In coining, a stamping press fitted with custom tooling is used to indent or mark metal components with detailed designs, logos, edging, textures, or other intricate details based on CAD renderings.

At Verdugo, we specialize in sheet metal stamping, including coining, for customers in many industries from defense and aerospace, to hardware and renewable energy, and beyond. We stamp a variety of materials including aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, and speciality metals. We are also ISO 9001:2015-certified and ITAR-compliant.

Learn more about our coining process, its benefits, and how it is used for applications across industries.

About Coining

Coining is a form of precision metal stamping in which specially shaped tooling is used to press a detailed or intricate design into a piece of metal, creating an impression on both sides of the piece. The stamping press creates sufficient pressure to permanently indent or mark the part. This can be done as an economical replacement to engraving or to put useful features like radii into the edge of a part. The process creates highly repeatable, consistent parts.

What Is the Coining Process?

Metal stamping projects involve multiple stages, from preparing and cutting the sheet metal to size, to the actual stamping operations, to finishing stamped parts with polishing, coating, or deburring. Coining sheet metal generally begins with preformed metal workpieces cut or blanked from sheet metal. Pieces are enclosed in a die, where high pressure and deformative stress bend and deform the metal into the exact shape of the die. The dies can have raised or depressed shapes, extremely fine detailing, and textured or smoothed surfaces.

Coining requires strong, high-tonnage presses that generate sufficient force to accurately deform the metal workpieces with no deviations from piece to piece. Depending on the metals, production volume, and other factors, a gear-drive press, a hydraulic press, or a mechanical press may be used. At Verdugo, we manufacture all tooling in-house.

The Benefits of Coining for Metal Stamping

Coining is excellent for creating parts with intricate raised or recessed designs and markings. Coining is also a form of highly localized work hardening, which adds rigidity to the material strategically in the coined area. There are several advantages of coining operations for industrial applications:

  • Finer details. The dies used for coining create extremely fine and crisp details, including textures, images, characters, and precision measurement markings. Some customers specify coining part numbers or certain markings or phrases into their components during manufacturing.
  • Superior surface finish. Because coining uses heavy compressive forces and precision tooling, it can create very exact surface textures, including smooth, shiny surfaces in the “white space” of a design.
  • Accurate bends. For complex designs that require bends and forms, it can create extremely accurate bends within tight tolerances. Coining is also a highly repeatable process, so it can produce hundreds or thousands of units with virtually no deviation.
  • Cost-effective. Once the die is complete, it can be used in a high-tonnage die over and over again for multiple high-volume runs.
  • No additional downstream finishing. Unlike other metal forming techniques that can leave behind sharp edges, burrs, or excess material, coining doesn’t require additional finishing stages after the fact to get the form and details just right.
  • Protects and hardens the metal. The compressive forces harden the metal surface, and the plastic flow reduces the grain size to make it even more durable and resistant to wear or damage.

Applications: Why and How Coining Is Used in Metal Stamping

Coining is a versatile process for applications in many industries. At Verdugo, we use coining to add logos, edging, various textures, and other detailed designs to metal parts. We frequently work with the following applications:

  • Aerospace, automotive, and electronic parts that need to meet exact specifications
  • Electrical components such as connectors and terminals
  • Metal tags and plates with identifying or codes, logos, or branding designs
  • Hardware components

Contact Verdugo for Your Metal Stamping Projects

Manufacturing at scale requires precision, quality control, and experience. Verdugo provides high-quality metal stamping services, including coining, for all industries. Our capabilities also include laser cutting, drawing, blanking, CNC machining, deburring, and more. We have years of experience using time-tested techniques and state-of-the-art CAD modeling software to create high-performance manufacturing solutions.
Contact us today to discuss your next project or request a quote for pricing details.