BUCKET components have to cope with a lot of wear and tear, unexpected shocks, jolts, bangs, nicks and jabs, costing expensive repairs and hours of downtime.
The extreme properties of Hardox allow manufacturers to make buckets that can stand up to these types of wear.
Hardox Wearparts wear services manager Stuart Sephton said that in some cases, it was even possible to double or triple the service life of bucket components.
“This is because Hardox has a relative flat hardness curve, which means the wear is spread evenly throughout the entire steel thickness, and not only on the surface,” he said.
“Its high toughness is also very important because it allows for use in cold environments.”
These durable wear characteristics do not come at the cost of ease of use in the workshop. In fact, they can even contribute to more efficient production.
“One of the things that makes Hardox so beneficial in bucket applications is that despite its hardness and toughness, it is very easy to work with,” Mr Sephton said.
“For such a strong steel, the ease of welding is a predominant factor for increasing the efficiency of bucket manufacture.”
Since Hardox has tight tolerances and a precise chemical composition with a uniform structure, it can be welded, bent and cut faster, with less energy and more precision than other materials.
Furthermore, Hardox is pre-quenched steel.
Many bucket manufacturers quench mild steel in their own workshops but with Hardox, this is not necessary, meaning drastically increased efficiency and reduced cost.
Hardox also comes in a wide variety of grades, dimensions and profiles, each serving its purpose whether the goal is extending service lifetimes or reducing weight without sacrificing performance.
The world’s leading wear service network
Providing high productivity and low maintenance costs is the core business for every Hardox Wearparts center.
The company supports its customers with the right choice of wear parts and services, and it is determined to do this better than anybody else.
The first Hardox Wearparts centers were opened in Europe in 2000 and, since then, the company has passed the 500-mark and continues to add new full-service centers all over the world.
The Hardox Wearparts network is closely related to SSAB, a specialised steel company that makes Hardox wear plate, Duroxite overlay products, Strenx performance steel, Toolox engineering and tool steel, and many other steel grades for high-performing wear and structural applications.
The best choice for buckets
Hardox was first developed more than 40 years ago.
It is available in hardness grades from 350HBW-700HBW and thicknesses of 0.7-160 mm depending on the hardness grade, and is extremely hard, tough and workshop friendly.
The hardness does not conflict with Hardox’s structural performance, and it is produced with tight tolerances and a precise chemical composition.
Hardox minimises wear since it is difficult for the ‘edges’ of abrasive material to cut into the hard surface.
