What TechForm does

TechForm Advanced Casting Technology LLC is a privately held, founder-owned precision casting foundry headquartered in Portland, Oregon, founded in 1994 by Teresa and Helmut Frye. The company specializes in lost-wax (investment) casting of platinum group metals and gold alloys, supported by proprietary ceramic shell technology and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) for densification. Its core product is platinum casting (including 950PtRu, 950PtCo, 950PtHCA, PtIr, and PtRh alloys) for fine jewelry brands and artisan makers, with a 2024 expansion into a full gold alloy family (14k/18k yellow, rose, white, 22k, and age-hardenable). TechForm also serves industrial customers in medical devices, aerospace components, and glass fiber manufacturing (platinum-rhodium bushings).

The underlying technology stack combines centrifugal casting with induction heating (reaching 1,700°C for platinum), in-house 3D pattern printing across FlashForge, ProJet, SolidScape, and EnvisionTEC systems, mold making (vulcanized rubber, RTV silicone, metal molds), daily XRF metal fineness verification, and HIP processing that measurably improves mechanical properties (e.g., 950PtRu elongation rising from 30% to 39%). The company holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and 2025 Responsible Jewelry Council certifications, and has reported a sub-1% gold recast/return rate.

TechForm's business model is predominantly transactional service revenue: casting fees indexed daily to precious-metals markets, pattern printing priced on machine time and materials, HIP fees per piece with volume discounts, single-flask charges ($30) for small orders, and custom quotes for production runs. Distribution is exclusively direct — customers upload CAD files (3DM or STL) through a secure portal or ship wax patterns and molds in, with finished castings returned via insured FedEx. There are no resellers or distributors. Marketing is built on technical publications, speaking at industry symposia (Santa Fe, Vicenza, MJSA, AGS), a company blog ("Casting Thoughts"), and the Portland Jewelry Symposium (founded by Teresa Frye in 2008), targeting both enterprise jewelry brands and a long tail of artisan makers across global and domestic markets.

Name

TechForm

Legal name

TechForm Advanced Casting Technology LLC

Website

https://techformcasting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TechForm is a privately held, founder-owned precision foundry in Portland, Oregon that specializes in lost-wax casting of platinum group metals and gold alloys for fine jewelry brands, artisan makers, and industrial customers in medical, aerospace, and glass fiber manufacturing, using proprietary ceramic shell technology and Hot Isostatic Pressing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Metal Casting

NAICS

Foundries (3315), Other Nonferrous Metal Foundries (except Die-Casting) (331529)

SIC

Nonferrous Foundries (Castings) (3360)

akta.pro primary industry

Casting, Stamping & Fabrication (OEM/ODM) (CRAKAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

CAD/CAM, Wax Modeling & Prototyping Services (CRAKAIAJ), Additive Manufacturing for Metals (Metal 3D Printers & Post-Processing) (IMAHADAG)

Keywords

• Precious metal casting
• Investment casting services
• Platinum group metals
• Jewelry casting foundry
• Lost wax casting

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Casting Services: TechForm provides platinum, gold, and other metal casting services with pricing indexed daily to market rates for precious metals. Casting fees are separate from metal costs, with pattern prices calculated based on machine time and materials. Flask fees apply for orders up to 4-6 pieces.
2. 3D Pattern Printing Services: In-house CAD file printing and pattern production services using state-of-the-art 3D printing technologies. Pattern printing is quoted based on review of CAD files and machine time/materials.
3. HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) Services: Post-cast densification service priced per piece, with volume discounts for multiple pieces. HIP fee is waived on first casting for new customers.
4. Mold Making Services: Production of vulcanized rubber molds, RTV silicone molds, and metal molds for jewelry designs. Molds take 2-3 days depending on order type.
5. Metal Sales: Precious metals (platinum and gold alloys) sold as part of casting services. Metal weights are calculated using multipliers (22x wax weight for platinum, 13.6x for 14k gold, 15.2x for 18k gold).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TechForm provides precision lost-wax (investment) casting services for platinum group metals and gold alloys to the jewelry, medical, aerospace, and glass manufacturing industries. Using a proprietary ceramic shell system, centrifugal induction casting, and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) post-processing, the company produces dense, high-integrity castings from CAD files or customer-supplied wax patterns. Supporting services include in-house 3D pattern printing, mold making, dimensional inspection, and material certification.

Product overview

TechForm is a precision casting company offering a unified casting platform centered on platinum and gold alloy casting services. The core offering consists of platinum group metal casting (including 950PtRu, 950PtCo, and specialty alloys) and expanded gold alloy casting (14k-22k yellow, rose, white, and age-hardenable gold). Supporting the core casting services are Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) for densification, 3D pattern printing for CAD-to-pattern workflows, mold making (rubber, silicone, and metal molds), dimensional inspection, and material certification. The company serves jewelry, industrial/medical, aerospace, and glass manufacturing markets, with proprietary ceramic shell technology and rigorous ISO 9001/ISO 14001 quality systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Platinum Casting Services Core platinum group metal casting service for jewelry, medical, aerospace, and dental applications, using proprietary ceramic shell technology and centrifugal induction casting, with optional HIP for densification.
• Gold Alloy Casting Gold casting services launched in 2024 offering 14k, 18k yellow, rose, white (nickel- and palladium-bearing), 22k, and age-hardenable gold alloys with HIP processing for density and durability.
• Industrial Casting Services Industrial casting services for glass fiber bushings, aerospace components, and medical devices requiring high-temperature, corrosion-resistant, and biocompatible platinum-rhodium alloys.
• Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) Standalone post-cast densification service that uses high-pressure, high-temperature inert gas treatment to eliminate sub-surface porosity, improve strength and ductility, and is offered for both platinum and gold alloy castings.
• 3D Pattern Printing In-house 3D wax pattern printing service using FlashForge, ProJet, SolidScape, and EnvisionTEC printers, accepting CAD files (3DM preferred, STL accepted) for jewelry and casting pattern production.
• Mold Making Standalone mold fabrication service offering Standard Vulcanized Rubber molds, Room Temperature Vulcanized Silicone (RTV) molds, and metal molds for jewelry production runs.

Quantifiable outcome

• HIP processing increases elongation from 30% to 39% and reduction of area from 55% to 87% for 950PtRu alloys
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Johnson MattheycoreOthersTrusted supplier of platinum alloys and casting grain. All platinum alloys are procured exclusively from Johnson Matthey, a supplier with formal sustainability programs, as part of TechForm's commitment to integrity and sustainability.
• Umicore Precious MetalscoreOthersPrecious metals supplier providing casting grain for TechForm's platinum and gold casting operations. Sourced from companies with formal sustainability programs.
• StullercoreOthersSupplier of gold alloys including 18K Yellow Gold Royal alloy and other precious metal products for TechForm's casting services.
• Hoover & StrongcoreOthersTrusted supplier of recycled precious metals and alloys, supporting TechForm's sustainability commitments and ethical sourcing practices.
• Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry certification body setting standards for responsible business practices in jewelry and watch industry. TechForm achieved RJC certification demonstrating commitment to ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and transparency.
• FEM Research Institute Precious Metals + Metal ChemistrystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for platinum alloy durability studies, including wear resistance research presented at the 2017 Santa Fe Symposium.
• Platinum Guild InternationalstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization partnership for promoting benefits of platinum in jewelry industry and supporting research into platinum wear resistance.
• American Gem Society (AGS)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association membership dedicated to promoting the benefits of platinum in the jewelry industry and connecting with jewelers.
• MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers Alliance)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association for jewelry manufacturing and supply. TechForm team members publish in MJSA Journal and participate in MJSA Expo events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hitchiner Manufacturing: Major investment casting foundry serving aerospace, industrial, and medical markets. Comparable in process and aerospace/medical customer overlap, but with a much broader metal and product portfolio.
• Heraeus Precious Metals: Global precious metals technology company with refining, products, and fabrication capabilities. Comparable in platinum-group-metal expertise and serves overlapping jewelry and industrial markets, but at a far larger and more diversified scale.
• Signicast (Form Technologies): Large-scale investment caster with broad industrial and aerospace customer base. Comparable in the underlying lost-wax process but operates at far greater scale across multiple metals.

Direct peers

• Hoover & Strong: Recycled precious metals supplier with casting and fabrication capabilities, overlapping with TechForm in gold and platinum casting for jewelry customers.
• United Precious Metal Refining (UPMR): Precious metal refining and casting services for the jewelry trade, overlapping with TechForm on platinum and gold casting for designers and manufacturers.
• Goldschmidt Smart Casting (Umicore): Jewelry-focused precious metal casting services within Umicore; competes in the same platinum and gold casting service bureau category as TechForm.
• Pease & Curren: Jewelry and industrial precious metal casting plus refining, serving a similar mix of artisan and commercial customers with a comparable service bureau model.
• David H. Fell & Company: Precious metal casting and refining for jewelry, dental, and industrial customers. Most directly comparable in precious metal casting services and customer overlap with TechForm.
• General Casting Company: Jewelry casting service bureau providing platinum, gold, and silver casting to designers and manufacturers, with a similar direct-to-jeweler business model.

Others

• Castaldo: Jewelry mold-making supplier (vulcanized rubber, RTV silicone molds). Adjacent enabling participant — its products are used by jewelers alongside services like TechForm's, making it a complementary rather than competing business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TechFormCasting

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 TechForm