstration of stud welding of Hardox 600.

We look forward to welcoming you onto our stand at Hillhead. See us at stand F8.