I received another order for Yuhui PM23 powdered high-speed steel from Mr. Huang this morning, which touched me a little.
Mr. Huang first came to us three years ago. He was stamping 1.2mm-thick quenched and tempered 65Mn steel with a hardness of 47HRC. He had previously used PM53 and PM4 punches, both of which suffered severe wear. Currently, the PM53 punches last for about 500 strokes but are prone to chipping, while the PM4 performs even worse. After switching to Yuhui PM23 powdered high-speed steel, the service life increased by 13 times.
Because Yuhui PM23 solved his problem—extending punch life, reducing the frequency of die repairs, minimizing die disassembly, and cutting down on downtime—stamping efficiency improved, which is why he continues to purchase from us regularly.
However, his company’s procurement staff consistently felt that Yuhui PM23 was too expensive, noting that PM23 on the open market was much cheaper, which led to some complications along the way.
Yet Mr. Huang insisted on using Yuhui PM23 powdered high-speed steel. This was not only because previous purchases of PM53, PM4, and PM23 from other companies had failed to resolve the issues—with results that were hit or miss—but also because the inconsistent performance left him unsure how to optimize the mold. He couldn’t determine whether the problem lay with the mold steel, the mold structure, machining precision, or the steel’s hardness, which caused him great anxiety.
He stuck to his guns for three whole years, which is why I’m so moved.
Over the past three years, we’ve maintained open communication, frequently discussing mold operating conditions and making continuous adjustments. Recently, they reported that the service life has improved again, and the PM23 no longer chips at the corners.
Although the operating conditions remain the same, the blank material varies slightly with each batch, machining tolerances fluctuate, and customer requirements change. That’s why we need to discuss and improve our approach regularly—sometimes by modifying the mold design, and other times by optimizing the mold steel.
Building long-term partnerships with each client is no easy feat. Not only must your product quality and performance be top-notch, but you must also adapt promptly to the client’s specific circumstances. Of course, you need to possess technical expertise and be able to communicate effectively with the client—a business without communication won’t last long.
Some orders, though small in value, involve a winding journey that is worth reflecting on and cherishing.
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Wu Dejian’s tool steel, the chief of staff of the user, bought everything he had used.