Hardox Equivalent: NM400–NM600 Wear Plate with Real Mill Certificate Data and FOB Prices

Jay Zheng

Nov 3, 2026

Hardox Equivalent: NM400–NM600 Wear Plate with Real Mill Certificate Data and FOB Prices

If your project specifies Hardox and you are comparing alternatives, this is the complete map: which Baosteel NM grade replaces each Hardox grade, what the guaranteed values say, what real mill test certificates (MTCs) actually measured, and what it costs FOB Shanghai. Every number below that is marked as measured comes from a genuine Baosteel certificate for material we have supplied — not from a brochure.

Hardox to NM: the Full Equivalent Table

Hardox grade (SSAB)	Baosteel equivalent	Hardness class	Other equivalents
Hardox 400	NM400	400 HBW	XAR 400, Dillidur 400V, Raex 400
Hardox 450	NM450	450 HBW	XAR 450, Dillidur 450V, Raex 450
Hardox 500	NM500	500 HBW	XAR 500, Dillidur 500V, Raex 500
Hardox 550	NM550	550 HBW	market-scarce class
Hardox 600	NM600 / AR600	600 HBW	XAR 600 class

Product pages with sizes, stock and prices: NM400/NM450/NM500, NM550 and NM600/AR600. Live weekly stock and FOB prices are on the wear plate price page.

Guaranteed Values vs Measured Values

Guarantees are one thing — delivered metal is another. Here are the official guarantees side by side with values measured on real Baosteel mill certificates from shipments to Baohui Steel.

Baosteel NM series: guarantee vs real certificate measurements
Grade	Hardness guarantee	Measured hardness (real MTC)	Measured yield / tensile	Impact (real MTC)
NM400	400 ± 30 HBW	certificate range 370–430 HBW class	tensile 1,269–1,321 MPa (min 1,200)	−40 °C option in NM400E (≥ 60 J)
NM450	420–480 HBW	452 HBW average (10 mm, cert. BGSAI2402270700100)	1,250 MPa yield	52 J at −20 °C
NM500	500 HBW class (470–540 delivered)	517 HBW average (12 mm, cert. BGBWI2504240235400)	1,410 MPa yield	62 J at −20 °C
NM550	550 HBW class	581 HBW average	1,612 MPa yield	per certificate
NM600/AR600	≥ 570 HBW	per heat certificate	per heat certificate	per certificate

Deep-dives per grade with full pricing: NM400 vs Hardox 400, NM450 vs Hardox 450, NM500 vs Hardox 500, NM550 vs Hardox 550 and NM600 vs Hardox 600.

Thickness: 1.5–25 mm, Including a World-Only Gauge

Baosteel's continuous heat-treatment line covers 1.5–25 mm — including the world's only 1.5 mm heat-treated wear plate, a gauge no other mill can supply. If you build lightweight wear parts (mixers, screens, thin liners), this is a genuine technical advantage, not a marketing claim. Widths 900–2,500 mm, lengths to 13 m.

What It Costs FOB Shanghai

Grade	Indicative FOB Shanghai (USD/MT)	Note
NM400–NM500	720–930	by grade, thickness and volume
NM550	≈ 1,020	550 HBW class, market-scarce
NM600 / AR600	1,120–1,150	extreme abrasion class

Every shipment ships with an original Baosteel MTC per heat and ISO 14025-verified EPDs. For heavy structures also see our Mn13 high-manganese steel for high-impact work-hardening applications.

How to Switch from Hardox to NM Without Risk

Match the hardness class, not the name: specify NM400/NM450/NM500 by HBW class and accept an MTC-verified equivalent in your purchase order.
Add impact requirements explicitly: for dynamic loading choose NM400E/NM500E (-40 °C KV2 ≥ 60 J class) — standard NM grades are optimized for pure abrasion.
Verify each heat: check the manufacturer field (Baowu mill), the BGSAI/BGBWI certificate number and per-heat measured values. Read our MTC reading guide.
Weldability: NM plates follow standard low-alloy practice — see our NM400/NM500 welding guide with real joint data.

Request a firm FOB quote with your grade, thickness and volume — we reply within one working day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NM400 really equivalent to Hardox 400?

Yes in hardness class: NM400 is specified at 400±30 HBW, inside Hardox 400's 370–430 HBW guarantee. Mechanical guarantees differ slightly — NM400 guarantees 1,200 MPa tensile and -40 °C impact options in the NM400E version. Real Baosteel certificates show 1,269–1,321 MPa tensile, above the minimum. See the side-by-side data in this article.

Which NM grade replaces Hardox 450 and Hardox 500?

NM450 replaces Hardox 450 (420–480 HBW class) and NM500 replaces Hardox 500 (500 HBW class). A real NM450 certificate measured 452 HBW average with 1,250 MPa yield; a real NM500 certificate measured 517 HBW average with 1,410 MPa yield and 62 J at -20 °C.

Is there a Hardox 550 / Hardox 600 equivalent?

Yes: NM550 covers the 550 HBW class (real certificate: 581 HBW average, 1,612 MPa yield) and NM600/AR600 covers the 600 HBW class for extreme abrasion. Both ship with original Baosteel mill test certificates.

Why is NM wear plate cheaper than Hardox?

You are not paying the SSAB brand premium, and Baosteel's continuous heat-treatment line produces at scale. Typical FOB Shanghai: NM400–500 at 720–930 USD/MT, NM550 at about 1,020 USD/MT, NM600 at 1,120–1,150 USD/MT, depending on thickness and volume.

How thin can Baosteel wear plate go?

Baosteel's heat-treated wear plate line covers 1.5–25 mm — including the world's only 1.5 mm heat-treated wear plate, a gauge no other mill supplies. Thinner gauges enable lightweight wear parts without losing hardness.

How do I verify a genuine Baosteel MTC?

Three checks: (1) manufacturer field shows a Baowu mill (Baoshan/Wuhan); (2) certificate number in BGSAI/BGBWI format, verifiable with Baosteel; (3) measured tensile, HBW and impact values filled per heat, not copy-pasted. We supply one original certificate per heat.