News and press releases

14/11/2006

On 30 October it happened again: At this year’s EURO PM (powder-metallurgical conference) in Ghent, which was organised by the EPMA (European Powder Metallurgy Association), the best development in powder metallurgy was awarded the prize. CERATIZIT and HILTI received the award for the first drill tip with a macroscopic gradient structure which is suitable for high volume production. The drill is now produced in quantities of millions with the name 'TE-C3X Drillbit’.

“The idea to produce such a tool is not really new”, says Dr. Wolfgang Böhlke, head of the wear parts development department at CERATIZIT in Luxembourg. “The special thing, however, is to manufacture such a drill tip in the production departments. Previously, it was only possible to manufacture a limited quantity with very simple geometries in the laboratory. The challenge was to manufacture complex geometries for production at an industrial scale meaning for orders up to 100,000 pieces.”

The genesis of the TE-C3X Drillbit
 

Four years ago CERATIZIT and HILTI started the research and work on this project. The TE-C3X Drillbit is applied for drilling reinforced concrete. Unlike the TE-CX drill which already exists in the HILTI range, the TE-C3X is characterised by considerably improved thermal and mechanical stability. The gradient in the carbide combines two characteristics: good wear resistance on the tip and a stable welded connection with the steel shank. The drill tips are manufactured at CERATIZIT in Mamer, Luxembourg. Then they are made ready for use at HILTI in Kaufering, Germany. The drill is available in diameters 5 to 16 mm.

“The success is based on great team work between the HILTI and the CERATIZIT researchers and production departments”, says Böhlke.