Panatere
Panatere SA is a Swiss specialty-materials company that operates the world's first industrial solar furnace for metal recycling, converting stainless steel, titanium and alloy production offcuts from watchmaking, medical and aerospace manufacturers into certified 100% recycled raw materials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSaignelégier, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Panatere does
Panatere SA is a Swiss specialty-materials company founded in 2012 by Raphaël Broye in Saignelégier, Switzerland. It operates a 100% closed-loop metal recycling model that collects stainless steel, titanium and alloy production offcuts from industrial manufacturers, processes them through a proprietary local supply chain, and returns certified recycled raw materials to the same clients. The company's commercial differentiator is the operation, since October 2025, of two industrial concentrated-solar furnaces at La Chaux-de-Fonds — a 30 kW unit reaching 1,700°C and a 5 kW unit reaching up to 2,000°C, powered by 500 concave mirrors and heliostats — which melt recycled metal without fossil fuels or grid electricity, yielding solar stainless steel with a 165x lower carbon footprint than conventional steel (0.041 kg CO2-eq/kg vs. 6.8 kg CO2-eq/kg).
Panatere's product portfolio includes solar stainless steel (AISI 316L), 100% recycled stainless steel, 100% recycled titanium (Grade 5), and the ZEP1510 zinc-aluminum-copper alloy. All products are certified anti-allergenic and bio-compatible for medical and skin-contact applications, and qualified for at least eight successive recycling cycles without performance loss. Underpinning the offerings are two granted patents — a grade-sorting methodology for production offcuts and a solar reactor for industrial metal melting — and a pending application covering a camera-based closed-loop traceability system with external auditor certification.
The company sells exclusively through direct B2B channels to luxury watchmaking, medical device, and aerospace manufacturers across Switzerland and internationally, supplemented by a Materio materials-platform listing. Revenue streams span eco-material sales (unit-priced bar/flat/strip stock), closed-loop recycling services billed as managed services, private-label project management (concept to industrialization), and collaborative custom alloy development. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the company installs sorting containers free of charge on client sites and pays clients daily for offcut weight. Operations are spread across Saignelégier (HQ and admin), La Chaux-de-Fonds (solar furnace production), Glovelier (former WISER SA watch-case facility acquired in 2012), Reconvilliers (regional sorting center), and a Hong Kong support office opened in 2015–2016. Capacity roadmap targets 1,000 metric tons of solar steel per year by 2028 via the planned CTSM (Centre de Traitement Solaire des Métaux).
Panatere firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Panatere
- Legal name
- PANATERE SA
- Website
- https://panatere.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Panatere SA is a Swiss specialty-materials company that operates the world's first industrial solar furnace for metal recycling, converting stainless steel, titanium and alloy production offcuts from watchmaking, medical and aerospace manufacturers into certified 100% recycled raw materials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Panatere industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled Metals Manufacturing
- SIC
- Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Parts Harvesting & Component Reuse (EUAIANAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Circularity, Refurbishment & Resale (Used Modules/Turbines/Components) (EUAMALAK)
Keywords
Where Panatere is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saignelégier
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Panatere business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Eco-Material Sales (Solar Stainless Steel, Recycled Titanium, ZEP Alloy): Panatere sells 100% recycled and recyclable eco-materials (solar stainless steel, recycled stainless steel, recycled titanium, ZEP1510 alloy) to watchmaking, medical, and aerospace manufacturers. Products are sold in standard formats (bar stock, flat stock, strips) and custom dimensions. Solar stainless steel achieves 0.041 kg CO2-eq per kg (165x less than conventional).
- Closed-Loop Recycling Services: Panatere charges industrial manufacturers for comprehensive closed-loop recycling services: assessing offcuts, defining recycling processes, installing containers, training staff, monitoring collection, transporting to solar furnace, and delivering certified materials back to the client. Services are priced and recurring based on ongoing production waste volumes.
- Private Label Project Management: Panatere offers end-to-end project management for private label realizations including feasibility studies, design-to-cost analysis, ultra-rapid prototyping, industrialization through digitization 4.0, quality control (Quick Control), risk management, and continuous improvement — sold as professional services to brand partners.
- Custom Alloy Development: Collaborative service to create unique alloys from client production offcuts with pre-defined performance requirements, including pilot casting, material validation, process duplication, and setup of on-site collection centers. Revenue is project-based.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Solar stainless steel — sold by weight and format |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Closed-loop solar recycling service — service fee for full recycling program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Panatere product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Panatere transforms industrial production offcuts (chips and pieces of stainless steel, titanium, and copper-alloy waste) from regional manufacturers into 100% recycled and recyclable eco-materials using patented concentrated solar furnace technology. The company operates a closed-loop recycling system, installing sorting containers on client premises, processing materials at its solar furnaces in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and returning certified raw materials (solar stainless steel, recycled titanium, ZEP 1510 alloy) to watchmaking, medical device, and aerospace manufacturers.
Product overview
Panatere operates as a pioneer in sustainable metal recycling solutions, offering a portfolio of eco-materials produced using concentrated solar furnace technology. The core product line includes Solar Stainless Steel and Recycled Stainless Steel (AISI 316L) with 165x and 10x lower carbon footprint respectively, 100% Recycled Titanium (Grade 5), and the ZEP 1510 alloy. These materials are complemented by service offerings including production offcuts recycling with full traceability, custom alloy creation, and eco-materials testing. The company is building towards the CTSM (Centre de Traitement Solaire des Métaux) as a flagship facility. Panatere's closed-loop model transforms industrial waste into high-performance materials for watchmaking, medical, aerospace, and luxury industries, all produced in Switzerland's Watch Valley region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Solar Stainless Steel: 100% recycled stainless steel produced through concentrated solar furnace with environmental impact of 0.041 kg CO2-eq, 165 times less than conventional steel.
- Recycled Stainless Steel
- 100% Recycled Titanium
- ZEP 1510 Alloy
Products and services
- Solar Stainless Steel 100% recycled stainless steel (AISI 316L, DIN 1.4441) produced using a concentrated solar furnace, achieving 0.041 kg CO2-eq per kg, which is 165 times less than conventional steel. Available in bar stock (diameters 16mm, 45mm, 60mm; length 3m), flat stock, and custom dimensions for watchmaking, medical, and skin-contact applications.
- Recycled Stainless Steel 100% recycled stainless steel (AISI 316L, DIN 1.4441) produced through a local supply chain, achieving 0.63 kg CO2-eq per kg, which is 10 times less than conventional steel. Anti-allergenic and bio-compatible with consistent polish qualities.
- 100% Recycled Titanium 100% recycled titanium (DIN 3.7165, Grade 5, Ti6Al4V) produced through local supply chain. Features low density, high shock resistance, anti-allergenic properties, and aesthetic qualities for watchmaking and medical applications.
- ZEP 1510 Alloy Zinc-aluminum-copper alloy (ZnAl15Cu1Mg) recycled by electrolysis from waste ash from the Kebag incineration plant, achieving 0.30 kg CO2-eq (10 times less than conventional copper alloy). Replaces brass or nickel silver for fittings and decorative parts in watchmaking and decorative applications.
- Production Offcuts Recycling Service Closed-loop solar recycling service that assesses industrial manufacturers' production offcuts, installs sorting containers on client premises, trains staff in grade sorting, transports offcuts to the La Chaux-de-Fonds solar furnace, and delivers certified recycled eco-materials back to the client. Includes camera-based monitoring and external auditor-certified traceability.
- Custom Alloy Creation Service Collaborative service to optimize the second life of production offcuts by working with clients to create unique alloys with predefined performance requirements. Includes pilot casting, joint material validation testing, process duplication at scale, and setup of on-site collection centers.
- Eco-Materials Testing Service Dedicated laboratory service providing full evaluation of eco-materials to ensure repeatability of performance for recycled materials used in watchmaking and medical applications. Materials have been tested and proven over 8 cycles of successive recycling with no loss of machinability or polishability.
Quantifiable outcome
- 165x carbon reduction: Solar stainless steel emits 0.041 kg CO2-eq per kg vs. 6.8 kg CO2-eq for conventional steel
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Panatere
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Panatere technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Panatere partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Circular Economy SwitzerlandcorePanatere is the first company in its sector to join Circular Economy Switzerland, committing to the association's circular economy principles. This membership provides networking, credibility, and alignment with Switzerland's national circular economy strategy.
- EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)coreEPFL is Panatere's primary academic research partner, providing scientific validation and technical expertise for the solar furnace project and eco-material development. The partnership was highlighted in media coverage of the solar furnace project.
- HE ARC (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland)coreHE ARC collaborates with Panatere on research and student projects related to solar metal recycling. The partnership was featured in a joint report 'Arcosphere' by RTN-HE ARC in September 2024, and HE ARC's Innovation department collaborated with Panatere on university teaching and research.
- Société Suisse de ChronométriecoreThe Swiss Chronometry Society is a professional association partner that Panatere collaborates with as part of its positioning within the Swiss watchmaking ecosystem.
- Swiss MemcoreSwiss Mem is a trade association for Swiss microtechnology and precision engineering companies. Panatere's membership supports industry network integration and credibility.
- CleantechAlpsminorCleantechAlps is a regional cleantech cluster and Panatere is listed as a member, providing access to the cleantech innovation ecosystem in the Alpine region.
- Solar Impulse FoundationcoreThe Solar Impulse Foundation awarded Panatere its 'Efficient Solution' label in April 2022, validating the company's solar metal recycling technology as a clean and profitable climate solution.
- The Shapers 4.0minorThe Shapers 4.0 is an industrial innovation network and Panatere is listed as a member, providing connections to Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing ecosystem players.
- Materio (Selected by Materio)minorPanatere's materials are distributed through Materio's platform, which curates and sells specialty materials to manufacturers. Panatere is featured as a 'Selected' supplier on Materio.
- ARCMminorARCM is listed as a partner organization, providing additional industry network connectivity for Panatere in the regional microtechnology and watchmaking sector.
- EthicminorEthic is listed as a partner organization, likely providing sustainability-focused network connections and credibility.
- I-MotierminorI-Motier is listed as a partner organization contributing to Panatere's ecosystem connections.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Panatere competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Boston Metal: Boston Metal is a US-based developer of molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) technology to produce green steel and other metals from iron ore without fossil fuels. Directly comparable to Panatere as a decarbonized primary metals startup targeting the steel value chain with novel process technology.
- Heliogen: Heliogen is a US-based concentrated solar energy company developing AI-enabled heliostat systems for industrial heat applications including cement, steel, and mining. Directly comparable to Panatere as a concentrated solar industrial heat provider targeting decarbonization of heavy industry.
- Hydnum Steel: Hydnum Steel is a Spanish green steel startup developing hydrogen-based steel production using renewable energy. Comparable to Panatere as an emerging green steel player targeting premium low-carbon markets, but using electrolytic hydrogen rather than concentrated solar energy.
- Electra: Electra is a US-based climate tech company developing electrochemical iron production at low temperatures using renewable electricity. Comparable to Panatere as an early-stage decarbonized iron/steel technology company targeting the premium green metals market with novel process architecture.
Broad incumbents
- SSAB: SSAB is a Nordic steel major developing HYBRIT fossil-free steel using hydrogen-based direct reduction. Comparable to Panatere as a green steel producer targeting premium sustainable steel buyers, but operating at vastly larger scale with broader product portfolio across construction, automotive, and heavy machinery.
- voestalpine: voestalpine is an Austrian steel and technology group with its greentec steel program for hydrogen-based green steel production. Comparable to Panatere as a steel incumbent pivoting to low-carbon production, but operating globally across automotive, railway, and industrial markets with much larger scale.
- ArcelorMittal: ArcelorMittal is the world's largest steel producer, with its Carbalyst and other green steel initiatives. Comparable to Panatere in the green steel race targeting automotive and industrial customers, but operating at global scale across all major steel-consuming verticals.
- Norsk Hydro: Norsk Hydro is a Norwegian aluminum and renewable energy company with its CIRCAL recycled aluminum product line. Comparable to Panatere as a low-carbon metals producer using recycled feedstock and renewable energy for premium applications, but in aluminum rather than steel/titanium.
Regional players
- Swiss Steel Group: Swiss Steel Group is a Swiss-headquartered specialty long steel producer serving automotive, industrial, and tooling markets. Comparable to Panatere as a Swiss steel company, but operating at much larger scale on conventional processes rather than solar recycling of offcuts.
- Georg Fischer: Georg Fischer is a Swiss precision components and piping systems company with strong watchmaking and medical sector exposure. Comparable to Panatere as a Swiss precision manufacturer serving the same customer segments (watchmaking, medical), but in finished components rather than upstream metal recycling.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Panatere social profiles
Digital presencePanatere financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Panatere leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Panatere funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Panatere M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Panatere
What does Panatere do?
Panatere transforms industrial production offcuts (chips and pieces of stainless steel, titanium, and copper-alloy waste) from regional manufacturers into 100% recycled and recyclable eco-materials using patented concentrated solar furnace technology. The company operates a closed-loop recycling system, installing sorting containers on client premises, processing materials at its solar furnaces in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and returning certified raw materials (solar stainless steel, recycled titanium, ZEP 1510 alloy) to watchmaking, medical device, and aerospace manufacturers.
Is Panatere a public or private company?
Panatere is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Panatere founded?
Panatere was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Panatere based?
Panatere is headquartered in Saignelégier, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Panatere make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Eco-Material Sales (Solar Stainless Steel, Recycled Titanium, ZEP Alloy) is the primary driver. The others are closed-Loop Recycling Services, private Label Project Management and custom Alloy Development.
Who are Panatere's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Boston Metal, Heliogen, Hydnum Steel and Electra. Broad incumbents are SSAB, voestalpine, ArcelorMittal and Norsk Hydro. Regional players are Swiss Steel Group and Georg Fischer.
Does Panatere have an API?
No public API is recorded for Panatere.
What industry is Panatere in?
Panatere's product category is Recycled Metals Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIANAF, Parts Harvesting & Component Reuse, with a secondary code of EUAMALAK, Circularity, Refurbishment & Resale (Used Modules/Turbines/Components). Its SIC code is 3341.