Securing the tungsten supply has become a central challenge for the European metalworking industry. At the European Cutting Tools Conference (ECTC) in Graz, the European Cutting Tools Association (ECTA) clearly emphasized the urgency: "Recycling is crucial today: The reintegration of carbide into the European cycle is a key lever for supply security and competitiveness."
For the CERATIZIT Group, this statement confirms the long-term strategic orientation of its supply chain as fundamentally resilient – based on an integrated value chain, advanced recycling capacities, and transparent standards. At the same time, it emphasizes the growing importance of keeping tungsten-containing scrap potentials within European recycling cycles to strengthen supply continuity, compliance, and planning security for customers.
ECTA points out that China continues to control more than 80% of global tungsten production and processing, while around 50% of the hard metal used in Europe already comes from recycling. At the same time, the association warns of increasing pressures on European recycling systems and calls for coordinated measures along the entire value chain to retain more tungsten in Europe and expand processing capacities.
Integration and control along the value chain
The supply security of CERATIZIT is based on a fully integrated tungsten value chain within the Plansee Group – from powder production to carbide manufacturing and finished tools. This ensures control over critical steps and reduces vulnerability to short-term market fluctuations.
A central element of this model is the structured reintegration of tungsten-containing scrap potentials into Western recycling networks. Through its subsidiary Stadler Raw Materials – Europe's largest collector and trader of tungsten scrap and one of the largest globally – tungsten-containing scrap is systematically collected and directed to established recycling pathways. This helps to retain valuable secondary raw materials in Europe. "We systematically collect and sort tungsten-containing scrap across Europe and channel it into our Western recycling network," says Andreas Lackner, member of the Executive Board of the CERATIZIT Group.
Recycling-based supply as a strategic stability factor
CERATIZIT operates a recycling-driven supply chain with a tungsten recycling rate of over 90% (fiscal year 2024/25). This circular approach reduces dependence on primary raw materials and strengthens long-term supply security. Oliver Sax, member of the Executive Board of the CERATIZIT Group:
"CERATIZIT operates a fully integrated value chain – from powder production to carbide manufacturing to finished tools – complemented by advanced recycling processes."
The statements from ECTA place this in the industry context by highlighting recycling as a crucial lever for Europe's competitiveness and supply security. "Recycling is essential today: The return of carbide to the European cycle is an important lever for supply security and competitiveness," explains Federico Costa, President of ECTA.
Responsible sourcing and transparent standards
CERATIZIT ensures that raw materials are sourced responsibly and transparently through RMI-compliant smelting operations and in accordance with a strict supplier code of conduct. This helps meet the compliance and traceability requirements in the supply chains of customers.
In this context, CERATIZIT's integrated approach combines recycling, processing expertise, and transparent documentation to meet customer requirements in an environment characterized by raw material volatility and increasing demands for traceability.
Added value
Customers benefit clearly:
- Higher supply continuity through integrated value chain and control over critical process steps.
- Recycling-based supply security with over 90% tungsten recycling rate (FY 2024/25)
- Structured European scrap collection and recycling processes through Stadler Raw Materials.
- Responsible sourcing and traceability through RMI-compliant smelters and a strict Supplier Code of Conduct.
- High planning security in a volatile and increasingly strained raw material market
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