What Astro Met does

Astro Met, Inc. is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based specialty manufacturer of advanced ceramic components founded in 1961 by John W. Graham, with an 11-50 employee headcount and global sales reach. The company engineers and produces custom parts from four proprietary material grades — AmAlOx 68 (99.8% alumina), AmAlOx 87 (99.95% alumina), AmZirOx 86 (yttria-stabilized zirconia), and ZTA-96 (zirconia-toughened alumina) — plus Macor machinable glass ceramic distributed under agreement with Corning Incorporated. Manufacturing capabilities include green machining of pre-fired parts for near-net shape production and finish machining to 0.0001-inch tolerances across surface, ID/OD, form, and jig grinding, diamond core drilling, ultrasonic machining, and lapping/polishing.

The company sells both prototype and production quantities to industrial manufacturers in aerospace, defense, medical, and energy end markets, plus as-fired blanks and green-machined preforms to precision ceramic grinding shops worldwide. Pricing is quote-based for custom components, with a published price list for standard Macor stock shapes. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct engagement with Application Engineers, supported by a website that serves as the primary information and lead-capture channel (contact forms for quote requests, technical callbacks, and literature requests). The 1961 NASA contract for space propulsion materials and ongoing medical implant applications for AmAlOx 87 illustrate the company's historical entry points into demanding-spec verticals, with no documented external funding, M&A, or leadership transitions in the available data.

Name

Astro Met

Legal name

Astro Met, Inc.

Website

https://astromet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Astro Met is a Cincinnati-based specialty manufacturer of advanced ceramic components, producing custom parts from proprietary alumina, zirconia, and zirconia-toughened alumina grades plus distributed Macor for aerospace, defense, medical, and energy industrial customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Ceramic Component Manufacturing: Astro Met manufactures advanced ceramic components to customer specification in both prototype and production quantities. Revenue is generated through the sale of custom-engineered ceramic parts made from proprietary material grades (AmAlOx, AmZirOx, ZTA-96) and Macor, with pricing based on complexity, tolerances, and order volume.
2. Macor Distribution and Fabrication: Distribution and fabrication of Macor machinable glass ceramic made by Corning Incorporated. Available in rod, bar, and sheet stock shapes, or as precision fabricated parts. Revenue from both material sales and value-added fabrication services.
3. Precision Machining Services: Finish machining services including surface grinding, ID/OD grinding, form grinding, jig grinding, diamond core drilling, ultrasonic machining, lapping and polishing. As-fired blanks and green machined preforms also sold to precision ceramic grinding shops worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Astro Met engineers and manufactures advanced ceramic components to customer specification in both prototype and production quantities, using proprietary material grades (AmAlOx 68, AmAlOx 87, AmZirOx 86, ZTA-96) and Macor machinable glass ceramic. The company also provides precision ceramic machining services (surface grinding, ID/OD grinding, form grinding, jig grinding, diamond core drilling, ultrasonic machining, lapping/polishing) with tolerances to 0.0001 inches, and sells as-fired blanks and green machined preforms to precision ceramic grinding shops worldwide.

Product overview

Astro Met is a manufacturer of advanced ceramic solutions providing high-purity alumina, zirconia, and machinable ceramics. The product portfolio includes AmAlOx 68 (99.8% alumina) and AmAlOx 87 (99.95% alumina) for wear and corrosion applications; AmZirOx 86 (yttria stabilized zirconia) for high-strength structural applications; ZTA-96 (zirconia toughened alumina) combining the properties of both material families; and Macor machinable glass-ceramic for electrical, vacuum, and thermal applications. Astro Met offers complementary precision machining services for both prototype and production quantities, providing as-fired blanks, green machining, and finish machining to tolerances of 0.0001 inches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AmAlOx 68: 99.8% alumina ceramic developed by Astro Met for cost effective solutions to demanding wear and corrosion problems.
• AmAlOx 87
• AmZirOx 86
• ZTA-96

Products and services

• AmAlOx 68 AmAlOx 68 is a 99.8% aluminum oxide (alumina) ceramic engineered for maximum wear resistance and corrosion resistance, featuring high density, diamond-like hardness, fine grain structure, and superior mechanical strength. It provides cost-effective solutions for demanding wear, corrosion, high temperature, and dielectric applications in aerospace, defense, medical, and energy industries.
• AmAlOx 87 AmAlOx 87 is a 99.95% high-purity alumina ceramic developed for specialty applications requiring superior purity, high strength, high density, and small grain size (2 microns). Originally developed for critical load bearing medical implants, it achieves tight tolerances and surface finishes of 2 microinches Ra. Flexural strength: 70 KPSI (482 MPa); Vickers Hardness: 2000.
• AmZirOx 86 AmZirOx 86 is a yttria stabilized zirconia ceramic (Y-TZP) featuring high strength and toughness through transformation toughening, enabling it to absorb impact energy that would cause most ceramics to fail. Designed for severe structural applications exhibiting wear, corrosion, abrasion, and impact.
• ZTA-96 ZTA-96 is a zirconia toughened alumina ceramic combining 85% alumina and 15% zirconia, synergistically blending the wear resistance of AmAlOx 68 with the strength and toughness of AmZirOx 86. Provides cost-effective solutions for demanding applications requiring wear resistance, corrosion resistance, high temperature stability, and superior mechanical strength. Flexural strength: 760 MPa; Vickers Hardness: 1750; Fracture toughness: 6 MPa·m^1/2.
• Macor Machinable Glass Ceramic Macor is a machinable glass-ceramic made by Corning Incorporated, distributed and fabricated by Astro Met. It features high dielectric strength, superior vacuum tightness, zero porosity, thermal stability to 1000°C, and can be machined with ordinary metalworking tools. Used for electrical insulators, vacuum applications, thermal isolators, nozzles, sensor housings, and bearings.
• Advanced Ceramic Machining Services Precision ceramic machining services including surface grinding, ID grinding, OD grinding, form grinding, jig grinding, diamond core drilling, ultrasonic machining, and lapping/polishing. Provides tolerances to 0.0001 inches. Also offers green machining of as-fired ceramic components for near-net shape production and sells as-fired blanks and green machined preforms to precision ceramic grinding shops worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tolerances to 0.0001 inches achievable with finish machining processes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Corning IncorporatedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorning Incorporated manufactures Macor machinable glass ceramic. Astro Met is an authorized distributor and fabricator of Macor, offering it in rod, bar, and sheet stock shapes, as well as precision fabricated components in prototype and production quantities. Astro Met stocks, distributes, and fabricates Macor for the advanced ceramics market.
• Orchid Stealth Orthopedic SolutionsminorOthersListed as a Ceramics Industry Resource on Astro Met's industry resources page. Operates at stealth-medical.com/medical for orthopedic solutions.
• Porvair Advanced MaterialsminorOthersListed as a Ceramics Industry Resource on Astro Met's industry resources page. Advanced materials company with potential complementary or adjacent market presence.
• Fiber-Ceramics, Inc.minorOthersListed as a Ceramics Industry Resource on Astro Met's industry resources page. Fiber-ceramics company with potential complementary or adjacent market presence.
• American Ceramic SocietyminorOthersProfessional industry organization (ceramics.org) listed as a Ceramics Industry Resource. Major industry association for ceramic materials science and applications.
• ASM InternationalminorOthersMaterials science organization (asminternational.org) listed as a Ceramics Industry Resource. Professional society for materials engineers.
• ASTM InternationalminorOthersStandards organization (astm.org) listed as a Ceramics Industry Resource. Develops voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• CoorsTek: Largest US-based technical ceramics manufacturer, producing alumina, zirconia, and custom-engineered ceramic components across aerospace, medical, semiconductor, and industrial markets. Direct overlap with Astro Met in material portfolio, customer base, and custom-component model.
• Ortech Advanced Ceramics: Canadian manufacturer of custom advanced technical ceramics including alumina, zirconia, and machinable ceramics for industrial, aerospace, and medical applications. Closely comparable in scale, materials, and custom-component model.
• Superior Technical Ceramics: US-based custom manufacturer of technical ceramics (alumina, zirconia, machinable glass) for industrial, scientific, and aerospace applications. Closely comparable in scale, custom-component focus, and proprietary material grades.
• Blasch Precision Ceramics: US manufacturer of precision ceramic components for industrial process, aerospace, and metalcasting applications. Comparable custom-engineered ceramic component business with proprietary formulations.
• McDanel Advanced Ceramic Technologies: Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of high-purity alumina, zirconia, and other technical ceramics with custom forming and precision machining. Closely comparable niche player serving similar aerospace, medical, and industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• Kyocera (Industrial & Automotive Components Group): Japanese conglomerate with a substantial fine ceramics division producing alumina and zirconia components for industrial, semiconductor, and medical markets. Massive scale and global footprint; overlapping material portfolio and end markets.
• Morgan Advanced Materials: UK-listed global manufacturer of advanced ceramics, carbon, and composites for industrial, aerospace, and healthcare applications. Much broader portfolio but directly overlapping alumina/zirconia components and machining capabilities.
• Saint-Gobain (Performance Ceramics & Refractories): French multinational with a performance ceramics business producing alumina, silicon carbide, and zirconia components for industrial and high-temperature applications. Much broader portfolio but overlapping ceramic product families.
• CeramTec: Global leader in advanced technical ceramics with broad portfolio across medical, automotive, electronics, and industrial markets. Significantly larger but directly comparable material families (alumina, zirconia) and customer overlap.

Regional players

• Rauschert: German-headquartered technical ceramics manufacturer serving European industrial, automotive, and electronics markets with alumina and zirconia components. Comparable materials and capabilities but primarily European geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astromet-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Astro Met