Purohit Steel is a leading P20 Plastic Mould Steel exporter and supplier in India. "P20" is the internationally recognised trade name for a family of pre-hardened alloy mould steels — this page explains what P20 steel actually is, why buyers search for it, how to evaluate a P20 supplier, and where to find the full technical datasheet for the specific P20 grade we stock.
If you already know you need chemical composition, mechanical property tables and heat treatment data, go straight to our Grade 1.2311 (P20) technical page — that is Purohit Steel's DIN-standardised P20 grade, with a full datasheet, comparison tables and downloadable PDF. This page instead covers the broader picture: what P20 means as a category, and how to buy it correctly.
Table of Contents
- 1. What is P20 Steel?
- 2. Why Buyers Search for "P20 Steel"
- 3. How to Choose a P20 Steel Supplier
- 4. The P20 Family at a Glance
- 5. P20 Steel Across Industries
- 6. Why Purohit Steel
- 7. Authorized Stockist Brands
- 8. Our Services
- 9. Cities We Supply in India
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
- 11. About Purohit Steel
- Our Certifications
- Countries We Export Worldwide
- Export Packaging & Shipping
- Quality Inspection & Testing
- Latest Price List
- MOQ & Payment Terms
- People Also Search For
What is P20 Steel?
"P20" is an AISI/SAE trade designation (from ASTM A681) for a category of pre-hardened, low-alloy chromium-manganese-molybdenum tool steel developed specifically for plastic mould and die-casting tooling. Rather than one exact chemistry, "P20" is best understood as a family of closely related grades that different steel standards define slightly differently — the German DIN equivalent is 1.2311 (40CrMnMo7), and a nickel-enhanced variant used for larger tooling is known as P20+Ni or DIN 1.2738.
What makes P20 steel distinctive, and why it became the default choice for plastic mould bases worldwide, is that it is supplied pre-hardened (quenched and tempered, typically 29-33HRC) straight from the mill. Mould makers can machine cavities and cores directly without needing a separate hardening cycle, which shortens lead times and avoids the dimensional distortion that comes with post-machining heat treatment.
P20 steel is prized for its balance of machinability, toughness and polishability — good enough surface finish for most commercial plastic parts, tough enough to survive millions of injection cycles, and easy enough to machine that tooling costs stay reasonable.
Why Buyers Search for "P20 Steel"
Most people searching for "P20 steel" fall into one of a few situations, and the right next step is slightly different for each:
- Designing a new mould and need to specify a mould-base material — you likely want the full Grade 1.2311 datasheet to confirm hardness, tensile strength and machinability before finalising your drawing.
- Comparing P20 to other grades — such as P20+Ni for a larger mould, or a stainless-type grade (1.2085 / 1.2083 ESR) for a corrosive application — see the P20 family comparison below.
- Sourcing material in India and need a stockist who holds genuine ready stock rather than placing an import order every time — see how to choose a supplier below.
- Checking whether P20 suits their application — automotive, packaging, electrical or consumer goods — see P20 across industries below.
How to Choose a P20 Steel Supplier
Not all "P20 steel" sold in the market is equal. Because P20 is a trade category rather than one tightly policed specification, sourcing quality varies significantly between suppliers. Here is what to check before you commit to a supplier:
- Verified mill test certificates: Ask for EN 10204 2.2 or 3.1 certificates confirming actual chemical composition and hardness for the batch you are buying, not generic literature.
- Hardness consistency through the block: A surface hardness reading alone does not guarantee uniform hardness through a thick mould base — ask how the supplier verifies core hardness, especially for large blocks.
- Genuine ready stock: Confirm whether the sizes you need are physically in stock, versus a supplier who imports on order and adds weeks to your lead time.
- In-house value-added processing: Suppliers who can bandsaw-cut, machine, grind, drill and EDM in-house save you a separate vendor step and reduce handling risk.
- Technical support for grade selection: A supplier who can advise whether you actually need P20+Ni instead of base P20 (or a corrosion-resistant grade instead of either) is more valuable than one who just quotes what you ask for.
- Export documentation and packaging: If you are sourcing from India for export, confirm the supplier can provide proper export packing and shipping documentation.
Purohit Steel, an ISO-certified company established in 1965 and an authorized stockist of NLMK Verona and SeAH CSS, is built around these exact requirements — see why buyers choose us below.
The P20 Family at a Glance
"P20 steel" commonly refers to two related grades that Purohit Steel stocks. Full technical data for each is published on its own dedicated page — this table is only a quick-reference summary, not a substitute for the datasheets.
| Grade | DIN Designation | Best For | Full Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| P20 (base grade) | 1.2311 (40CrMnMo7) | Small to medium moulds, general mould-base tooling | View Grade 1.2311 → |
| P20+Ni (nickel-added) | 1.2738 (40CrMnNiMo8-6-4) | Large mould blocks needing deep, uniform hardenability | View Grade 1.2738 → |
If your application involves corrosive plastics, humidity, or water-cooled cavities, also consider our corrosion-resistant grades: 1.2085 and 1.2083 ESR.
Need the full technical datasheet?
Chemical composition, mechanical properties, physical/thermal data, heat treatment guidelines and downloadable PDF for our P20 (DIN 1.2311) grade are all on one page.
Open the Grade 1.2311 Datasheet →P20 Steel Across Industries
P20 steel's combination of machinability, toughness and reasonable polishability has made it the default mould-base material across a very wide range of manufacturing sectors:
Automotive
Used for dashboards, bumpers, interior trim and other precision plastic components where dimensional stability and surface finish matter over long production runs.
Packaging
Used for containers, caps, closures and household product moulds that need consistent cavity dimensions across high injection volumes.
Electrical & Electronics
Used for enclosures, switchgear housings, connectors and other precision plastic components in electrical manufacturing.
Consumer Goods
Used for appliance housings, furniture components and general consumer product tooling where cost-effective, reliable mould life is the priority.
General Engineering & Die-Casting
Used for low-pressure die-casting dies, extrusion dies and tooling plates beyond pure plastic injection moulding.
Why Purohit Steel
- Ready Stock: Round bar, flat bar and block sizes held in inventory for immediate dispatch
- ISO-Certified Quality: Documented quality management since 1965
- Authorized Stockist: Sourced through globally reputed manufacturers, including NLMK Verona and SeAH CSS
- Value-Added Machining: In-house bandsaw cutting, precision machining, grinding, drilling, gun drilling, EDM and wire-cut
- Technical Support: Assistance choosing between P20, P20+Ni and corrosion-resistant grades
- Pan-India & Export Supply: Warehousing in Vasai with a sales outlet in Mumbai, serving customers across India and international markets
Authorized Stockist
Our Services
Our Steel Products
P20 Plastic Mould Steel Supply Locations Across India
We supply P20 Plastic Mould Steel across major industrial cities including Mumbai, Pune, Khopoli, Nashik, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Umbergaon, Vapi, Valsad, Daman, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gurgaon, Manesar and Sonipat — as well as to export markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Purohit Steel
Purohit Steel was established in 1965 by Shree Bherumalji Rajpurohit, a visionary in metallurgy. Over the decades, we have built a strong reputation as a trusted stockist and exporter of tool steel, plastic mould steel and engineering steel products across India.
As an ISO-certified company, we source premium materials from globally reputed manufacturers and operate a modern warehousing facility in Vasai along with a sales outlet in Mumbai, enabling efficient storage, fast processing and timely delivery across India and export markets.
Read more about Purohit Steel, view our certifications, or get in touch with our technical sales team.
Our Certifications
Purohit Steel operates as an ISO-certified company, backed by documented quality management, safety and compliance certifications that support reliable supply to domestic and export customers.
View all certificates in detail on our Certifications page.
Countries We Export Worldwide
Beyond India, Purohit Steel exports tool & mould steel grades to customers across the following countries and regions:
| Export Destinations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | Saudi Arabia | Oman | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Nepal |
| Vietnam | Thailand | Indonesia | Kenya | Nigeria | South Africa |
For export enquiries and destination-specific documentation, please contact our sales team.
Export Packaging & Shipping
Bars, flats and blocks are packed to withstand handling, transit and marine shipment, whether for domestic dispatch or export orders.
- Palletised and strapped packing for round bars, flat bars and blocks
- Moisture-protected wrapping to prevent surface corrosion in transit
- Seaworthy export packing with clear shipping marks and material identification
- Documentation support including packing lists, invoices and mill test certificates for customs clearance
- Shipment by road, rail or sea freight as per order requirement and destination
Quality Inspection & Testing
Every batch held in our stock is checked through documented inspection procedures before dispatch, so mould makers and OEMs receive material with verified, traceable quality.
- Chemical composition verification against mill certificates
- Hardness testing (Brinell / Rockwell) on received stock
- Dimensional inspection as per standard bar and block tolerances
- Visual and surface defect inspection
- EN 10204 2.2 / 3.1 mill test certificates provided on request
- Third-party inspection coordination available for export orders
Full material traceability is maintained from incoming stock through to dispatch for every order.
Latest Price List
Pricing depends on section size, quantity, form (round bar / flat bar / block) and current raw material rates. Indicative guidance is below — contact us for a firm, up-to-date quotation.
| Form | Typical Price Basis |
|---|---|
| Round Bar | Per Kg, based on diameter & length — contact for latest rate |
| Flat Bar / Plate | Per Kg, based on thickness & size — contact for latest rate |
| Block (cut to size) | Per Kg / Per Piece, based on drawing — contact for latest rate |
Prices are subject to change with raw material and freight costs. Share your required size and quantity via the quotation form or WhatsApp for the latest price.
MOQ & Payment Terms
Minimum Order Quantity: Flexible MOQ depending on size and form — from small trial quantities for tooling houses up to bulk orders for OEMs, subject to confirmation at enquiry stage.
Payment Terms: Advance payment / part-advance with balance before dispatch for domestic orders; T/T (bank transfer) or Letter of Credit (LC) for export orders, depending on order value and destination.