QSIL

What QSIL does

STEREON Materials SE (formerly QSIL SE / QSIL Gruppe) is a German specialty materials manufacturer producing high-performance components from technical ceramics, refractory metals, and technical glass for OEM customers in medical technology, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and defense, industrial solutions, and automotive applications. The company is headquartered in Erfurt, Germany and operates six production sites in Germany (Auma-Weidatal and Frankenblick for ceramics, Hermsdorf and Hattert for metals and glass filters) plus the United Kingdom (Calne). Following the January 2025 sale of its quartz glass melting operations in Ilmenau to SCHOTT AG, the retained business employs approximately 600 people and the group rebranded to STEREON Materials in December 2025.

The portfolio is anchored in proprietary process technologies. Oxide ceramics (Al2O3, ZrO2, ATZ, ZTA) and non-oxide ceramics (Si3N4, SiC) are produced at STEREON Ceramics, alongside a self-developed high-resistance dissipative coating process with surface resistance tunable from 10^9 to 10^14 Ohm, CTE-customized silicon nitride and silicon carbide, and ceramic-metal brazed assemblies (including a newly expanded cleanroom metallization line at Auma). STEREON Metals operates a proprietary electron-beam melting process for high-purity molybdenum that is described as world-leading, complemented by granulate-based 3D screen-printing additive manufacturing, and supplies refractory metal components (molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium) such as sputter targets, collimators and anti-scatter grids for X-ray/CT, heatsinks for semiconductor thermal management, and shielding. STEREON Glassfilters (Hattert, formerly ROBU Glasfilter-Geräte) produces VitraPOR-brand sintered borosilicate and quartz glass filter elements for laboratory, pharmaceutical, and medical filtration. Precision tolerances are in the μm-range.

Revenue is generated via direct enterprise field sales to tier-1 OEMs across more than 50 countries, with project-based quoting on customer-specific material specifications and co-development from prototype through series production. Five named verticals - Diagnostics & Analytics, Semiconductors, Aerospace/Defence/Government, Industrial Solutions, and Automotive - anchor demand, with flagship applications including spiral groove bearings for CT X-ray tubes (700°C under load, 10,000 RPM), multi-leaf collimators for radiation therapy, ceramic substrates and insulators for semiconductor process tools, and refractory metal heating elements. Reported group revenue was approximately EUR 200 million as of 2023 prior to the SCHOTT divestiture. Ownership is wholly held by the Stephan-Heinrich-Behr Familienstiftung following the June 2025 buyout of minority shareholders.

Name

QSIL

Legal name

STEREON Materials SE

Website

https://qsil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

STEREON Materials (formerly QSIL) is a German specialty manufacturer of technical ceramics, refractory metals, and technical glass components serving tier-1 OEM customers in medical imaging, semiconductor equipment, aerospace/defense, and industrial markets across more than 50 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical Ceramics and Refractory Metals

NAICS

Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing (327212), Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass (327215)

SIC

Glass & Glassware, Pressed Or Blown (3220), Glass Products, Made Of Purchased Glass (3231)

akta.pro primary industry

Silica (Quartz, Fumed, Precipitated) (IMAEAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Silica, Alumina & Metal Oxide Adsorbents/Desiccants (IMAEAIAG), Thin-Film Deposition Materials (PVD/CVD/ALD Targets & Precursors) (HDAHAGAH), Compound Semiconductor Wafers & Substrates (SiC/GaN/GaAs/InP/Sapphire) (HDAHAGAB)

Keywords

• Technical ceramics
• Refractory metals
• Sintered glass filters
• High-performance materials
• Precision engineered components

Headquarters

HQ city

Langewiesen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technical Ceramics Products: Sale of precision-engineered ceramic components including oxide ceramics (Al2O3, ZrO2, ATZ, ZTA) and non-oxide ceramics (Si3N4, SiC) for insulation, wear resistance, and high-temperature applications.
2. Refractory Metal Products: Sale of molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and niobium components including semi-finished products (plates, sheets, rods) and finished precision parts for high-temperature applications.
3. Technical Glass Products: Sale of sintered glass filter elements (VitraPOR brand) including standard laboratory equipment and custom OEM glass filter products for filtration, gas distribution, and analytical applications.
4. Custom Component Development: Engineering and development services for customer-specific solutions from prototype through series production, including material development, forming, sintering, metallization, and precision machining.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

QSIL (now operating as STEREON Materials) develops and manufactures high-performance materials for extreme-condition applications across three core product categories: (1) technical ceramics — both oxide ceramics (Al2O3, ZrO2, ATZ, ZTA) and non-oxide ceramics (Si3N4, SiC) used for insulation, wear resistance, and high-temperature components; (2) refractory metals — molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and niobium semi-finished products and precision parts produced via proprietary electron beam melting and additive manufacturing; and (3) technical glass — sintered glass filter elements (ROBU/VitraPOR brand) for laboratory, pharmaceutical, and analytical filtration. The company delivers custom-engineered components and assemblies for OEMs in medical technology, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace/defense, and industrial machinery.

Product overview

STEREON Materials (formerly QSIL) is a specialist for high-tech materials comprising three core product categories: Technical Ceramics (Oxide and Non-Oxide ceramics), Refractory Metals (Molybdenum, Tungsten, Tantalum, Niobium and alloys), and Technical Glass (including ROBU® glass filter products). The portfolio includes components for demanding applications such as semiconductors, medical diagnostics, aerospace/defense, automotive, and industrial solutions. The company operates across multiple business units: STEREON Ceramics (Auma for oxide ceramics, Frankenblick for non-oxide ceramics), STEREON Metals (Hermsdorf and Calne for refractory metals), and STEREON Glassfilters (Hattert for ROBU® filter products). The product range spans from individual precision components to complex ceramic-metal assemblies, sintered glass filters, and sputter targets serving global customers in over 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oxide Ceramics (Al2O3, ZrO2, ATZ, ZTA) Precision-engineered oxide ceramic components including valves, fittings, metering wheels, transport screws, guide rollers, sliding bearings, insulators, ceramic-metal assemblies, high-resistance-coated insulators, ceramic circuit boards, sensors, vacuum feedthroughs, compacting rollers, ballistic and wear protection plates, plungers, pistons, precision parts, pump components, and gears. Used by industrial OEMs requiring high wear resistance, electrical insulation, and chemical resistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Components operating reliably at 700°C under load at 10,000 RPM in CT scanner X-ray tubes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MGRAYcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2025MGRAY and STEREON Metals have deepened their strategic partnership. MGRAY is a partner in the refractory metals business unit, likely involved in material processing or distribution collaboration.
• Stephan-Heinrich-Behr FamilienstiftungcoreOthers · 30 June 2025Family foundation that became sole shareholder of QSIL SE following acquisition of remaining shares from minority shareholder. Stephan Behr is chairman of supervisory board and founder.
• Ernst-Abbe Hochschule JenaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Academic partner in KeraAdd research project for resource-efficient manufacturing of complex ceramic functional components using additive manufacturing. Project funded by European Union through EFRE program, running July 2024 to June 2027.
• Tridelta Weichferrite GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Industry partner in KeraAdd research project for developing innovative process chain for resource-efficient manufacturing of complex ceramic functional components.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plansee Group: Plansee is the world's largest refractory metals producer (Mo, W, Ta, Nb) with high-temperature PM components for semiconductor and medical X-ray applications - a direct overlap with STEREON Metals' Hermsdorf and Calne offerings, including sputter targets and CT scanner parts.
• CeramTec: CeramTec is a leading technical ceramics manufacturer (alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride, silicon carbide) serving medical imaging, electronics, automotive and industrial markets - directly comparable to STEREON Ceramics in materials, customer base, and engineered component focus.
• CoorsTek: CoorsTek is one of the largest global manufacturers of technical ceramics (alumina, zirconia, SiC, Si3N4) serving semiconductor, medical, aerospace and industrial OEMs - directly comparable in engineered ceramic components and serves many of the same end markets as STEREON.
• Schunk Group: Schunk is a German specialty materials group (carbon, ceramics, refractory metals including Mo and W products) - closely comparable to STEREON Metals in German-based refractory metals production and serving similar industrial, semiconductor and high-temperature furnace customers.
• Rauschert Group: Rauschert is a German technical ceramics manufacturer producing oxide and non-oxide ceramic components for medical, industrial and analytical applications; comparable mid-sized European specialty ceramics player serving similar engineered component markets with a custom OEM focus.

Broad incumbents

• Kyocera Corporation: Kyocera is a broad Japanese industrial and electronics conglomerate with a major technical ceramics division (semiconductor, medical, automotive) - offers overlapping ceramic components as part of a much larger portfolio, including semiconductor process components competing with STEREON's Si3N4/SiC substrates.
• Morgan Advanced Materials (Morgan Technical Ceramics): Morgan is a broad specialty materials group with technical ceramics, braze assemblies, and thermal management serving semiconductor, medical and aerospace customers; comparable engineered ceramic-metal assemblies and refractory metal products overlap with multiple STEREON product lines.
• Mersen: Mersen (which acquired H.C. Starck's North American specialty metals business while STEREON took the non-NA assets) produces graphite and refractory metal products, including Mo/W components for semiconductor and high-temperature industrial markets - directly comparable products from a larger industrial group.
• NGK Insulators / NGK Technocera: NGK Technocera is a major Japanese technical ceramics business specializing in alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride and cordierite ceramic components for semiconductor, medical and industrial markets - serves overlapping end applications including sputter targets and ceramic substrates comparable to STEREON.

Others

• SCHOTT AG: SCHOTT acquired QSIL's quartz melting division in 2025 and is the parent of related operating sites; while primarily a glass and optics group with broader industrial and pharma packaging exposure, the Ilmenau acquisition creates a direct downstream competitive overlap in semiconductor quartz and supports a buyer/supplier adjacency in the portfolio companies' previous structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/QSILIlmenau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qsil
• Instagraminstagram.com/qsil.global

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 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 QSIL