About Palcam
Since 1995, Palcam has been the replacement component specialist for aluminum die casting tooling. 60 people, 29 CNC machines, and a singular focus on the components die casters consume every day.
29
CNC Machines
60
Team Members
30
Years in Business
80%
Quote Win Rate
What We Do
Die casters lose production time every day to worn tooling. Cavity inserts erode. Slides wear. Backup blocks fail. Palcam exists to get those machines running again — fast, and at a competitive price.
We manufacture replacement components from customer-provided prints and specifications. Our CNC programming team translates your drawings into precision-machined parts on our fleet of 29 CNC machines, including 25 five-axis machining centres.
We are not a full-service toolmaker. We do not design dies or assemble them. We specialize in the high-wear components that need constant replenishment — and we have done so for 30 years.
Additive Manufacturing
Palcam has researched metal additive manufacturing for die casting tooling since 2008 — years before it became an industry talking point. Our H-13 AM inserts deliver 5x lifespan versus maraging steel in high-pressure die casting applications.
Hybrid insert manufacturing — 3D printing H-13 on a conventional H-13 base — reduces cost while keeping the performance advantage. The base is reusable once the top section wears.
We have also proven 420 stainless steel printing for corrosion-resistant applications, opening the door to injection mold inserts and non-die-casting markets.
How We Operate
Specialization
We do one thing and we do it well — replacement components for die casting tooling. No design department, no die assembly. Manufacturing precision components from your specifications.
Investment in Innovation
R&D investment at 3-4x the Canadian manufacturing industry average. 17+ years of additive manufacturing research. BeST (Blue Sky Thinking) drives continuous process improvement.
Quality Without Compromise
Every insert ships with laser scanning, CMM verification, hardness testing, and full certifications. We machine wherever possible to avoid the recast layer that EDM produces.
Canadian Manufacturing
Founded and headquartered in Newmarket, Ontario. Serving the Great Lakes automotive corridor and North American die casters for 30 years.
Our Journey
Founded in Newmarket, Ontario
Walter Palisca founds Palcam Technologies Ltd. to manufacture replacement components for aluminum die casting tooling.
Additive Manufacturing Research Begins
Palcam begins R&D into metal additive manufacturing for die casting tooling — years before AM became mainstream in the industry.
20 Years of Tooling Expertise
Two decades of specialization in replacement die casting components, serving major automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers across North America.
Large-Format Capacity Expansion
Investment in DMG MORI DMU 200P and DMU 160U positions Palcam for large-format and GIGA-scale tooling components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Palcam Technologies?
Palcam Technologies Ltd. is a privately held Canadian company founded by Walter Palisca in 1995 in Newmarket, Ontario. The company remains founder-led and independently operated, with a 60-person team focused exclusively on die casting tooling components.
What makes Palcam different from a full-service die shop?
Palcam is not a die builder. We do not design dies, assemble them, or run casting trials. We specialize in one thing — manufacturing the replacement components that die casters consume every day. Cavity inserts, core pins, slides, shot sleeves, and ejector components. This singular focus means our equipment, programming team, and quality systems are all optimized for fast-turnaround precision components, not complete die builds.
What is Palcam's approach to research and development?
Palcam invests in R&D at 3 to 4 times the Canadian manufacturing industry average. Our BeST (Blue Sky Thinking) program drives continuous process improvement across machining, additive manufacturing, and quality inspection. We have been researching metal additive manufacturing for die casting tooling since 2015 — years before it became an industry talking point.
Where is Palcam located and what regions do you serve?
Palcam is headquartered in Newmarket, Ontario — in the heart of the Great Lakes automotive corridor. We serve die casters, automotive OEMs, and Tier 1 suppliers across North America. As a Canadian manufacturer, we are fully USMCA-compliant, which means tariff-free access for tooling components shipped to the United States and Mexico.
How does Palcam ensure quality on replacement tooling components?
Every component ships with full documentation. We laser scan parts for 3D verification and run CMM inspection on critical dimensions. All inserts are hand-checked to qualify features requiring gage fit — threads, ejector pin holes, core pin holes, and waterline depths. Waterline holes are ball-tipped to remove the sharp corners left by the drill tip, and we inspect each ball-tip transition with a bore scope to confirm no sharp corners remain — sharp corners would create a stress riser for crack propagation. We machine wherever possible to avoid the recast layer that EDM produces, delivering better surface integrity and longer die life. Our quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015.
Work With Us
Send us your drawings and specifications. We will get back to you with competitive pricing.