Selecting the right material for high-precision mold making is a decision that impacts the entire lifecycle of a production run. Among the specialized grades of steel, 1.2316 tool steel (or X38CrMo16) is the “heavy hitter” for applications involving chemically aggressive plastics. Because it contains a high percentage of Chromium and a strategic addition of Molybdenum, it offers a level of corrosion resistance that standard stainless steels simply cannot match.
While 1.2316 is a European DIN standard grade, the North American market has adapted by either producing direct equivalents or importing high-end European melts through dedicated domestic channels.
Below is an in-depth guide to the top 5 sources and manufacturers for 1.2316 tool steel in North America, focusing on their unique manufacturing capabilities and why they are trusted by the continent’s elite tool and die shops.
Precision Marshall (Washington, PA)
When toolmakers in the United States talk about “The Deluxe Company,” they are referring to Precision Marshall. Based in Pennsylvania, they have spent over 70 years perfecting the art of specialty steel distribution and processing.
Manufacturing and Capability
Precision Marshall is widely recognized for its “Ground Flat Stock” and “Drill Rod,” but its plate and block division is where the 1.2316 grade shines. They specialize in providing steel that is “Ready-to-Ship” and “Ready-to-Machine.”
Stress Relieving: One of the biggest challenges with 1.2316 is its tendency to move during heavy machining. Precision Marshall employs proprietary stress-relieving cycles that ensure their plates remain stable, reducing the risk of warping after a toolmaker has spent dozens of hours on a CNC machine.
Decarb-Free Products: They provide “Deluxe” finishes, meaning the decarburized surface layer (the “skin”) is already removed. This allows a shop to go straight into the finishing process without wasting time on initial cleanup.
Why They Lead:
Precision Marshall wins on logistics and reliability. With multiple regional warehouses, they can often deliver a custom-cut block of corrosion-resistant steel to a shop floor within 24 hours. For a mold builder facing a tight deadline, this speed is more valuable than the raw material itself.
Niagara Specialty Metals (Akron, NY)
For projects that require something beyond a standard warehouse block, Niagara Specialty Metals is the go-to manufacturer. They are not just a distributor; they are a mill with specialized rolling and heat-treating capabilities.
Manufacturing and Capability
Niagara is uniquely positioned because they can handle smaller, custom “melts” or specialized rolling batches. If your 1.2316 requirement involves a non-standard thickness or a specific metallurgical grain structure that standard plates don’t offer, Niagara can roll it to your exact specifications.
Custom Heat Treatment: They operate an extensive array of vacuum furnaces and atmospheric furnaces. This allows them to supply 1.2316 at specific hardness levels (HRC) tailored to the client’s specific injection molding pressures.
Precision Shearing and Sawing: Their facility is equipped to handle everything from thin-gauge sheets to heavy plates, ensuring that the material is delivered with minimal waste.
Why They Lead:
Niagara is the choice for specialty and aerospace-grade precision. Their ISO 9001 certification and history of supplying high-performance alloys mean their quality control is among the most rigorous in North America. When “good enough” isn’t an option, toolmakers turn to Niagara.
Tremblay Tool Steels (A Dörrenberg Company)
The acquisition of Tremblay Tool Steels (Cleveland, OH) by the German powerhouse Dörrenberg Edelstahl created a direct bridge between European metallurgical excellence and North American manufacturing.
Manufacturing and Capability
Dörrenberg is one of the world’s most respected producers of 1.2316. By having a direct North American arm in Tremblay, they have removed the middleman.
ESR Refinement: Tremblay provides access to Electroslag Remelted (ESR) versions of 1.2316. ESR is a secondary refining process that removes microscopic impurities (non-metallic inclusions). For a mold that needs a mirror-polish finish—such as for medical clear-lens production—ESR steel is mandatory to prevent “pitting” or “orange peel” during polishing.
Technical Consulting: Because they are backed by the mill that actually melts the steel, Tremblay offers a level of technical support that general distributors cannot. They can provide detailed TTT (Time-Temperature-Transformation) diagrams and cooling curves specifically for their melt of 1.2316.
Why They Lead:
They represent the “Mill-Direct” advantage. Customers receive German-engineered steel with the localized customer service and currency transactions of a domestic Ohio company.
Patriot Forge Co. (Brantford, ON, Canada)
When a mold project is massive—think automotive bumpers or large appliance housings—you don’t look for a plate; you look for a forging. Patriot Forge Co. is the largest custom open-die forge shop in Canada and a primary supplier for the North American heavy industry.
Manufacturing and Capability
Forging 1.2316 provides a structural integrity that rolling cannot match. Patriot Forge takes large ingots of high-chromium steel and uses massive hydraulic presses to “work” the metal.
Grain Refinement: The forging process breaks down the dendritic structure of the cast steel, creating a much denser and more uniform grain. This is critical for 1.2316 because it ensures the corrosion-resistant properties are consistent throughout the entire thickness of a 20-inch thick block.
Rough Machining: They often provide “near-net-shape” forgings, which means they forge and rough-machine the steel close to the final dimensions, saving the customer significant time and reducing scrap metal costs.
Why They Lead:
Patriot Forge is the leader in large-format 1.2316. If your project requires a block weighing several tons that must still maintain high-end stainless properties, Patriot Forge has the equipment and the expertise to handle the heat.
SB Specialty Metals (Multiple US Locations)
SB Specialty Metals is perhaps the most influential “Master Distributor” and processor in the American tool steel market. They have built a reputation on having the most diverse inventory of “high-performance” grades.
Manufacturing and Capability
SB Specialty Metals functions as the vital link between global mills and the local machine shop. They don’t just “stock” 1.2316; they process it using state-of-the-art technology.
High-Speed Sawing: Their facilities are equipped with precision vertical and horizontal saws that can handle massive blocks of 1.2316, delivering them to the customer with tight tolerances on the “as-cut” dimensions.
Inventory Depth: They maintain one of the largest stocks of pre-hardened 1.2316 in North America. This is the most common way 1.2316 is used—delivered at roughly 280-325 Brinell hardness so that the toolmaker can machine it and put it directly into service without further heat treatment.
Why They Lead:
They are the leaders in availability and scale. With locations in Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and beyond, they serve as a “one-stop shop” for any tool and die facility that needs 1.2316 alongside other grades like P20 or H13 tool steel.
Comparison Table:
| Manufacturer | Core Specialization | Primary Product Form | Key Value-Added Service | Best For |
| Precision Marshall (USA) | Speed & Stability | Ground Flat Stock, Drill Rod, Plates | Proprietary Stress Relieving, Decarb-free “Deluxe” finish | High-speed machining; projects with tight deadlines. |
| Niagara Specialty Metals (USA) | Custom Processing | Hot-rolled plates, custom-thickness sheets | In-house Vacuum Heat Treatment, specialized rolling batches | Aerospace-grade precision; non-standard hardness/size. |
| Tremblay Tool Steels (Dörrenberg) | High-Purity Quality | ESR (Electroslag Remelted) Blocks | Technical Consulting, Mill-direct German engineering data | Medical & optical molds requiring a mirror-polish finish. |
| Patriot Forge Co. (Canada) | Heavy Duty / Large Format | Open-die Forgings, Heavy Blocks, Rings | Grain Refinement Forging, Near-net-shape rough machining | Automotive bumpers, large appliance molds, and heavy housings. |
| SB Specialty Metals (USA) | Distribution Scale | Pre-hardened blocks (280-325 HB), Round bars | Precision Duplex Milling, High-speed automated sawing | Large-scale production; standard pre-hardened mold bases. |
Conclusion
The North American market for 1.2316 tool steel is robust, offering everything from custom-rolled sheets at Niagara Specialty Metals to massive forgings at Patriot Forge. Choosing the right partner depends on your specific project needs:
Need it tomorrow? Call Precision Marshall or SB Specialty Metals.
Need a mirror-finish for medical parts? Go with Tremblay/Dörrenberg for their ESR quality.
Need a custom thickness or hardness? Niagara Specialty Metals is your best bet.
By sourcing from these top 5 manufacturers, you ensure that your tooling is built on a foundation of quality that can withstand the most corrosive environments in modern manufacturing.