Heating the blades in a special furnace enhances and hardens the blade steel, allowing it to be sharpened to a sharper angle than previously possible. During the final grinding process, the knives are given the Performance Cut. This modern precision technology gives the blades their precise, consistent shape and results in exceptionally sharp, long-lasting blades. Performance Cut is unique to WMF kitchen knives, which exceed the relevant DIN standard for sharpness and cutting performance by 200%.