Walter says it has unveiled a technology that promises to dramatically improve machining effectiveness. Called Tiger·tec Gold, it is the latest iteration of Walter's successful line of Tiger·tec and Tiger·tec Silver coatings.

Tiger·tec Gold with the WKP35G milling grade and its special titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) coating makes Walter one of the first companies to employ this performance enhancing coating technology. Compared with the CVD aluminum oxide-coated grades currently in use, the new Tiger·tec Gold coating boasts significantly improved properties, resulting in longer tool life, increased productivity and greater process reliability. This is partially due to the innovative, special "ultralow pressure" (ULP-CVD) coating process that Walter employs.

Walter has tested the new Tiger·tec Gold coating on numerous steel and cast iron applications and recorded markedly improved properties compared with other coatings: These include considerably higher wear resistance on the flank faces, reduced formation of thermal cracks, greater resistance to plastic deformation and considerably longer tool life—often by up to 75 percent. In addition, the gold-colored surface layer also facilitates wear detection.