What C.HAFNER does

C.HAFNER is a fifth-generation, family-owned precious metals technology company (GmbH + Co. KG) headquartered in Wimsheim, Germany, with a Swiss subsidiary, C.HAFNER & HILDERBRAND SA (est. 2013), located in Geneva. Founded in 1850 and operating with 11–50 employees, the company serves three end markets — Industry, Jewellery & Watches, and Dental Technology — alongside precious metal recycling services for industrial waste, jewellery scrap, and electronic components across Europe.

The company's technical platform centers on proprietary CO2-neutral precious metal recycling with high process velocities, custom alloy and materials technology (including the proprietary PlatinGold range and gold/silver/palladium alloys), comprehensive in-house analytics, and precision component manufacturing that spans conventional techniques and additive manufacturing (3D printing). It also produces precious metal powders and fine gold bars, and, through HILDERBRAND, solder pastes for jewellery production. The company holds membership in the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), and other European precious-metals associations, anchoring its ethical-sourcing and chain-of-custody credentials.

C.HAFNER operates a B2B, sales-led model with revenue drawn from recycling/ refining service fees, sales of alloys, semi-finished products, components, powders, and gold bars, dental-technology products, and HILDERBRAND solder pastes. Distribution combines direct field sales with digital channels: a Salesforce-based online customer portal and a dedicated Shopware dental e-commerce shop. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and customer relationships are dominated by industrial buyers, jewellery/watch manufacturers, and dental technology providers in Europe.

Name

C.HAFNER

Legal name

C.Hafner GmbH + Co. KG

Website

https://c-hafner.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1850

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

C.HAFNER is a fifth-generation, German family-owned precious metals technology company (founded 1850) providing CO2-neutral recycling, custom alloys, precision components, powders, and bars to industrial, jewellery/watch, and dental technology customers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precious Metals Manufacturing

NAICS

Secondary Smelting, Refining, and Alloying of Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) (331492), All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299)

SIC

Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341), Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911)

akta.pro primary industry

Precious & Specialty Metal Recovery (Smelting, Refining, Hydrometallurgy) (EUAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Precious metals recycling
• Precious metal alloys
• Dental alloys manufacturing
• Jewellery alloys supply
• Precious metal components

Headquarters

HQ city

Wimsheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precious Metal Recycling Services: Recovery and recycling of precious metals from secondary materials (industrial waste, jewellery scrap, electronic components). Environmentally safe and CO2-neutral processing with high process velocities.
2. Product Sales (Semi-finished, Alloys, Bars): Sale of semi-finished products (sheet, wire, tube, castings), custom alloys for various applications, and fine gold bars in various sizes. Products sold through online portal and direct sales.
3. Dental Technology Products: Dental alloys, casting alloys, dental solders, and milling services for dental laboratories. Includes precision-milled dental components.
4. Solder Pastes (via HILDERBRAND subsidiary): Production and sale of high-quality solder pastes under the HILDERBRAND brand for jewellery, watch, and dental industries through the Geneva-based subsidiary.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

C.HAFNER recovers precious metals from secondary materials through CO2-neutral recycling and processes them into custom alloys, semi-finished products (sheet, wire, tube, castings), precision components, precious metal powders, fine gold bars, dental alloys, solders, and solder pastes. Products serve three primary B2B segments: Industry, Jewellery & Watches, and Dental Technology, distributed via direct sales, a Salesforce-based customer portal, and Shopware-powered online shops.

Product overview

C.HAFNER is a leading European precious metals technology company founded in 1850, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium) and their applications. The core business model combines precious metal recycling (CO2-neutral) with manufacturing of semi-finished products, components, powders, and bars. The product portfolio spans three main application areas: Industry (industrial alloys, components, additive manufacturing), Jewellery & Watches (alloys, solders, casting materials), and Dental Technology (dental alloys, solders, milling services, electroforming). Supporting services include an online customer portal (Salesforce-based), e-commerce shops for semi-finished products and dental materials (Shopware), and a download center for technical documentation. The subsidiary C.HAFNER & HILDERBRAND SA extends solder paste capabilities. Key proprietary products include PlatinGold (950 platinum alloy) and various specialty alloys for dental and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HILDERBRAND: Solder paste brand produced by subsidiary C.HAFNER & HILDERBRAND SA for jewellery, watches, and dental applications
• PlatinGold
• PlatinS
• Palladin Royal

Products and services

• Precious Metal Recycling (Edelmetall-Recycling) CO2-neutral precious metal recovery service from secondary materials, offered to industrial and trade customers as the technological foundation of C.HAFNER.
• Fine Gold Bars (Feingoldbarren) Fine gold bars produced in unique sizes for industrial, investment, and trade buyers.
• Alloys for Jewellery, Watches & Decorative Applications Custom gold, platinum, and silver alloys supplied to jewellery and watch manufacturers for production.
• PlatinGold (950 Platinum Alloy) C.HAFNER's proprietary 950 platinum alloy for universal applications in jewellery and watchmaking.
• Solders and Solder Pastes for Jewellery, Watches & Dental Use Solders and solder pastes for jewellery, watches, decorative, and dental applications, sold under the HILDERBRAND brand via the Geneva subsidiary C.HAFNER & HILDERBRAND SA.
• Custom Precious Metal Component Manufacturing (Komponentenfertigung) Customer-specific precious metal components produced via machining and forming for industrial, jewellery, watch, dental, and other applications.
• Dental Technology Products (Dentaltechnologie) Comprehensive dental technology line including alloys, casting alloys, solders, milling services, and electroforming for dental laboratories.
• Dental Milling Centre (CAD/CAM Fräszentrum) CAD/CAM milling services for dental restorations using precious metal alloys, sold to dental laboratories.
• Dental Casting Alloys (Gusslegierungen) Dental casting alloys formulated for crowns, bridges, and prosthetic dentistry.
• Electroforming (Galvanoforming) Electroforming service for dental applications, producing precise precious metal dental components.
• Precious Metal Powders (Edelmetallpulver) Precious metal powders (platinum, gold, palladium, silver, and alloys) supplied for industrial applications such as additive manufacturing and other processes.
• Additive Manufacturing of Precious Metals (Additive Fertigung) Additive manufacturing (3D printing) service producing precious metal components for industrial and other B2B customers.
• Alloys for Industrial and Medical Applications Precious metal alloys engineered for industrial and medical engineering applications.
• Precious Metals Trading (Edelmetallhandel) Precious metals trading service offered to B2B customers as part of C.HAFNER's portfolio.
• HILDERBRAND Solder Pastes (via C.HAFNER & HILDERBRAND SA, Geneva) High-quality solder pastes produced under the HILDERBRAND brand via the Geneva-based subsidiary C.HAFNER & HILDERBRAND SA for jewellery, watch, and dental industries.
• Online Customer Portal (Kundenportal) Salesforce-based online portal for registered B2B customers to manage accounts and configure/orders of semi-finished precious metal products.
• Dental-Shop (Online Storefront) Shopware-powered dedicated e-commerce shop enabling dental laboratories to purchase dental alloys and related products online.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• C.HAFNER & HILDERBRAND SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Subsidiary established in Geneva, Switzerland in 2013 to strengthen precious metals expertise in the solder paste sector. HILDERBRAND has been producing high-quality solder pastes since the early 1970s for the jewellery, watch, and dental industries. The subsidiary extends C.HAFNER's product portfolio in the brazing/soldering materials segment.
• Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)coreOthersMember of the Responsible Jewellery Council, an international organization promoting responsible ethical, human rights, social and environmental practices throughout the precious metals jewellery supply chain.
• London Bullion Market Association (LBMA)coreOthersMember of the LBMA, the international trade association for the wholesale markets in gold and silver. LBMA sets standards for good delivery and responsible sourcing.
• Bundesverband Schmuck und Uhren (BVSU)minorOthersMember of the German Jewellery and Watch Association, representing industry interests in Germany.
• European Precious Metals Federation (EPMF)minorOthersMember of the European Precious Metals Federation, representing the industry at EU level.
• Forschungsinstitut Edelmetalle + Metallchemie (fem)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Research Institute for Precious Metals and Metal Chemistry, supporting R&D and technical advancement in precious metals processing.
• Fachvereinigung Edelmetalle (FVEM)minorOthersMember of the Precious Metals Trade Association in Germany.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heraeus Precious Metals: Germany-based global precious-metals technology group offering refining, recycling, and fabricated precious-metal products across industrial, jewellery, and medical markets — directly overlapping C.HAFNER's core recycling-to-components value chain at much greater scale.
• Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo: Japan-headquartered global precious-metals refiner and fabricator (parent of Metalor) producing industrial, jewellery, and dental precious-metal products — directly comparable to C.HAFNER's precious-metal recycling, alloy, and component portfolio.
• Cendres+Métaux: Swiss precision alloys and precious-metals specialist producing dental, medical, and jewellery alloys and components — a close mid-market peer with very similar product mix, Swiss base, and customer segments as C.HAFNER.
• Dentaurum: German dental technology manufacturer offering precious-metal dental alloys, solders, and orthodontic products — a direct peer in C.HAFNER's dental technology business unit with comparable alloys and European dental-lab customer base.
• Metalor Technologies: Swiss precious-metals refiner (now part of Tanaka) producing industrial, jewellery, and financial precious-metal products — a close Swiss-rooted peer whose refining and alloy business mirrors C.HAFNER's recycling-to-finished-products model.

Broad incumbents

• Umicore: Belgian materials technology group with a large precious-metals refining and recycling business alongside catalysis and battery materials — a broader incumbent that competes with C.HAFNER in industrial precious-metal recycling and recycling feedstock sourcing.
• Johnson Matthey: UK-listed precious-metals and chemicals group with refining and fabricated-products businesses serving jewellery, dental, and industrial customers — overlapping with C.HAFNER in alloys, brazing materials, and dental precious metals.
• Wieland Group: German non-ferrous metals specialist producing semi-finished copper and alloy products — comparable to C.HAFNER's semi-finished precious-metal products (sheet, wire, tube) and component manufacturing for industrial buyers.
• Royal Canadian Mint: Canadian precious-metals refiner and bullion producer with refining, recycling, and investment-bar offerings — comparable to C.HAFNER's refining and fine gold bar business but at much larger scale and with broader geographic reach.

Regional players

• Aurubis: European non-ferrous metal refiner headquartered in Hamburg — focused on copper but with adjacent precious-metals by-product recovery that overlaps with C.HAFNER's secondary refining expertise.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xyoutube.com/channel/UCVkrnBbjqyoXTTDPil6f9SQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVkrnBbjqyoXTTDPil6f9SQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/chafner1850
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/12843892/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/c.hafner_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 C.HAFNER