GM and I-CAR Say New Cryotool® CryoCobalt™ Drill Bits Are Five Times More Durable Than Competitors

DALLAS, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors and the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) have recognized Cryotool® CryoCobalt™ drill bits as one of the industry's most efficient tools for boring through advanced high strength steels used in the manufacture of 21st century vehicles. Cryotool® CryoCobalt™ drill bits were developed by Irving, Texas-based Partsmaster. I-CAR is a not-for-profit collision repair industry training organization.

Based on independent reviews, GM representatives estimate that CryoCobalt™ drill bits last at least five times longer than their counterparts, potentially saving thousands of dollars for dealerships and collision repair shops. GM has issued service bulletins to U.S. and Canadian dealerships and repair shops alerting them to the durability of CryoCobalt™ drill bits. (See Bulletin #10-08-98-002: "Information on Drilling High Strength Steel Related to Collision Repair," Aug. 6, 2010.)

During collision repair service manual procedure development at GM's Collision Repair Technology Center last spring GM service engineers used CryoCobalt™ bits to drill out spot welds on body panels of the 2011 Chevy Volt. These panels are manufactured from new ultra high strength steels designed to provide proper performance of the vehicle structure.

"We went through 30 spots welds using a CryoCobalt™ bit, before we basically quit," said Randy Boyd, GM Body Structures and Closures Service Engineering team leader. "We were surprised especially since we have to replace our normal bits about every six welds. The CryoCobalt™ bit not only outlasted the normal bits, it was still sharp.

"Until now, we haven't had alternatives to drilling through these high strength steels," Boyd said.  "CryoCobalt™ bits are truly an answer to a global problem because these high strength steels are being used by car manufacturers all over the world, and removing spot welds is a universal problem."

I-CAR has also noted the durability of CryoCobalt™ bits and mentioned them in a presentation at the October NACE show. The group will demonstrate at the bits at the Las Vegas SEMA show running Nov. 2-5.

"What makes CryoCobalt™ bits attractive is that there are bits on the market that are somewhat effective in drilling spot welds out," said Steve Marks, I-CAR industry support manager.  "However, many drill bits available for the industry have a very short life span for drilling these very hard welds.

"CryoCobalt™ bits have a longer life span when used correctly and because they have a longer life, it becomes a more cost effective tool to use for that operation," he said. "You have to use fewer of them. Drill bits aren't hugely expensive, but the issue becomes when you have to buy many, many of the bits. That can add up to a lot of money."

"CryoCobalt™ drill bits are unique because of increased micro-sharpness and a thicker web that withstands the higher feed pressure required for drilling hard metals," said Curt Selby, Partsmaster marketing manager. "And unlike industry standard bits, they can also be re-sharpened which represent additional savings."

A recent study released by the Automotive Applications Council of AISI's Steel Market Development Institute, indicates the use of advanced high-strength steels will grow 10 percent per year through 2020 as automakers worldwide strive to meet a 35 miles-per-gallon fuel economy standard.

"Removing spot welds is one of the most labor intensive operations in repair shops so any type of solution you provide will be well received," said Marks.  "I think as long as CryoCobalt™ drill bits keep working as well as they do, they will be more widely used as time goes on.  And as high strength steels become more widely used, I think there will be more and more applications for them. This could be the tip of the iceberg."

Partsmaster™ was established in 1968 as a division of NCH Corporation, a leading provider of industrial goods since 1919.  Partsmaster offers thousands of solutions through numerous product lines developed especially for maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) applications. The Partsmaster brands include Cryotool® cutting tools; Dyna Systems® fastener line; Mega Metal® polymer repair compounds; Trust-X® high productivity abrasives; and X-Ergon® welding products.

SOURCE Partsmaster