Element Six
Element Six manufactures synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials, serving semiconductor, quantum technology, defense, water treatment, and industrial cutting customers. Founded in 1946 as part of De Beers Group, it operates proprietary CVD diamond technology across global facilities in the UK, US, Ireland, South Africa, and Germany.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersDidcot, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Element Six does
Element Six, founded in 1946 and headquartered at the Harwell Campus in Didcot, UK, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of De Beers Group (Anglo American) that designs and manufactures synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials. The company operates proprietary Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) synthesis technologies, producing electronic-grade, quantum-grade, thermal-grade, and optical-grade synthetic diamond alongside tungsten carbide cutting tools and wear parts. Manufacturing facilities span the UK, Ireland (Shannon), Germany (Burghaun), South Africa (Springs), and the United States (Gresham, Oregon; Portland, Oregon; Santa Clara, California), with a new $600 million Georgia facility under construction to satisfy US synthetic diamond grit demand. Core product lines include the DNV-B1 and DNV-B14 quantum-grade diamond series, Diafilm TM220 thermal material, Cu-Diamond composite for AI chip cooling, boron-doped diamond (Diamox) electrodes for water treatment, wafer-scale single crystal diamond for power and RF semiconductors, and MasterGrade/HD Series tungsten carbide tools.
The company's customer base is horizontal across multiple high-value industrial verticals — semiconductor thermal management, quantum computing and sensing, defense electronics, oil and gas, mining and construction, water treatment, photonics, and aerospace. Named enterprise customers include AWS (quantum networking), Lockheed Martin (Dark Ice magnetometer), Raytheon (LADDIS GaN RF), IonQ, Bowers & Wilkins, Lummus Technology (PFAS destruction), Bosch (quantum sensing JV), and Orbray (wafer-scale diamond). GTM combines direct enterprise sales for volume orders, technical sales engineering for custom applications, an e6cvd.com webstore for samples, and a distribution partnership with Thorlabs for quantum-grade diamonds. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of diamond materials and tools, licensing royalties (including II-VI and Orbray cross-licensing), and government/defense-funded R&D contracts via DARPA programs.
Element Six holds approximately 18% of the global synthetic diamond market, maintains over 2,000 patents across 40 countries, and has cultivated multi-decade academic partnerships with Harvard, MIT, Imperial College London, Delft, and the University of Warwick. The company's strategic positioning is to be the foundational supplier of engineered diamond substrates enabling next-generation quantum computing, wide-bandgap power electronics, AI thermal management, and PFAS remediation — converging industrial specialty materials with frontier technology verticals.
Element Six firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Element Six
- Legal name
- Element Six (UK) Ltd.
- Website
- https://e6.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Element Six manufactures synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials, serving semiconductor, quantum technology, defense, water treatment, and industrial cutting customers. Founded in 1946 as part of De Beers Group, it operates proprietary CVD diamond technology across global facilities in the UK, US, Ireland, South Africa, and Germany.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Element Six industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Synthetic Diamond and Superabrasive Materials
- NAICS
- All Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (32799), Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (327)
- SIC
- Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Synthetic/Lab-Grown Diamonds & Gemstones (Manufacturing & Trading) (CRAKAJAM)
Keywords
Where Element Six is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Didcot
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Element Six business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Synthetic Diamond Product Sales: Direct sales of synthetic diamond materials including thermal management products (Diafilm™ series), quantum grade materials (DNV™ series), and optical components. Products sold to industrial customers for integration into their products and applications.
- E-commerce Sample Sales: Online webstore (e6cvd.com) for purchasing samples of award-winning synthetic diamond materials, enabling researchers and smaller customers to access products directly.
- Licensing Royalties: Technology licensing arrangements including II-VI Inc. licensing of single-crystal diamond technology, and cross-licensing agreements with Orbray for wafer-scale diamond intellectual property.
- Government and Defense Contracts: DARPA LADDIS program participation for developing device-quality diamond substrates for military applications including RF and power electronics. Government-funded R&D collaborations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Quantum grade diamond samples available for purchase online |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Element Six product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Element Six manufactures and designs synthetic diamonds and supermaterials (including tungsten carbide) using proprietary Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) technologies. The company produces quantum-grade diamond materials for sensing and computing, thermal management diamond for high-power electronics, boron-doped diamond electrodes for water treatment, polycrystalline and single crystal diamond substrates for semiconductors, and superhard cutting/drilling tools for industrial applications across oil & gas, mining, automotive, and aerospace sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DNV-B1: First commercially-available, general-purpose CVD quantum grade diamond for nitrogen-vacancy (NV) ensemble applications including quantum sensing, masers, and magnetometry. Winner of SPIE Prism Award in Quantum category (2021).
- DNV-B14
- Diafilm TM220
- Cu-Diamond
- Diamox
- HD Series
- MasterGrade
- DNV Series
Products and services
- DNV-B1™ Quantum Grade Diamond First commercially-available general-purpose CVD quantum grade diamond with uniform density of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) spin centres and spin lifetimes of a microsecond. Designed for quantum demonstrations, masers, RF radiation detection, gyroscopes, and quantum sensing applications; used by quantum technology companies, research institutions, and defense programs.
- DNV-B14™ Quantum Grade Diamond Advanced quantum grade CVD diamond with more than 10-fold higher NV density compared to DNV-B1™. Designed for magnetic field devices, RF sensors, solid-state gyroscopes, and room-temperature masers. Targeted at quantum sensing developers and magnetometry applications.
- Diafilm™ TM220 Thermal Management Diamond World-first CVD diamond thermal material with thermal conductivity exceeding 2200 W/mK, designed for thermal management of high-power density RF devices, ASICs, GaN-based RF, MMICs for phase array radar, space and satellite, and 5G base stations. Targeted at high-power semiconductor, defense, and telecom equipment manufacturers.
- Cu-Diamond Composite Thermal Material High thermal and electrical conductivity copper-diamond composite material for cooling AI chips and GaN RF devices, available in two variants, complex shapes, and with coating options for improved thermal transfer. Targeted at semiconductor, AI, and RF power electronics manufacturers.
- Diamox™ Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes that solve component degradation problems historically hindering electrolytic ozone generation, enabling chemical-free disinfection and PFAS 'forever chemicals' destruction. Targeted at industrial water treatment, food and beverage processing, and environmental remediation customers; commercialized in partnership with Oxi-Tech Solutions and Lummus Technology.
- MasterGrade™ Tungsten Carbide Proprietary tungsten carbide grade using Nanotechnology to enhance the cobalt binder matrix for optimal wear resistance in cutting and drilling applications. Targeted at industrial cutting tool manufacturers and mining/construction operators.
- HD™ Series Heavy-Duty Tungsten Carbide Tools Heavy-duty tungsten carbide tools combining a larger wear-resistant body with proprietary MasterGrade™ carbide for highly abrasive milling and reclaiming operations. Targeted at road milling and mining customers globally.
- Aero-Dianamics™ PCD Aerospace Tools Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) aerospace product portfolio proven to provide 3x increased productivity in CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) processing. Targeted at aerospace component manufacturers.
- PureCut™ PCBN Tooling Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tooling technology for automotive market machining applications. Targeted at automotive manufacturers and friction stir welding research programs.
- Synthetic Diamond Grits Synthetic diamond grit products for industrial cutting, grinding, and drilling applications, distributed globally through Element Six's distributor network. Targeted at industrial abrasive and tool manufacturers across mining, construction, oil & gas, and automotive sectors.
- Wafer-Scale Single Crystal Diamond Substrates Reproducible single crystal diamond substrates demonstrated at 50mm (2-inch) and 3-inch (75mm) wafer scale with thermal conductivity exceeding 2200 W/m·K, surface roughness below 0.5 nm, and flatness below 10 µm; suitable for direct bonding to high-power semiconductors like gallium nitride and for 6G wireless, power/RF electronics, and quantum devices. Targeted at semiconductor device manufacturers.
- Large-Area Polycrystalline Diamond Plates Polycrystalline diamond with diameters greater than 100 mm for passive thermal management applications of high-power density silicon and gallium nitride semiconductor devices. Targeted at semiconductor thermal management integrators.
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% reduction in chemical consumption and thermal energy in water treatment applications
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Element Six
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Element Six technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Element Six partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Oxi-Tech SolutionscorePartnership to develop and commercialize synthetic diamond-enabled industrial cleaning and sanitation technologies. Combines E6's boron-doped diamond (BDD) technology with Oxi-Tech's Pulse Oxidation™ systems. Successfully piloted at Yeo Valley's Yoxter Organic Farm achieving 75% reductions in chemical use and heating energy. Expansion planned across food, beverage, and industrial sectors globally.
- IonQflagshipCollaboration on synthetic diamond materials for quantum networking. Breakthrough enabling synthetic diamond quantum devices to be produced using standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques. Makes quantum technology stack foundry-compatible for scalable production of quantum memories, photonic interconnects, and sensors.
- BoschcoreJoint venture for quantum sensors combining synthetic diamond solutions with Bosch's sensor manufacturing capabilities. Partnership to extend innovation leadership in quantum sensing.
- Master DrillingcoreStrategic alliance to integrate synthetic diamond cutting technology with mechanized drilling expertise. Comparative studies in UK and South Africa demonstrated 17% reduction in waste rock generation. Applications span mining, energy, telecommunications, and urban planning across Australia and global markets.
- Swarovski AGcoreStrategic partnership to co-develop high-purity diamond wafers for optical and sensor applications. Announced November 2024.
- DARPA (UWBGS Program)coreSelected for UWBGS (Ultra-Wide Band Gap Semiconductors) program established by DARPA. Developing next-generation ultra-wide band gap semiconductor technologies.
- Lummus TechnologycoreExclusive global partnership to deliver diamond-enabled solutions for destroying PFAS 'forever chemicals' from water. Element Six provides synthetic diamond electrodes for electrochemical treatment of contaminated wastewater.
- Orbray Co., Ltd.flagshipStrategic collaboration to deliver world's highest quality wafer-scale single crystal synthetic diamond. Combines Orbray's heteroepitaxial growth technology with Element Six's CVD synthesis platform. Cross-licensing of enabling IP. Target applications include 6G wireless, advanced power/RF electronics, sensing, thermal management, and quantum devices. Successfully established reproducible process for 3-inch WSC diamond, developing 4-inch substrates.
- SBQuantumcoreCollaboration providing synthetic diamond for quantum magnetometer. Diamond quantum magnetometer selected for NGA MagQuest Challenge final phases including space testing. Diamond provides four sensing axes for high-accuracy magnetic field measurements with no blind spots.
- DARPA (LADDIS Program)flagshipLADDIS (Large Area Device-quality Diamond Substrates) program performer. Develop new ways of fabricating device-quality diamond substrates for RF and power electronics in military applications. Partnership with Raytheon and Professor Martin Kuball (University of Bristol).
- RaytheoncoreLADDIS program partner for high-power GaN RF devices for defense applications. Element Six providing diamond substrates for thermal management in Raytheon's defense electronics.
- University of Bristol - Professor Martin KuballcoreLADDIS program academic partner who pioneered thermal characterization techniques for assessing diamond synthesis work. Professor of Physics.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Center for Quantum NetworkingcoreResearch collaboration to develop and improve synthetic diamond for quantum networking applications. Focus on quantum repeater memories and secure communication networks. Jointly exploring new synthetic diamond solutions for quantum networking.
- ThorlabscoreDistribution partnership making Element Six diamond solutions available through Thorlabs catalog with same-day shipment. Initial products include DNV™ Series quantum-grade diamonds. Broader CVD products planned for future release.
- Harvard UniversitycoreAcademic collaboration enabling isotopically engineered CVD single crystal achieving spin coherence times of seconds at room temperature (2012). Ongoing quantum networking research partnerships.
- MITcoreAcademic collaboration on quantum networking using SiV defects in diamond. Memory enhanced quantum communication demonstrated.
- University of WarwickcoreUKRI Prosperity Partnership - £5.2M project to develop next-generation diamond-enabled technologies. Partnership between Physics, Chemistry and Engineering departments. Aims to establish supply chain for quantum, semiconductor, and water technology applications.
- TWI (The Welding Institute)minorRESURGAM EU research programme - PCBN friction stir welding tools for steel applications in shipbuilding, pipelines, automotive, aerospace. Demonstrated extended tool life and superior weld quality.
- European Union (RESURGAM Programme)core€6 million EU-funded research initiative for friction stir welding technology. Element Six providing PCBN tools for welding steels required for marine applications. Nine European countries involved.
- Imperial College LondoncoreAcademic collaboration for world's first continuous-wave, room-temperature, solid-state MASER development (2018) using Element Six engineered single crystal diamond.
- Delft University of TechnologycoreAcademic collaboration enabling first successful loophole-free Bell's inequality test (2015), proving quantum entanglement and marking step toward quantum-secure network.
- University of Warwick - Professor Julie MacphersoncoreRoyal Society Industry Fellowship collaboration. Development of synthetic all-diamond electrochemical sensors for high performance applications in biomedical, environmental, food, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas sensing.
- University of StrathclydecoreLong-standing collaboration for diamond laser research. Demonstrated world's first tunable diamond Raman laser and first continuous-wave diamond Raman laser. Diamond enables multi-watt output powers at difficult wavelengths.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights14 records
Element Six competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Coherent Corp (formerly II-VI): Coherent Corp (formerly II-VI) is a broad incumbent in compound semiconductors and photonics that has licensed Element Six's single-crystal diamond technology, making it a direct diamond-substrate peer now competing in thermal management and wide-bandgap semiconductor materials. Overlap is strongest in GaN-on-diamond and CVD diamond wafer supply for RF and power electronics.
- Zhongnan Diamond (China Resources): Zhongnan Diamond is the second-largest synthetic diamond producer globally with ~12% market share, primarily competing with Element Six in industrial and gem-quality synthetic diamond. As a Chinese state-linked, lower-cost producer, it represents the primary commodity-price competitive threat to Element Six's industrial diamond business.
- SP3 Diamond Technologies: SP3 Diamond Technologies is a US-based CVD diamond equipment and materials company producing polycrystalline diamond and related diamond coatings for thermal management, cutting tools, and electronics. Direct peer in CVD diamond synthesis technology platforms and end-market applications.
- Applied Diamond Inc. Applied Diamond is a US-based manufacturer of CVD diamond products including optical, thermal, and electronic-grade diamond materials. Smaller scale than Element Six but directly comparable in product portfolio serving research, semiconductor, and laser markets.
- Sumitomo Electric Industries: Sumitomo Electric is a leading Japanese producer of synthetic single-crystal and polycrystalline CVD diamond, with comparable high-purity diamond offerings for thermal, optical, and quantum applications. It is one of the few peers worldwide with diamond substrates at similar purity and wafer sizes to Element Six, serving semiconductor and laser markets.
Broad incumbents
- Sandvik AB (Hyperion Materials & Technologies): Sandvik, through Hyperion Materials & Technologies, is a global incumbent in industrial cutting tools and tungsten carbide products, directly competing with Element Six's MasterGrade and HD Series offerings in mining, road milling, and machining. Comparable in tungsten carbide manufacturing scale and customer base.
- Kennametal Inc. Kennametal is a major industrial tooling manufacturer producing tungsten carbide and PCBN cutting tools, directly competing with Element Six's PureCut and HD Series product lines in automotive, aerospace, and industrial machining. Comparable customer base and broad incumbent presence across mining and machining.
- Mitsubishi Materials Corporation: Mitsubishi Materials is a major Japanese hard-materials and cutting-tool producer, with significant overlap in tungsten carbide, PCD, and PCBN products. Strong overlap in automotive and aerospace machining markets where Element Six's PureCut and Aero-Dianamics products compete.
Emerging players
- Qnami AG: Qnami is a Swiss quantum sensing startup whose ProteusQ quantum microscope incorporates Element Six's DNV diamond. It is an emerging player in NV-diamond-based quantum metrology and a downstream customer, making it a relevant peer in the quantum-sensing ecosystem.
- SBQuantum: SBQuantum is a Canadian quantum magnetometer startup using Element Six's engineered diamond for space-based magnetic field sensing, selected for NGA MagQuest Challenge. A relevant emerging peer in the diamond-quantum sensing stack that depends on Element Six's materials supply.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Element Six social profiles
Digital presenceElement Six financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Element Six leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Element Six funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Element Six M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Element Six
What does Element Six do?
Element Six manufactures and designs synthetic diamonds and supermaterials (including tungsten carbide) using proprietary Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) technologies. The company produces quantum-grade diamond materials for sensing and computing, thermal management diamond for high-power electronics, boron-doped diamond electrodes for water treatment, polycrystalline and single crystal diamond substrates for semiconductors, and superhard cutting/drilling tools for industrial applications across oil & gas, mining, automotive, and aerospace sectors.
Is Element Six a public or private company?
Element Six is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Element Six founded?
Element Six was founded in 1946. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Element Six based?
Element Six is headquartered in Didcot, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Element Six make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Synthetic Diamond Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Sample Sales, licensing Royalties and government and Defense Contracts.
Who are Element Six's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Coherent Corp (formerly II-VI), Zhongnan Diamond (China Resources), SP3 Diamond Technologies, Applied Diamond Inc. and Sumitomo Electric Industries. Broad incumbents are Sandvik AB (Hyperion Materials & Technologies), Kennametal Inc. and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. Emerging players are Qnami AG and SBQuantum.
Does Element Six have an API?
No public API is recorded for Element Six.
What industry is Element Six in?
Element Six's product category is Synthetic Diamond and Superabrasive Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAJAM, Synthetic/Lab-Grown Diamonds & Gemstones (Manufacturing & Trading). Its NAICS code is 32799 and its SIC code is 3290.