This section provides an overview for tungsten as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 43 tungsten manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked tungsten companies as of October, 2024: 1.ATI, 2.American Elements, 3.Elmet Technologies, Inc..
Table of Contents
Tungsten (element symbol: W) is a transition metal element with an atomic weight of 183.85.
Tungsten is used in various fields such as automobiles, tools, lighting, home appliances, semiconductors, and medicine by being processed into various product forms such as powder, ingot, wire, bar, and plate.
Tungsten is used in the following applications, taking advantage of its properties:
Tungsten is also used for lighting purposes, but its use is declining with the spread of LEDs.
Other applications include the use of tungsten as an alloy with carbon, which is an alloy of tungsten and carbon, and tungsten as an alloy with carbon, which is an alloy of tungsten and carbon.
Tungsten carbide, an alloy with carbon, is a typical example. It is one of the cemented carbides and is used as an additive in cutting tools and steel. Tungsten carbide is used not only for cutting tools but also as an abrasive because it does not soften at high temperatures, maintains high hardness, and has high strength.
Tungsten has a silvery-white surface on polished lumps and a gray powder with a specific gravity of 19.3. It has the highest melting point of any metal (3,380℃) and boiling point of 5,800℃. It is also characterized by a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and is used as a raw material for containers and parts used at high temperatures, such as crucibles and furnaces.
Although Tungsten is not the main ingredient, KS steel, an alloy of iron containing cobalt, tungsten, chromium, and carbon, was called the strongest permanent magnet when it was developed in Japan in 1917.
Tungsten ore is mixed with other metals such as wolframite, ferberite, manganese hubnerite, and scheelite (chemical formula: CaWO4). Among these, wolframite and scheelite are the most important ores.
More than 80% of the ores are produced in China, and others are produced in Russia, Australia, Canada, and other countries.
Despite the uneven distribution of its production, it is an element of high importance, and as a security measure, a stockpile of at least 60 days' worth of tungsten for domestic consumption has been established.
A number of alloys have been developed that are mainly composed of Tungsten. Tungsten-based sintered alloys in which the binder phase is composed of nickel, copper, iron, etc., are called heavy alloys. Heavy alloys include the tungsten-nickel-copper (W-Cu-Ni) and tungsten-nickel-iron (W-Fe-Ni) systems.
The Tungsten-Nickel-Copper system is not magnetic but has high thermal conductivity. On the other hand, the Tungsten-Nickel-Iron system is weakly magnetic and has excellent mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation. Heavy alloys are produced by powder metallurgy because Tungsten has a very high melting point.
After the metal powder is uniformly mixed, it is pressed and formed under high pressure, and then sintered at high temperatures to produce it.
The physical properties of the alloy can be differentiated by adjusting the particle size of the Tungsten used in the manufacturing process, the type of metal used for the binder, and the quantity ratio.
Tungsten ingots themselves are not toxic, so they are used in applications where they come into direct contact with tools and accessories.
As for the toxicity of tungsten compounds, it has been reported that the half lethal dose LD50 (an index of acute toxicity) in rats by oral intake is 3,300 mg/kg for phosphoric tungsten acid, 1,190 mg/kg for sodium tungstate, and 840 mg/kg for tungsten oxide (VI). All of these compounds are toxic and poisonous.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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ATI is an American custom valve automation equipment manufacturer that was established in 1995 in Houston, Texas. The company primarily produces hydraulic and pneumatic valve actuators for linear and quarter-turn linear valve models, power systems (e.g. accumulators, gas bottles), and control systems such as limit switches and solenoids. It also offers custom design, machining and production of equipment as well as retrofitting and repair services to customers requiring additional support. ATI chiefly serves clients in the oil and gas, power generation, chemical processing, and mining industries.
Elmet Technologies Inc., established in 1929 and headquartered in Lewiston, United States of America, is a manufacturer of tungsten and molybdenum refractory metal products and machining services. The company manufactures tungsten and molybdenum foil, sheets, cubes, and powders. It also produces heavy alloys, rods, wire, foil, and sheet products. These products are exemplary in refractory metals, that cover a wide array of pure metals and alloys. It serves customers globally in Europe, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It is ITAR registered and has production management systems certified to AS9100 and ISO 9001.
American Elements was founded in 1997 in California and currently has research and production facilities in Utah, Mexico, China, and the United Kingdom. AE manufactures and distributes advanced materials from a catalog of over 30,000 products for bulk industrial use as well as small scale laboratory use. AE also provides testing and analyses services including spectroscopy along with structural, thermal, and electrical analyses. AE holds sustainable development as a core corporate value and is committed to work to protect the health of the environment.
Since its establishment in 1987, Buffalo Tungsten Inc. is a manufacturer of tungsten and tungsten carbide products, based in the United States. The company offers a wide range of products including tungsten powders, rods, and custom-engineered components, serving industries such as aerospace, defense, and electronics. Buffalo Tungsten demonstrates unwavering devotion to excellence, providing unfailing tungsten solutions. Their expertise lies in producing precision-engineered components that meet the unique needs of their clients, ensuring durability and performance in challenging environments.
Stanford Advanced Materials was established in 1994 in Lake Forest, California to provide rare-earth products for research and development purposes. Stanford Advanced Materials serves many industries ranging from automotive to fashion to energy to research to sports to textiles. Stanford Advanced Materials manufactures and distributes purified metals, ceramics, composite materials including strips, plates, rods, wires, and bars, as well as laboratory equipment and optical equipment including crystals, lenses, splitters, and windows.
ProChem, Inc was founded in 9186 and is headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. The company is a manufacturer of high-purity inorganic chemicals and materials including rare earth, sputtering targets, and organometallic compounds. The company serves numerous industries including research and manufacturing and has collaborated with such organizations as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The company offers custom synthesis of advanced materials, product-specific packaging, purification services, and costume blending and tooling of chemical compounds.
Midwest Tungsten Service is based in Willowbrook, Illinois since 1958 as manufacturers and suppliers of fabricated tungsten products. The company produces sheets, rods, wires, bars, and related materials made of pure Tungsten, Tungsten alloy, Tungsten Copper Alloy, Pure Molybdenum and Pure Tantalum. These products have diverse uses in the Medical, Aerospace, Electrical, Automotive and Die Casting industries, to name a few. Tungsten has various uses because of its highest tensile strength, high melting point and lowest vapor pressure of all metals.
J V Precision, Inc., headquartered in Hudson, New York, in whict they specializes in providing precision metal rods and tubes. The company offers a range of metal rods and tubes, including copper rods, brass tubes, tungsten tubes, and graphite rods, which these products cater to industries such as aerospace, medical, and manufacturing, and are used for critical applications that require precision dimensions and tolerances. J V Precision's expertise in producing metal rods and tubes ensures their customers receive durable and quality components.
Metal Cutting Corporation was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. The company is an independent metal fabrication manufacturer, specializing in burr-free abrasive cut-off metal parts and the related grinding, lapping, polishing, EDM, and metrology capabilities required to meet customers’ tight tolerance requirements. The company manufactures metal components for a diverse range of industries including medical devices, automotive, aerospace, and fiber optics. The company offers products in three divisions: Tubes, Solid Metal Parts, and Machined Parts, which include Swiss-style automatic machining, 4-axis CNC milling and turning, and CNC lathe machining.
Feralloy, Inc. is a manufacturer of engineered metal parts and goods based in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1984, the company produces various superalloys, machined bar stock components, and custom metal fabrications for clients in oil and gas, power generation and mining. The company's product lineup includes rolled ring and closed-die forgings, sand and heat-resistant alloy castings, and custom weldments as well as assemblies for clients with niche specifications. Feralloy also offers logistics planning and coordination, distribution and scrap alloy buyback services.
Based in Bayville, NY, SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp. is an ISO-certified supplier and manufacturer of industrial equipment, chemicals, components, ordinance, electronics, and systems for industries ranging from aerospace to high tech to law enforcement. Examples of product offerings include raw materials, chemicals, and lubricants for industrial purposes to finished products such as security helmets for law enforcement, and military ordnances. SAE also provides research and development as well as technical support for other companies in similar industries.
High Tech Material Solutions is based in Auburn, Washington. The company is a supplier of advanced materials and a manufacturer of custom-machined ceramic components to customers globally, with local delivery and in-store pickup also available. The company primarily serves aerospace, medical, government agencies, and energy industries. The company’s services include CNC machining and custom ceramic-based materials fabrication. Additional materials the company provides include crystals, optical materials, nickel foam, and aerospace gels.
Ed Fagan Inc. was established in 1965, is located in Franklin Lakes, NJ, and are supplier of specialty metals and special purpose alloys. The portfolio includes controlled expansion alloys, electronic grade nickels, refractory metals and alloys, soft magnetic alloys, and many more. Every day the company furnishes customers with special-purpose metals and alloys, competitive market pricing in conjunction with all the services the clients expect from a supply chain. The stocking program of the company provides customers the methods so that the materials can be shipped on demand, in the quantities needed.
Kennametal, Inc. is an American manufacturer and distributor of engineering tools and materials that was established in 1938 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company primarily produces mining and metalworking tools such as solid carbide cutters and indexable inserts. They also offer components as well as materials, including metal powders, drill bits, tungsten-based alloys, and carbide rods and blanks. These are commonly used in construction, transportation, and energy production, as well as in surface and underground mining operations. Kennametal, Inc. operates internationally with several subsidiaries of its own, including Sintec Keramik GmbH, Stellite Holdings Ltd, and Conforma Clad Inc.
Reliable Source, Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Fontana, California. The company is a distributor of raw and advanced materials and subcomponents for industries including personal electronics, defense, telecommunications, and data centers. The company’s three product sectors include raw materials, manufacturing, and components. The raw materials sector includes alloys, aluminum, nickel, and titanium. The manufacturing sector includes welding, stamping, and grinding of materials. The company’s components sector includes products such as bearings, brackets, fittings, and general tools.
READE was originally established in Wolverhampton, England in 1773 as a pharmaceutical chemical and varnish manufacturer. Today READE is based in Riverside, Rhode Island in the United States and is an ISO 9001-certified distributor of specialty chemical solids. READE Advanced Materials offers a selection of hundreds of materials and compounds ranging from alloys in various forms to oxides, sulfides, individual elements, and specialty compounds. READE offers global sourcing, custom toll chemical processing, and custom toll packaging from metallurgical grade to pharmaceutical and food grade.
Accumet Materials Co. is headquartered in Ossining, New York. The company is a metal and ceramics manufacturer and distributor that provides metal engineering solutions to customers around the world. The company specializes in three primary materials: ceramics, metal, and powders. The company offers custom products based on several materials including ceramics, zirconium, magnesium oxide, crystals, and other metals. The company’s facilities include ceramics fabrication, vacuum & arc melting furnaces, a custom foundry, crystal growing, and powder production systems.
All Metal Sales, Inc. is headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, with processing and distribution based in Cleveland, Ohio. The company is a manufacturer of non-standard and custom-made items often used in the aerospace, energy, military, petrochemical, and science industries. Customers include Boeing, Eaton, NASA, Philips Healthcare, and SpaceX. The company offers a full range of services and capabilities including heat treatment, straightening, plasma cutting, and ultrasonic testing. The company’s capabilities include a vast number of standard and specialty metals including Rene 41, tungsten, cobalt, and others.
Tech Steel & Materials was founded in 1999 and headquartered in Holbrook, New York. The AS9120B and ISO 9001:2015 certified company is a distributor of metal supply for aerospace, defense, and power generation industries in the United States and overseas. The company provides a range of specialized services and processes including part conversions, machining, grinding, heat treatment, and testing of metals. The company provides custom production of non-standard sizes and alloys of metal tubing, bar, and flat-rolled products.
Spotwelding Consultants, Inc. was established in 1983 and based in Rowlett, Texas. The company is a welding consultant and distributor of new and used resistance welders to customers across the United States and many countries overseas. The company also provides rebuilding, tooling, and customization services for customers’ welding equipment and machinery. The company’s primary lines are spot welding equipment which includes maintenance and quality control devices, and resistance soldiering products including soldering irons and resistance soldering systems.
Mokawa, Inc., a subsidiary of E. Wagener, is based in Florida, United States. The company specializes in the acquisition and fabrication of refractory, special, and rare earth metals. Mokawa's range of rare earth metals includes Chromium, Cobalt, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. The company also offers the processing of metals into custom components which can be made from metals such as niobium, tantalum, tungsten, and their alloys. Mokawa provides material testing services and all orders come with material composition reports.
Goodfellow was established in London, England in 1946. Goodfellow is a distributor of metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, and compounds for scientific and academic research, manufacturing, and design industries. Goodfellow products are ISO 9001:2008 accredited. Goodfellow provides services, custom manufacturing, and standard supplies for customers. Service includes access to its knowledge base as well as technical expertise. Custom manufacturing is available for different cycles of manufacturing, precision machining forming, coating, and surface treatment. Standard supplies include access to over 150,000 in-stock advanced scientific materials.
B & S Aircraft Alloys was founded in 1979 and headquartered in Syosset, New York. The company is a distributor of precision parts and titanium, nickel, aluminum, stainless, and commercial alloys to customers in the aerospace as well as medical, scientific, petrochemical, and industrial industries across the United States. The company meets with certifications for military and other specifications and supplies customers such as Boeing, NASA, Honeywell, and General Motors. The company provides parts and service for several aircraft including commercial 737s and military F-15s.
Admat, Inc. is an American supplier of refractory metals established in 1997 and based in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The company's product inventory includes refractory metals such as tungsten, niobium, titanium, and molybdenum in various forms for utilization in the industrial sector. These include rods, tubes, sheets/plates, and wire, as well as thin films and capacitors. Admat also provides custom machining and fabrication services for their clients in semiconductor production, chemical processing, and the defense industry.
Xi'an Refra Tungsten & Molybdenum Co. Ltd., founded in 2010 and headquartered in Shaanxi, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of tungsten and molybdenum raw materials, parts, and specialty furnace components. The company's core business is the production of tungsten and molybdenum plates, rods, and sheets. Its secondary product line comprises machined tungsten and molybdenum forms, such as X-ray anti-scatter shielding and light-limiting cylinders, and it also offers a range of components needed in furnaces for crystal growth, sintering, and scientific experiments.
Nippon Tungsten Co., Ltd., founded on April 1, 1931, and headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan, is a manufacturer of machine parts and electrical components. Its diverse product line caters to various industries, featuring tungsten and molybdenum products for electrical contacts, cemented carbide, and ceramics. It also produces resistance welding electrodes primarily used in automotive welding, fine ceramics for electronic devices and wear-resistant tools, and magnetic head substrates for hard disk drive manufacturing.
Toshiba Materials Co., Ltd is a Japanese-based manufacturer and retailer of fine ceramics, magnetic parts, special metals, and alloys founded in 2003. They manufacture fine ceramics for medical equipment, aircraft engines, fan motor, and machine tools, including aluminum nitride and silicon nitride. A tungsten and molybdenum product line also includes wires, probe pins, rotating anodes, and parts of these metals or their alloys. Toshiba Materials also manufactures materials and coatings, including niobium, titanium, and crAix alloy, used in producing semiconductors.
A.L.M.T. Corp., founded in Japan in 1939, is a manufacturer of heat spreaders, tungsten/molybdenum powder and machined products. The company's product portfolio includes diamond cutting tools, CBN cutting, grinding tools, metallic materials that are used for electrodes in various electronics and heat-resistant parts for high temperature furnaces and drawing dies. The company serves industries such as oil and gas, aerospace and defense, automotive and transportation, construction, and power generation. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, installation, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, repair and customer service.
M&I Materials/WOLFMET, established in 1901, is a manufacturer of advanced materials for various industries, based in the United Kingdom. The company specializes in providing solutions for demanding applications, including electrical, energy, and industrial sectors. With a legacy spanning over a century, M&I Materials/WOLFMET offers a range of products, including high-density tungsten alloys, under the WOLFMET brand. These alloys are vital for radiation shielding in medical, aerospace, and defense applications, ensuring safety and precision. M&I Materials/WOLFMET's strengths include their technical expertise, adaptability to industry needs, and collaboration with global organizations. Their investment in research and development reflects their application of cutting-edge solutions.
Plansee Japan Ltd., set up in 2009 in Japan, is a manufacturer of advanced metal components from molybdenum and tungsten for electrical, medical, and industrial uses. The company was formed with the amalgamation of Nippon Plansee, Japan Vacs Metal, and Japan Vacs Precision, although the parent organization started in 1921. Products include temperature-resistant metals such as molybdenum, tungsten, and tantalum for semiconductors, furnace construction, and the electrical industry. The product categories comprise X-ray components, cooling inserts for molds, evaporation coils and dimming caps. They are used in applications like thermal management and rocket propulsion systems for resilience, performance, and robustness.
Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals Inc., founded in North Haven, CT, in 1924 is a manufacturer of precision metal products. The company's product portfolio includes Precision Machined Components, sheet metal fabrication, metal stamping, die casting and forging and welding and assembly services. The company serves industries such as Oil and Gas, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Construction, and Power Generation. The company also provides services including national distribution, product selection, customized services, technical support and customer service.
Element Six UK Ltd., established in 1946 and based in Didcot, England, is a manufacturer of synthetic diamond and tungsten carbine supermaterials. It is part of the De Beers Group with manufacturing sites in several locations, including Germany, South Africa, and the US. Its supermaterial solutions have many applications across multiple industries, including aerospace, mining, and machining. All of the company’s products are manufactured in-house using materials that the company produces. In December 2023, the company announced that a diamond quantum magnetometer powered by its single-crystal diamond would be tested in space.
Michigan Metals & Manufacturing, Inc., founded in 2006, and located in West Bloomfield, Michigan, is a custom manufacturer and supplier specializing in rare earth and refractory metals. The company's product range includes single crystals, specialty powders, foils, plates, as well as rods, and other items made from rare earth and refractory metals, in which these materials find application in industries such as aerospace, electronics, energy, and research, supporting diverse technological advancements.
ACI Alloys, Inc. was founded in 1985 and based in San Jose, California in the heart of Silicon Valley. The company manufactures sputtering targets, evaporation sources, and specialty materials for thin-film and related applications both for educational and industrial customers. The company manufactures materials from most elements and has developed or manufactured hundreds of alloys over the past 11 years. The company works with most rare earth elements to create unique alloys for customers, apart from promethium which is radioactive. The company can also reclaim unused elements of alloys.
Cleveland Tungsten, Inc., founded in 1916, is a manufacturer and supplier of tungsten products located in Jurong Town, Singapore. The tungsten products include powder, electrodes, cut-to-length rods, discs, contact arms, and pint sets, as well as vaporizing coils and custom solutions to the technology, energy supply, automotive, aerospace, and military industries. The company has a sale office and warehouse in Solon, Ohio, U.S.A. The company offers individualized services to small and large corporates.
Advanced Technology and Materials co. (Antai E-Marketing), established in 2009 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is a distributor and manufacturer of new digital marketing solutions. The company's diverse product portfolio includes AI-driven digital advertising platforms, social media management tools, and data analytics software. These offerings empower businesses to enhance their online existence and marketing strategies across various platforms. Antai E-Marketing's solutions cater to industries such as e-commerce, retail, and digital marketing agencies and plays a pivotal role in advancing businesses through their digital marketing tools and strategies.
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. is an ISO 45001-certified manufacturer of optical fiber and electrical wire cables that was established in Osaka, Japan, in 1897. The company produces optical fiber products for data communication or telecom applications, wire cable products for power transmission and automotive electronics, and flexible printed circuits for electronic device assembly. It also offers compound semiconductors for use in optical and wireless communication. The company’s products are commonly used by clients in the aerospace, telecommunications, and consumer electronics industries.
AEM & Forge, LLC is a distributor and custom manufacturer of metal raw materials based out of Houston, Texas. The company serves the aerospace, manufacturing, construction, and other industries. The company utilizes various alloys including aircraft standard, nickel, cobalt, copper alloys, and mil-spec materials. The company also provides services including consulting, electropolishing, EMI and RFI shielding, and photo etching. Customized annealing, beveling, deburring, and water jet cutting customizations are also available.
Leading Edge Metals & Alloys, Inc. is a supplier of Rare Metal & Alloys used for various applications in various industries including electronics, medical, and aerospace based in Torrance, California. The company's range of rare metals and alloys includes Niobium, Tantalum, Alloy 52 as well as Heavy metal Tungsten Alloy and Refractory metals. Leading Edge Metals & Alloys also offers services including CNC Machining, Milling, Heat Treating, and Electromagnetic Shielding to customer specifications.
Ranking as of October 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | ATI |
6.4%
|
2 | American Elements |
5.6%
|
3 | Elmet Technologies, Inc. |
3.6%
|
4 | Advanced Technology & Materials Co., Ltd |
3.6%
|
5 | Ferralloy, Inc. |
3.6%
|
6 | BUFFALO TUNGSTEN INC. |
3.4%
|
7 | Cleveland Tungsten, Inc. |
3.4%
|
8 | All Metal Sales, Inc. |
3.4%
|
9 | Mokawa, Inc. |
3.2%
|
10 | Michigan Metals & Manufacturing, Inc. |
3.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the tungsten page as of October 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 24 | 72.7% |
Japan | 4 | 12.1% |
China | 2 | 6.1% |
Canada | 2 | 6.1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 3.0% |