Chrome Nitride PVD Coating
CrN Coating for Tooling That Runs Cooler, Longer
Surface Solutions applies CrN (chrome nitride) PVD coating to punches, dies, drawing tools, molds and wear parts. Ship your tools in from anywhere in the US.
- Great for stainless drawing and forming tools
- Cuts galling, heat and lubricant use
- Ship tools in from across the US, Canada and Mexico
One drawing job went from 15 parts to over 500 parts after switching to CrN.
Prefer to talk? Call 763-785-9436
Request a CrN Coating Quote
Tell us about your tooling and we will tell you if CrN is the right fit.
Why shops choose CrN coating
Less heat in the part
A customer drawing stainless went from parts too hot to touch to parts just warm to the touch after switching to CrN.
More parts per tool
CrN helps forming and drawing tools keep running instead of stopping for maintenance and rework.
Less lubricant
A slick, hard surface means you can often run with less lube and still get a clean part.
Works on tough jobs
We coat carbide, hardened tool steel and even titanium parts. Tell us the base material and we will advise.
Ship-in service nationwide
Send tooling from anywhere in the US, plus Canada and Mexico. Our shop is in Fridley, Minnesota.
Other coatings if CrN is not the fit
We also run TiN, TiCN, AlTiN/TiAlN and our proprietary Alpha coating, so you get the right one.
About CrN (chrome nitride) coating
CrN is a hard, thin PVD film we apply in a vacuum chamber. It bonds to the tool surface instead of sitting on top like plating, so edges and details stay sharp. Shops pick CrN when parts run hot, when material wants to stick, or when a different coating is galling in a stainless drawing job.
Surface Solutions is a PVD job shop. You keep making and sharpening your tools. We coat them and send them back ready to run.
- Chrome nitride PVD film, also called chromium nitride coating
- Used on punches, dies and stamping tooling
- Used on sheet metal forming and drawing tools
- Applied to injection molds and wear parts
- Coats carbide and hardened tool steel
- Also used on titanium components
- Re-coating available after you resharpen tools
- Other coatings offered: TiN, TiCN, AlTiN/TiAlN and Alpha
What customers report
“In a drawing application (stainless steel), the Alpha™ coated tooling only produced 15 parts and the parts were too hot to touch. Putting CrN on the tool resulted in over 500 parts, with the parts being just warm to the touch.”
“Surface Solutions helped me with a small, but very significant project. They CrN coated some titanium pieces for me. They went above and beyond to make it amazing. Chet and Mike are pros and I would highly recommend their service.”
“Nearly everything we resharpen gets sent out to Surface Solutions for coatings. I had one customer that wasn't using coatings and now that he's tried it, he wants everything coated. His tools are working better than new. It's like night and day . . .”
What happens next
Send us your details
Tell us the part, the base material and how many pieces you need coated.
We review the fit
We confirm whether CrN is the best choice for your job or suggest another coating, and send pricing.
Ship your tooling in
Send your parts to our Fridley, Minnesota shop. We coat them and return them ready to run.
Frequently asked questions
What does CrN coating cost?
Pricing depends on the part size, quantity and fixturing needed. Send us the details and we will quote your job.
Is there a minimum order?
Tell us how many pieces you have and we will confirm what we can run. We handle both small projects and repeat production work.
Can you coat parts after I resharpen them?
Yes. Re-coating after resharpening is a core part of our work. We coat tools, and you handle the sharpening or regrinding.
Do I have to be in Minnesota?
No. We serve customers nationwide and ship work in from states like California, New York and Florida, plus Canada and Mexico.
What materials can you coat with CrN?
We coat carbide and hardened tool steel tooling, and we have CrN coated titanium pieces for a customer as well.
Should I use CrN or another coating?
It depends on your material and application. We also offer TiN, TiCN, AlTiN/TiAlN and our Alpha coating, and we will recommend the best match for your job.
Get a quote on CrN coating
Tell us what you run and what is wearing out. We will recommend the right PVD coating and send you pricing. Call 763-785-9436 or send your details.
- Great for stainless drawing and forming tools
- Cuts galling, heat and lubricant use
- Ship tools in from across the US, Canada and Mexico
Prefer to talk? Call 763-785-9436