The Best Way to Cut Specialty Steels: Waterjet Cutting for Precision and Integrity

Specialty steels are engineered for toughness and durability. But none of that matters if they aren’t cut properly. When it comes to precision cutting without compromising the material’s integrity, waterjet cutting stands out as the ideal method. Unlike other cutting processes, waterjet cutting keeps the material unchanged—exactly what you want with high-performance steels like Hardox, Strenx, and Bisalloy.

“A key advantage of water jet cutting is that it leaves the surface free of HAZ (Heat Affected Zones). Cutting without heat protects against metallurgical changes in the plate, ensuring original plate mechanical properties are maintained,” states Bissalloy.com.au. This is crucial because, depending on your application, other cutting methods like laser can be used, but there’s always the risk of softening the material due to the intense heat involved.

Why Waterjet Cutting is the Smart Choice

Waterjet cutting doesn’t just cut—it preserves. While heat-based methods like laser cutting can alter the material at the edge of the cut, waterjet cutting leaves it untouched. According to Bissalloy.com.au, “The waterjet cut shows no change in material structure at the edge of the cut. The laser cut edge shows a distinct change in structure.” In other words, if you want to maintain the original properties of your steel, waterjet cutting is the way to go. Hardoxwearparts.com agrees, noting, “The best way of eliminating the risk of softening is to use cold cutting methods, such as abrasive waterjet cutting.”

At MRC Industries, we have years of experience in cutting thick specialty steels—sometimes over 100mm! Whether you need precision cuts for truck bodies, excavator buckets, or structural components, we have the expertise and the equipment to handle it. Our lifting gear allows us to safely load and unload large steel plates, making sure no damage occurs in the process.

Why It’s Perfect for Hardox and Strenx

Hardox and Strenx are two of the toughest steels on the market. They’re built to endure harsh conditions, so it’s vital that cutting doesn’t weaken them. As noted in the Thermal Cutting of Hardox and Strenx guide, “Abrasive Water Jet (AWJ) cutting is a cold cutting method that enables all Hardox and Strenx grades to be cut independent of thickness.” That means no matter how thick your steel is, waterjet cutting ensures it keeps its strength.

Hardox wear plates are used in high-wear equipment like truck and tipper bodies, earth-moving buckets, liners, compactors, and even recycling plants. At MRC Industries, we cut a variety of Hardox grades, including:

• Hardox 400
• Hardox 450
• Hardox 500
• Hardox 600

These plates require extreme precision, and waterjet cutting delivers it without heat damage, maintaining the toughness Hardox is known for.

Precision for Strenx Structural Steel

Strenx, known for its high strength, is another material where precision cutting is essential. Often used in transport chassis, lifting equipment, and other structural applications, Strenx demands exact cuts to maintain its performance. Waterjet cutting meets this need perfectly. We work with several grades of Strenx, including:

• Strenx 700
• Strenx 900
• Strenx 960
• Strenx 1300

For projects where structural integrity is paramount, waterjet cutting allows us to deliver flawless results, every time.

Bisalloy: Wear and Structural Steel

Like Hardox, Bisalloy wear plates are built for demanding, high-wear environments. They are found in truck bodies, excavator buckets, conveyors, and shredders. Cutting these tough materials requires precision, and that’s where waterjet cutting excels. We handle various Bisalloy wear grades, including:

• Bisalloy Wear 320 Steel
• Bisalloy Wear 400 Steel
• Bisalloy Wear 450 Plus Steel
• Bisalloy Wear 500 Steel
• Bisalloy Wear 500 Plus Steel
• Bisalloy Wear 500 XT Steel
• Bisalloy Wear 550 Steel
• Bisalloy Wear 600

Waterjet cutting ensures these wear plates are cut with precision, keeping them tough and reliable for your high-wear applications.

In addition to wear plates, Bisalloy Structural Steel (formerly known as Bisplate) is used in areas where high structural integrity is non-negotiable. Whether it’s commercial or residential buildings, lifting equipment, ROPS (Roll Over Protection Systems), or railway components, we cut Bisalloy Structural Steel to the exact specifications needed. The grades we work with include:

• Bisalloy Structural 60 Steel
• Bisalloy Structural 70 Steel
• Bisalloy Structural 80 Steel
• Bisalloy Structural 80PV Steel
• Bisalloy Structural 100 Steel
• Bisalloy Structural 110 Steel

By using waterjet cutting, we ensure that the structural properties of these plates are preserved, providing reliable, high-strength solutions for your toughest applications.

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