Element Six

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.

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

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

• Synthetic diamond manufacturing
• Tungsten carbide tooling
• Quantum grade diamonds
• Thermal management materials
• CVD diamond substrates

Headquarters

HQ city

Didcot

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers16 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Oxi-Tech SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Partnership 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.
• IonQflagshipTechnology or Integration · 4 September 2025Collaboration 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.
• BoschcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2025Joint venture for quantum sensors combining synthetic diamond solutions with Bosch's sensor manufacturing capabilities. Partnership to extend innovation leadership in quantum sensing.
• Master DrillingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Strategic 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 or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Strategic partnership to co-develop high-purity diamond wafers for optical and sensor applications. Announced November 2024.
• DARPA (UWBGS Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Selected for UWBGS (Ultra-Wide Band Gap Semiconductors) program established by DARPA. Developing next-generation ultra-wide band gap semiconductor technologies.
• Lummus TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024Exclusive 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 or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2024Strategic 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.
• SBQuantumcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2023Collaboration 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)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2023LADDIS (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).
• RaytheoncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2023LADDIS 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 KuballcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023LADDIS program academic partner who pioneered thermal characterization techniques for assessing diamond synthesis work. Professor of Physics.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) - Center for Quantum NetworkingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 April 2023Research 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.
• ThorlabscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 June 2022Distribution 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 UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2022Academic collaboration enabling isotopically engineered CVD single crystal achieving spin coherence times of seconds at room temperature (2012). Ongoing quantum networking research partnerships.
• MITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2022Academic collaboration on quantum networking using SiV defects in diamond. Memory enhanced quantum communication demonstrated.
• University of WarwickcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2021UKRI 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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2021RESURGAM 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2021€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 LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Academic collaboration for world's first continuous-wave, room-temperature, solid-state MASER development (2018) using Element Six engineered single crystal diamond.
• Delft University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Academic 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 MacphersoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2014Royal 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 StrathclydecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2014Long-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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ElementSix_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCV_a6R_VmdNnkM6ULA2-OZg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/element-six

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Element Six