The CPM process begins with the production of fine particles of steel by gas atomization of a prealloyed melt. In the atomizer, the molten metal is poured through a small nozzle where high pressure gas turns the liquid stream into a fine spray of tiny spherical droplets. These liquid droplets rapidly solidify into tiny powder particles which are spherical in shape and uniform in chemical composition. The atomized powder is collected and loaded into steel cans which are then hermetically sealed (i.e. evacuated and welded shut). The filled cans are exposed to sufficient temperature and pressure to consolidate the powder inside to 100% dense steel. The fully dense compacts then undergo normal mill processing to finished bar. The CPM process results in very fine-grained steel which has a homogeneous composition and an extremely uniform microstructure. In the higher carbon CPM grades, the carbides which precipitate during solidification are extremely fine and remain so throughout mill processing and in the finished bar.

For many years, New West Knives have been made with steel that puts them on the leading edge of performance in the World. Made with our G-Fusion, or Desert Ironwood, knives with CPM S35VN steel are clearly the highest performance kitchen knives available anywhere.