Relax Location Ceratizit Secures the Supply of Tungsten

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Scarce raw materials, export restrictions and the uncertain global situation are threatening supply lines. Ceratizit is therefore doing everything it can to keep a firm grip on the element tungsten ...

For over 100 years, Ceratizit has been developing and producing sophisticated cutting and wear protection systems made of hard materials, primarily tungsten carbide, which are designed for machining. However, because tungsten is an element with an exceptionally high density and the highest melting point of all metals, it is also an indispensable material for numerous applications in the high-tech industry, according to the company. As part of the Plansee Group, Ceratizit has a fully integrated value chain for this element, which extends from tungsten powder to the finished tool. This means that the Austrians have all the decisive steps under control. There is therefore no need to be afraid of short-term market fluctuations. Important factors here are a material supply that is as independent of China as possible and a consistent circular economy approach. This achieved a tungsten recycling rate of 91% in the 2024/25 financial year, which is why the company's dependence on primary raw materials is minimized, as is its CO₂ footprint.

Tungsten Scrap is Processed in the USA And Finland

Ceratizit's value chain is based on a comprehensive approach: recycling and buy-back play a central role. This is because tungsten can be recycled an infinite number of times if there is an efficient infrastructure for the cycle, as is emphasized. Ceratizit systematically collects tungsten scrap and processes it using advanced recycling methons. This takes place at Global Tungsten & Powders (GTP), a Ceratizit Group company, in the USA and Finland. However, the processing of tungsten scrap at GTP (USA) also produces a cobalt-containing sludge, which is further processed and used in GTP's tungsten carbide powder production. This closed cycle makes Ceratizit independent of external suppliers. However, it also supports the company's status as a responsible player committed to transparency and sustainability. Stadler Raw Materials, Europe's largest tungsten scrap collector and part of the Ceratizit Group, is also an important part of this process.

Ceratizit Leads the West in Tungsten Recycling

In addition to recycling, long-term purchase agreements in mining projects and strategic investments secure access to some of the largest tungsten deposits outside China, as Ceratizit explains further. Last but not least, the Plansee Group is the largest single shareholder in Almonty, the operator of the Sangdong mine in South Korea. All concentrates from the mine are then processed into tungsten powder at GTP. These joint efforts have established Ceratizit as the leading western tungsten producer with a particularly high proportion of recycled material. "Our integrated and recycling-oriented supply chain creates long-term security in an unpredictable world. By combining strategic investments with one of the highest tungsten recycling rates in the industry, we ensure reliable access to critical raw materials," assures Andreas Lackner, Member of the Ceratizit Group Management Board. For customers who want insight into the CO₂ emissions of Ceratizit products, the company provides Product Carbon Footprints (PCF) in accordance with VDMA (German Engineering Federation—VDMA 35111) and ISO (ISO 14067) standards.

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