Schmelzmetall
Schmelzmetall is a Swiss-German-Hungarian manufacturer of vacuum-cast copper-based high-performance alloys (HOVADUR® family) serving aerospace, plastic injection moulding, welding, casting, and mechanical engineering customers. Acquired by AMPCO METAL in October 2024, the company produces semi-finished and finished parts plus additive manufacturing services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersSteinfeld, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Schmelzmetall does
Schmelzmetall is a Swiss-rooted manufacturer of vacuum-cast copper-based high-performance alloys, founded in 1959 in Gurtnellen, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Steinfeld-Hausen, Germany (sales and service center, established 1997) and Budapest, Hungary (production, acquired 2001). The company's proprietary vacuum-casting process eliminates gas inclusions and environmental contamination to produce alloys of higher purity, homogeneity, and tolerance precision than DIN 17666 standard grades, marketed under the HOVADUR® family (standard alloys), HOVADUR® K (plastic injection moulding), HOVADUR® B (aluminum bronzes), and sub-brands HOVATOP®, HOVABOND® and HOVAVENT®. The product range spans semi-finished formats (bars, discs, rings, forgings up to 1,500 kg, ingots, powder) and finished machined parts, supplemented by services including heat treatment, ultrasonic and penetration testing, subcontracting melting, and additive manufacturing via SLM and Laser Metal Deposition using proprietary HOVADUR® powders.
The business operates a hybrid enterprise go-to-market: direct field sales and technical advisory through SCHMELZMETALL Deutschland GmbH (six field representatives and eight back-office staff covering CH, DE, FR, PL, AT, SK, CZ, ES, PT, plus a dedicated product manager for plastic injection moulding and HP-DC), complemented by a global channel network of 20 sales partners with regional specialization in welding, casting, moulding, and naval engineering. End markets include aerospace (qualified to EN 9100 for applications such as the Ariane 5 combustion chamber), plastic injection moulding, resistance welding, casting technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and plain bearings, with certifications spanning ISO 9001:2008 and food-contact standards.
In October 2024 the Schmelzmetall Group was acquired by AMPCO METAL, a Swiss global leader in copper-based alloys, ending its independent operating history. The transaction expands AMPCO's portfolio into vacuum casting and additive manufacturing while bringing AMPCO® and AMPCOLOY® alloys and additional casting processes (sand, centrifugal, horizontal continuous) into the Schmelzmetall offering. Headcount stands in the 11-50 range across the three operating entities.
Schmelzmetall firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schmelzmetall
- Legal name
- SCHMELZMETALL AG
- Website
- https://schmelzmetall.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Schmelzmetall is a Swiss-German-Hungarian manufacturer of vacuum-cast copper-based high-performance alloys (HOVADUR® family) serving aerospace, plastic injection moulding, welding, casting, and mechanical engineering customers. Acquired by AMPCO METAL in October 2024, the company produces semi-finished and finished parts plus additive manufacturing services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Schmelzmetall is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Steinfeld
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Schmelzmetall business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Copper Alloy Sales: Sale of vacuum-cast copper alloys (HOVADUR®) as semi-finished and finished products. Products include bars, discs, rings, forged round bars, plates, ingots, and finished parts. Forgings supplied up to 1,500 kg.
- Machining Services: CNC machining, conventional machining, cutting center services, and custom finished parts production according to customer specifications.
- Heat Treatment: Solution heat treatment and hardening services for alloys at facilities in Switzerland, Germany and Hungary.
- 3D Printing Services: Additive manufacturing services using HOVADUR® powder for SLM and LMD processes, including heat treatment for printed parts.
- Melting Subcontracting: Subcontracting of the melting process for customers requiring vacuum casting services.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Schmelzmetall product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Schmelzmetall manufactures vacuum-cast copper-based high-performance alloys under the HOVADUR® brand family, including standard HOVADUR®, HOVADUR® B aluminum bronzes, and HOVADUR® K grades for plastic injection moulds, as well as the HOVATOP®, HOVABOND®, and HOVAVENT® sub-brands. The company produces semi-finished products (bars, discs, rings, forged parts, ingots), finished parts machined to specification, and HOVADUR® powder for additive manufacturing, and complements these with services such as heat treatment, ultrasonic and penetration testing, CNC machining, and melting subcontracting.
Product overview
Schmelzmetall is a leading manufacturer of vacuum-cast copper-based high-performance alloys, established in 1959. Their core product offering centers on the HOVADUR® alloy family, which includes standard HOVADUR® alloys (based on DIN 17666), HOVADUR® K for plastic injection mould construction, and HOVADUR® B aluminum bronzes. Additional branded product lines include HOVATOP® (welding), HOVABOND® (bonding), and HOVAVENT® (ventilation). The company also distributes TOUGHMET® copper-nickel-tin alloys through partner Materion. Their alloys are processed into semi-finished products including bars, discs, rings, forged parts, and ingots, as well as finished parts machined to customer specifications. The portfolio is complemented by HOVADUR® powder for additive manufacturing (SLM, LMD, MIM), piston adapter systems (KAS), and die venting solutions (MiniVent®, OptiVent®, CVent®, TopVac®). Services include heat treatment, ultrasonic and penetration testing, machining, and additive manufacturing. In October 2024, the company was acquired by AMPCO METAL, expanding their product portfolio to include AMPCO® and AMPCOLOY® alloys.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HOVADUR®: High-performance vacuum-cast copper-based alloys for demanding industrial applications including aerospace, plastic injection moulds, welding, casting technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and plain bearings.
- HOVADUR® B
- HOVADUR® K
- HOVATOP®
- HOVABOND®
- HOVAVENT®
Products and services
- HOVADUR® Copper Alloys Standard vacuum-cast copper-based high-performance alloys based on DIN 17666, offering exceptional purity, homogeneity, and performance consistency through air-free vacuum casting. Used across aerospace, plastic injection moulds, resistance welding, casting technology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and plain bearings.
- HOVADUR® K Copper Alloys Sub-line of HOVADUR® engineered specifically for plastic injection mould construction, with properties such as high thermal conductivity that meet the demanding requirements of mould making.
- HOVADUR® B Aluminum Bronzes Aluminum bronzes produced using special high-vacuum processes, offering exceptional chemical resistance, excellent sliding properties, spark-free operation, and approximately twice the thermal conductivity of steel.
- HOVADUR® KAS Piston Adapter System Standalone piston adapter system (KAS, KAS V, KAS R, and KAS RR variants) with wear rings for cold chamber die casting, offering longer service life and optimized cooling for high-pressure die casting.
- HOVATOP® Welding Components Product line of HOVADUR®-family components for welding applications, including resistance welding electrodes and related parts.
- HOVABOND® Bonding Components Product line within the HOVADUR® family targeted at bonding and joining applications.
- HOVAVENT® Venting Components Product line within the HOVADUR® family targeted at ventilation and venting applications.
- HOVADUR® Powder for 3D Printing HOVADUR® CCZ and HOVADUR® CNCS powders supplied in different grain fractions for additive manufacturing processes including Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Laser Metal Deposition (LMD), and Metal Injection Molding (MIM).
- TOUGHMET® Copper-Nickel-Tin Alloy Copper-nickel-tin alloy produced by partner Materion and distributed by Schmelzmetall, offering high hardness, high strength, low friction coefficient, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and lead-free properties.
- Die Venting Systems (MiniVent®, OptiVent®, CVent®, TopVac®) Standalone die venting solutions developed with partner InterGuss using high-thermal-conductivity HOVADUR® alloys, designed to deliver improved cooling and expanded cooling surface geometries in die casting moulds.
- Machining and Finished Parts Production CNC machining, conventional machining, and cutting center services that convert HOVADUR® semi-finished products into finished parts produced to customer specifications, delivered by the SCHMELZMETALL Deutschland service center.
- Heat Treatment Services Solution heat treatment and hardening services for HOVADUR® alloys, provided at facilities in Switzerland, Germany, and Hungary, including heat treatment for 3D-printed parts.
- Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing Services Contract additive manufacturing using HOVADUR® powder via SLM and LMD processes, including post-print heat treatment, available to customers seeking 3D-printed copper alloy parts.
- Melting Subcontracting Service Subcontracted vacuum casting melting services for customers requiring Schmelzmetall's proprietary high-vacuum melting and casting capability.
- Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Certification Ultrasonic testing (Level 1 + 2), penetration testing (Level 1 + 2), metallurgical advice, and issue of Inspection Certificate 3.1 per EN 10204 documenting chemical composition, hardness (HB), and electrical conductivity (SE).
Quantifiable outcome
- 30% reduction in bottle cap mould machine cycle time when using HOVADUR® K350 and K265
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Schmelzmetall
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Schmelzmetall technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Schmelzmetall partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MaterioncorePartnership for TOUGHMET® copper-nickel-tin alloy, a special alloy with outstanding properties. Schmelzmetall serves as distributor for Toughmet® products while Materion is the manufacturer.
- InterGuss (DE)minorDie venting specialist partner collaborating with Schmelzmetall on venting and cooling systems using high thermal conductivity HOVADUR® alloys for expanded cooling surface geometries.
- BEP TEKNIK A/S (DK/SE)minorSales partner for Denmark and Sweden specializing in welding and casting technology applications.
- Castool (CA)minorSales partner for Canada specializing in casting technology and piston systems.
- CoWel (CH)minorSales partner in Switzerland specializing in welding technology.
- FTK Farayand Tajhiz Khavar Co. (IRN)minorSales representative partner in Iran.
- Harald Pihl (SE/FI)minorSales partner for Sweden and Finland.
- INSO Group Spain, S.L. (ES)minorSales partner in Spain specializing in naval engineering and steel industry applications.
- KDO (PL)minorSales partner in Poland specializing in casting technology.
- KJ Tech (CZ)minorSales partner in Czech Republic specializing in plastic injection moulds applications.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Schmelzmetall competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lebronze Alloys: French specialty copper alloy manufacturer with comparable product range in high-performance copper alloys, nickel-silver, and aluminum bronzes for aerospace, welding, and industrial applications.
- Concast Metal Products: US-based nonferrous foundry specializing in continuous cast copper alloys (copper, bronze, brass) for industrial applications, serving similar resistance welding, bearing, and electrical engineering markets.
- Diehl Metal Applications: German copper-alloy semi-finished products and metal stamping business with overlapping capabilities in copper alloy strip and components for electrical engineering and resistance welding.
- AMPCO METAL: Swiss-based global leader in copper-based alloys acquired Schmelzmetall in October 2024. Operates the same product category (vacuum-cast and conventionally cast copper alloys) with AMPCO® and AMPCOLOY® brands, offering direct overlap in aerospace and industrial markets.
- Materion Corporation: US-based specialty metals producer and Schmelzmetall's distribution partner for TOUGHMET® copper-nickel-tin alloys. Materion's beryllium-copper and ToughMet portfolios overlap directly with HOVADUR® in resistance welding, aerospace, and high-conductivity applications.
Broad incumbents
- Mitsubishi Materials Corporation: Japanese diversified materials company with significant copper alloy production, serving automotive, electronics, and industrial markets across Asia with overlapping specialty alloy offerings.
- KME Group: Major European copper products manufacturer with overlapping offerings in copper alloy rods, bars, and tubes for industrial applications, though focused on broader commodity and specialty grades.
- Aurubis AG: European copper smelter and refiner with downstream copper product manufacturing; competes in adjacent copper-alloy segments with far greater scale and integrated raw material sourcing.
- Wieland Group: One of the world's largest copper and copper alloy semi-finished products manufacturers with a much broader portfolio and global footprint. Operates in similar aerospace, automotive, and industrial end-markets but at significantly greater scale.
Emerging players
- National Bronze & Metals: US-based specialty nonferrous metals distributor and processor offering bronze, copper, and aluminum bronze products for bearings, welding, and industrial applications; comparable niche focus but smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Schmelzmetall social profiles
Digital presenceSchmelzmetall compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Schmelzmetall financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schmelzmetall leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Schmelzmetall subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Schmelzmetall funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schmelzmetall 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 Schmelzmetall
What does Schmelzmetall do?
Schmelzmetall manufactures vacuum-cast copper-based high-performance alloys under the HOVADUR® brand family, including standard HOVADUR®, HOVADUR® B aluminum bronzes, and HOVADUR® K grades for plastic injection moulds, as well as the HOVATOP®, HOVABOND®, and HOVAVENT® sub-brands. The company produces semi-finished products (bars, discs, rings, forged parts, ingots), finished parts machined to specification, and HOVADUR® powder for additive manufacturing, and complements these with services such as heat treatment, ultrasonic and penetration testing, CNC machining, and melting subcontracting.
Is Schmelzmetall a public or private company?
Schmelzmetall is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Schmelzmetall founded?
Schmelzmetall was founded in 1959. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Schmelzmetall based?
Schmelzmetall is headquartered in Steinfeld, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Schmelzmetall make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Copper Alloy Sales are the primary driver. The others are machining Services, heat Treatment, 3D Printing Services and melting Subcontracting.
Who are Schmelzmetall's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lebronze Alloys, Concast Metal Products, Diehl Metal Applications, AMPCO METAL and Materion Corporation. Broad incumbents are Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, KME Group, Aurubis AG and Wieland Group. National Bronze & Metals is listed as an emerging player.
Does Schmelzmetall have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schmelzmetall.