What Element22 does

Element22 GmbH is a Kiel, Germany-based private manufacturer founded in 2011 by CEO Matthias Scharvogel, specializing in titanium powder metallurgy (Ti PM). The company produces complex titanium components via Metal Injection Molding (MIM), multiple 3D printing modalities (Cold Metal Fusion, Metal Binder Jetting, Lithography Metal Printing, pellet and filament printing), and alternative shaping methods such as tape casting, diffusion bonding, extrusion, and porous parts. Element22's technology stack is anchored by patented processes — notably Selective Bead Sintering (SBS) and a proprietary Debind & Sinter process — which deliver material properties claimed to equal or exceed wrought titanium while enabling near-net-shape production with near-zero material loss versus the 1:12 buy-to-fly ratio typical of CNC aerospace titanium. Installed capacity is approximately 60 tons of finished titanium per year, with full process redundancy.

The company serves five primary verticals: medical devices (FDA-approved implant components since 2012 — cardiac rhythm management, orthopedics, spine, dental), aerospace (EN/AS 9100-certified — fastening elements, airframes, landing gears), mobility & transportation, high-end consumer products, and renewable energy/hydrogen (PEM electrolyzer components). Revenue is generated through three streams: custom contract manufacturing of titanium parts, sales of proprietary 3D printing feedstock materials (Ti6Al4V filament and pellets), and engineering services including Design for Manufacturing, process simulation, quality & qualification, and surface treatments. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales with quote-based pricing and multi-year contracts.

Element22 is founder-controlled, employs 11–50 people, and operates from a single facility in Kiel with no disclosed external institutional funding. Key strategic relationships include a 2017 joint venture (Titanium Generation GmbH) with MUT Advanced Heating for sintering equipment, ongoing collaborations with Fraunhofer institutes and Helmholtz-Zentrum, and a project with Fraunhofer ILT on laser cutting for hydrogen electrolyzer components. Quality system certifications include ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016, and EN/AS 9100:2018.

Name

Element22

Legal name

Element22 GmbH

Website

https://element22.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Element22 GmbH is a Kiel-based private manufacturer, founded in 2011, that produces complex titanium components via powder metallurgy (MIM, 3D printing, and alternative shaping) and sells proprietary 3D printing feedstock materials, serving medical device, aerospace, mobility, consumer, and hydrogen electrolyzer customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Titanium Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Plate Work and Fabricated Structural Product Manufacturing (33231)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Prototype Jigs, Fixtures & Assembly Aids (Additive) (IMAAAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metal Airframe Structures & Machined Parts (IMABAEAC), Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment (Production AM Parts) (IMAAAEAC)

Keywords

• Titanium powder metallurgy
• Metal injection molding
• Titanium 3D printing
• Aerospace titanium components
• Medical titanium implants

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Titanium Parts Manufacturing: Custom manufacturing of Titanium components via Powder Metallurgy technologies (MIM, 3D Printing, Alternative shaping methods) for customers. Products include parts and components manufactured to customer specifications with final debind and sinter process.
2. 3DP Materials Sales: Sale of proprietary Titanium raw materials for 3D Printing including Filament and Pellets/Granules. Materials are tailored for printing technologies like FDM, FFF, FPF and require debinding and sintering.
3. Engineering Services: Services including Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Simulation (molding and sintering), Quality & Qualification, and Surface treatments to support product development and manufacturing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Element22 is a contract manufacturer of titanium parts and components produced via Metal Injection Molding (MIM), 3D Printing, and alternative shaping methods, sold to enterprise customers in medical, aerospace, mobility, consumer products, and renewable energy industries. The company also sells proprietary titanium filament and pellets for customer 3D printing, and provides engineering services including Design for Manufacturing, process simulation, quality and qualification, and surface treatments.

Product overview

Element22 is a manufacturer of Titanium components and service provider offering a portfolio of three core product categories: (1) Titanium Parts and Components manufactured via Metal Injection Molding (MIM), 3D Printing (3DP), and Alternative Shaping Methods; (2) Proprietary 3DP Materials (Filament and Pellets) for customers' own titanium 3D printing production; and (3) Engineering Services including Design for Manufacturing, Simulation (Molding and Sinter-Simulation), Quality & Qualification, and Surface Treatments. The company differentiates through its proprietary Titanium Powder Metallurgy technologies including Selective Bead Sintering (SBS) and the patented Debind & Sinter process, enabling high-volume production of complex-shaped titanium components with superior mechanical properties for medical, aerospace, mobility, and consumer products industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Titanium Parts and Components Custom-manufactured titanium parts and components produced via Metal Injection Molding (MIM), 3D Printing (3DP), and alternative shaping methods (tape casting, diffusion bonding, extrusion, porous parts) and finished with Element22's Debind & Sinter process. Targets enterprise customers in medical devices, aerospace, mobility, renewable energy, and premium consumer products with order quantities ranging from 10 to over 1 million parts per year.
• 3DP Materials (Filament and Pellets) Proprietary high-end titanium raw materials for 3D Printing available as filament (Ti6Al4V FIL01A) and pellets (Ti6Al4V PEL4-01A), based on standard MIM feedstocks and tailored for FDM, FFF, and FPF printing technologies. Sold to customers who run their own titanium 3D printing production and then process parts using Element22's patented Debind & Sinter process.
• Titanium Filament (Ti6Al4V FIL01A) Patented titanium filament (product code Ti6Al4V FIL01A) tailored for filament 3D printing, based on standard MIM feedstocks and processable on nearly all common filament 3D printers, intended for customers who then apply Element22's Debind & Sinter process.
• Titanium Pellets (Ti6Al4V PEL4-01A) Patented titanium granulate (product code Ti6Al4V PEL4-01A) tailored for pellet extrusion 3D printing, based on standard MIM feedstocks, intended for customers who then apply Element22's Debind & Sinter process.
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Service Engineering service that helps customers select the best titanium powder metallurgy shaping process and part geometry to facilitate manufacturing, reduce costs, and enhance part properties. Targeted at enterprise customers developing titanium components.
• Simulation Services Process simulation services including Molding Simulation (predicts molding of titanium MIM products using Moldflow to optimize gate position and tool design) and Sinter-Simulation (multiphysics finite element approach predicting microscopic effects and warpage due to gravity and friction). Targets enterprise engineering teams developing titanium parts.
• Quality & Qualification Service Quality and qualification services using high-precision inspection equipment to produce dimensional reports, microstructural material analysis, chemical and mechanical analysis, hardness and fatigue testing, and to help customers qualify titanium parts to applicable standards including medical and aerospace requirements.
• Surface Treatment Services Surface finishing solutions including bead blasting, mechanical polishing, brushing, tumbling, electro-polishing, anodizing for cosmetic effects and coloring, and Oxide/Nitride Diffusion Hardening (ODH/NDH) achieving surface hardness over 1000 HV, delivered through Element22's network of experienced surface finishing partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero or close to zero material loss in manufacturing vs 1:12 buy-to-fly ratio for traditional aerospace titanium CNC machining
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, important and support.

• MUT Advanced Heating GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner founded in 2017 called Titanium Generation GmbH (TiGen). Together with MUT Advanced Heating in Jena, Germany, Element22 developed ultimate equipment and profiles for thermal debinding and sintering of Titanium and its alloys. These principles can also be applied to other reactive metals.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on innovative laser cutting for high-precision titanium components in hydrogen technology. Project aims to develop industry-compatible laser cutting process for porous titanium materials for burr-free, clean and economical cutting while achieving high quantities and process reliability.
• Fraunhofer InstituteimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaintains close relationships with renowned German research institutes including Fraunhofer Institute located throughout Germany.
• Helmholtz InstituteimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaintains close relationships with renowned German research institutes including Helmholtz Institute. Technological basic principles of Titanium Metal Injection Molding technology were originally developed by Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen and Helmholtz-Zentrum in Geesthacht in the late 1980's.
• Mold Builders (Germany, Denmark, Switzerland)supportTechnology or IntegrationCollaborates with several high quality experienced mold builders in Germany, Denmark and Switzerland for MIM tooling.
• Surface Finishing PartnerssupportTechnology or IntegrationBroad network of experienced surface finishing partners for anodizing, bead blasting, mechanical polishing, brushing, tumbling, electro-polishing and other surface treatments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI): ATI is a major specialty metals manufacturer with significant titanium mill products used in aerospace and medical. Comparable to Element22 as a titanium supply-chain participant serving the same regulated OEMs, though at much larger scale and across the full titanium value chain.
• Carpenter Technology Corporation: Carpenter Technology is a leading US producer of specialty alloys including titanium for aerospace, medical, and industrial markets. Comparable to Element22 as a titanium materials and component supplier to the same regulated end markets, though focused on traditional wrought metallurgy.
• 3D Systems Corporation: 3D Systems is a long-standing diversified additive manufacturing company offering metal printers, materials, and services including titanium production parts for medical and aerospace. Comparable to Element22 across multiple AM technologies with broader scope and global scale.
• GE Additive (Arcam): GE Additive, including the acquired Arcam electron beam melting business, is a major titanium AM equipment and parts supplier for aerospace and medical. Comparable to Element22 in titanium EBM/DMLM production parts but operates as a much broader industrial conglomerate with deeper capital and aerospace OEM relationships.

Direct peers

• EOS GmbH: EOS is a global leader in industrial metal and polymer additive manufacturing, including titanium DMLS systems and metal powders. Directly comparable to Element22 as a titanium AM parts and materials provider, with significantly larger scale and broader printer portfolio.
• SLM Solutions Group: SLM Solutions manufactures selective laser melting systems for metal additive manufacturing, including titanium alloys, and offers related materials and services. Directly competes with Element22 in titanium powder bed fusion production parts for aerospace and medical customers.
• Renishaw plc: Renishaw offers metal additive manufacturing systems and serves regulated industries including medical and aerospace with titanium printing solutions. Comparable to Element22 in its regulated-industry focus and titanium part production capabilities.
• Höganäs AB: Höganäs is the world's largest producer of metal powders for powder metallurgy and metal AM, including a strong position in MIM feedstocks. Directly comparable to Element22 as a powder metallurgy and MIM materials provider, with overlapping technology focus and customer base.

Emerging players

• Velo3D: Velo3D is a metal additive manufacturing company focused on producing complex, high-value parts for aerospace and other regulated industries. Comparable to Element22 in its emphasis on difficult-to-manufacture titanium and refractory metal parts, but with a different (laser powder bed fusion) technology platform.
• Continuum Powders (MIM + AM powders): Continuum Powders produces sustainable metal powders for additive manufacturing and MIM, including titanium grades. Comparable to Element22 as a titanium powder/feedstock supplier targeting the same MIM and AM customer base, though at an earlier commercial stage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/element-22-gmbh

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Element22