Hempel Firmus Metals

What Hempel Firmus Metals does

Hempel Firmus Metals (trading as Hempel Special Metals) is a Switzerland-headquartered, owner-managed international distributor and processor of high-performance metallic materials, operating service centres in Switzerland, Germany, Poland, the UK, France, and Hong Kong, with a sales office in Shanghai and distribution partners in Italy, Turkey, India, and South Korea covering over 50 countries. The group stocks and processes semi-finished products in stainless steel (over 30 alloys), titanium and titanium alloys (including Grade 23 ELI for medical implants), nickel-based alloys (Alloy 625, 718, C-276), and exotic metals (Invar, Kovar, Nitinol, Tantalum, Tungsten, Zirconium, MP35N, CoCrMo), serving regulated B2B customers in aerospace (EN9100 certified, supplying Airbus), medical devices (ISO 13485 certified), chemical/process industry, and Swiss watchmaking.

The business generates revenue primarily through one-time B2B sales of these alloys in forms such as plate, sheet, bar, tubes, pipes, and fittings, supplemented by value-added processing services — precision slitting (0.1–2mm thickness, UK Dewsbury centre), cut-to-shape (plasma/water jet/shearing), fabricated EN9100 components, tubes and fittings, and forged products — as well as metal powders for additive manufacturing (Ti-6Al-4V, nickel-, cobalt-chromium-, and iron-based powders for SLM/LPBF/DMD/EBAM). The Econoxx platform operates a secondary-market channel for leftover materials and excess capacity, supporting customer ESG and circular-economy objectives.

The group employs around 80 people, is led by owner André Hempel through Hempel Holding AG, and reports annual revenues of more than 70 million USD. Pricing is quote-based and varies by alloy grade, form, dimensions, quantity, and certification requirements; customer acquisition combines a corporate website, LinkedIn, YouTube, email newsletters, and industry trade-show presence (e.g., OrthoManufacture). The capital structure is private and debt-light, with only a small NPIF–Mercia debt facility disclosed (~$262K, December 2019).

Name

Hempel Firmus Metals

Legal name

Hempel Holding AG

Website

https://hempel-metals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hempel Firmus Metals is an owner-managed international distributor and processor of high-performance metallic materials (stainless steels, titanium, nickel alloys, exotic metals) serving aerospace, medical, process industry, and watchmaking customers across 50+ countries through owned service centres and the Econoxx circular-economy platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Performance Metal Distribution

NAICS

Plate Work and Fabricated Structural Product Manufacturing (33231), All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299)

SIC

Wholesale-Metals Service Centers & Offices (5051)

akta.pro primary industry

Metals, Plastics & Fabrication Materials Marketplaces (CRAFAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Brokerage (Aluminum, Copper, Brass/Bronze, Lead, Zinc, Nickel) (IMAKAMAB), Metal Wire & Rod Feedstock (DED/WAAM) (IMAAABAF)

Keywords

• High-performance metal distribution
• Stainless steel supply
• Titanium alloy distribution
• Nickel alloy distribution
• Aerospace material supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Dewsbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Distribution of high-performance metallic materials: The company generates revenue through the distribution and processing of non-corrosive and heat-resistant stainless steels, titanium, titanium alloys, and nickel-based alloys. Revenue is derived from the sale of semi-finished products including plates, sheets, bars, tubes, pipes, and fittings. Additional revenue streams include material processing services, cut-to-size services, and the Econoxx circular economy platform for buying and selling leftover materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hempel Firmus Metals operates as an international distributor and value-added processor of high-performance metallic materials, supplying non-corrosive and heat-resistant stainless steels, titanium and titanium alloys, nickel-based alloys, and exotic metals. The company provides these in semi-finished forms (plate, sheet, bar, profiles, wire, tubes, fittings) and offers in-house processing services including metal powder supply for additive manufacturing, precision slit strip, cut-to-shape, fabricated components, and forged products. It also operates the Econoxx circular economy platform that enables customers to buy and sell leftover materials and excess capacity.

Product overview

Hempel Special Metals is an international distributor and service provider of high-performance metallic materials, operating as a single unified distribution and processing service rather than a modular software platform. The company stocks and processes non-corrosive and heat-resistant stainless steels, titanium and titanium alloys, and nickel-based alloys through service centers in Switzerland, England, Hong Kong, Poland, and Germany. Their product portfolio comprises material categories (Stainless Steel, Nickel Alloys, Titanium Alloys, Exotic Metals) combined with value-added processing services (Metal Powder for additive manufacturing, Precision Slit Strip, Cut to Shape, Fabricated Components, Tubes & Fittings, Forged Products) and the Econoxx circular economy platform for material recovery and recycling. The company serves regulated industries including aerospace (EN9100 certified), medical (ISO 13485 certified), process industry, and watchmaking with materials conforming to ASTM, ASM, ISO, VdTÜV, and NORSOK standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stainless Steel
• Nickel Alloys
• Titanium Alloys
• Exotic Metals
• Metal Powder
• Precision Slit Strip
• Cut to Shape
• Fabricated Components
• Tubes & Fittings
• Forged Products
• Econoxx

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports customers in reducing CO₂ emissions through circular economy services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EconoxxcoreOthersEconoxx is a subsidiary brand/platform of Hempel Special Metals for circular economy services, enabling buying and selling of leftover materials and excess capacity. This supports customers in achieving ESG and sustainability goals through closed material cycles.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TW Metals (thyssenkrupp Materials Services): Specialty distributor of stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloys and aluminium tubes, bars and sheets, serving aerospace, medical and industrial customers. Closest direct comparable to Hempel on product mix, customer verticals and value-added processing model.
• Mersen: Specialty industrial materials supplier with portfolios in high-performance alloys, graphite and electrical applications serving aerospace, process industry and electronics. Comparable to Hempel in regulated B2B distribution of high-spec metallic materials.
• A.M. Castle & Co. North American specialty metals distributor of stainless, nickel and aluminium alloys in bar, plate and tube forms. Direct peer on product mix and B2B distribution model, with a complementary geographic footprint to Hempel.
• VDM Metals (part of Acerinox): German producer and distributor of nickel, cobalt and zirconium alloys for chemical, aerospace and energy markets. Overlaps directly with Hempel on nickel alloy distribution into process industry and aerospace, with similar end-market focus.

Broad incumbents

• Carpenter Technology: US-based producer and distributor of specialty alloys (nickel, titanium, stainless) for aerospace, medical and industrial markets. Overlaps with Hempel on nickel/titanium alloys and aerospace/medical end markets, but operates as an integrated mill-plus-distributor.
• Sandvik: Swedish engineering group with a materials technology division supplying stainless, nickel and titanium alloys plus cutting tools. Comparable end-market exposure and specialty alloy portfolio, though much larger and more diversified than Hempel.
• voestalpine: Austrian steel and specialty metals group with high-performance materials division serving aerospace, automotive and energy. Overlaps with Hempel on specialty stainless, titanium and nickel products for regulated industries, but at vastly greater scale.
• thyssenkrupp Materials Services: Europe's largest metals service center group distributing stainless, aluminium, copper and special steels. Direct overlap with Hempel's stainless and special alloys business, with global scale and processing capabilities that exceed Hempel's footprint.
• Aalberts Industries: Dutch-listed industrial technology group with specialty materials and surface treatment businesses serving aerospace, medical and process industries. Comparable customer base and regulated-industry focus, though broader and more diversified than Hempel.

Regional players

• Sumitomo Corporation (Metal Products): Japanese trading house distributing specialty steel, titanium and nickel alloys across Asia and globally. Comparable in titanium and nickel alloy distribution into aerospace, but with primary strength in APAC end customers rather than EMEA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HempelSpecialMetals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firmus-metals-ltd

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hempel Firmus Metals