Hitachi Metals, Ltd. announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Teikuro Inc. for the technical provision of Hitachi Metals’ high-performance surface treatment TribecTM in order to meet the demand for surface treatment for dies in the North American market. Surface treatments for coating film on metal surfaces are an effective technology for increasing the strength, durability and sliding performance of dies and automotive engine parts. In recent years, the need for surface treatments to increase the strength and durability of dies has been increasing more than ever to enable support for high-tensile steel sheets. In its efforts to expand global sales of tool steel in its specialty steels business, Hitachi Metals has strengthened its tool steel solutions sales structure in several ways. These include acquiring U.S. company Diehl Tool Steel Inc., and making it a consolidated subsidiary; establishing Hitachi Metals (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., in China; enhancing cutting and processing capacity at its plants in Asia; and introducing surface treatment equipment.