WMC Sinterstar

What WMC Sinterstar does

WMC Sinterstar AG is a Swiss specialty manufacturer of custom cemented carbide blanks, founded in 1965 and headquartered in Lotzwil, Switzerland. The company produces tungsten carbide blanks bound with cobalt or nickel using a proprietary Sinter-HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) process, and maintains a portfolio of approximately 30 carbide grades covering ultra-fine grain (UM), fine grain (SM), medium grain (V), coarse grain (B), corrosion-resistant (TN), EDM (E), and temperature-resistant variants. Production is fully vertically integrated at the Lotzwil facility: powder grinding, sintering under high temperature and pressure, and complete post-processing including eroding, grinding, polishing, turning, milling, and in-house Vickers hardness testing. The firm also offers custom grade development from as little as 50kg batches and runs a material recycling program that reintroduces cutting waste into production.

The business operates a B2B sales-led model targeting industrial manufacturers, precision engineering firms, and tool makers in Switzerland and export markets. Revenue is generated through three streams: custom cemented carbide blank manufacturing (small and medium series made to specification), a trade product catalog covering carbide tools, diamond and CBN tools, and ceramic abrasives (with Swiss distribution of Consort profile rolls and Cafro grinding wheels), and expert technical consulting on material and tool selection. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; standard V20 HIP blanks and catalog trade products are available from warehouse stock for short delivery, while custom blanks require consultation. A Chinese OEM partner manufactures cost-competitive round rods using WMC grades and processes, and is pursuing EN 9100 aerospace certification.

WMC Sinterstar is privately held, led by CEO and owner Eric Faude with CFO Dr. Erich Metzger, and operates with approximately 17 named employees across management, sales, administration, production, and logistics. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications (recertified April 2026 for 2026-2029), Dodd-Frank conflict minerals compliance, and REACH and RoHS compliance statements. It is a member of multiple Swiss and German industry associations (EMPA, FPM, Swissmechanic, SVMT, VSPW, WVO) and exhibits at events such as INNOTEQ and the Swiss Supplier Day.

Name

WMC Sinterstar

Legal name

WMC Sinterstar AG

Website

https://wmc-sinterstar.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WMC Sinterstar AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of custom cemented carbide blanks, producing approximately 30 tungsten carbide grades via proprietary Sinter-HIP processing for industrial manufacturers, precision engineering firms, and tool makers in Switzerland and export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lotzwil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cemented Carbide Blanks Manufacturing: Custom-manufactured cemented carbide blanks produced to customer specifications in small and medium series. Products are raw-sintered blanks delivered directly to customers for further processing.
2. Trade Products (Tools and Abrasives): Sale of cemented carbide tools (rotor end mills, end mills, gravers, round blanks, rods), diamond and CBN tools, and ceramic abrasives from their product catalog.
3. Expert Technical Consulting: Expert advice on selecting optimal tools and aids for machining cemented carbide, composite materials, and other metals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

WMC Sinterstar manufactures custom cemented carbide blanks from tungsten carbide with cobalt or nickel binders using the proprietary Sinter-HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) process at its Swiss facility in Lotzwil. Production covers small and medium series of individually shaped blanks in approximately 30 different carbide grades, complemented by in-house post-processing (eroding, grinding, polishing, turning, milling) and a portfolio of trade products including carbide tools, diamond/CBN tools, and ceramic abrasives.

Product overview

WMC Sinterstar is a Swiss competence center for cemented carbides, offering a vertically integrated portfolio combining in-house carbide production with a comprehensive range of trade products. The core offering is custom cemented carbide blanks manufactured using their proprietary Sinter-HIP process at their Swiss facility, available in approximately 30 different carbide grades. This core manufacturing capability is complemented by three main trade product categories: Cemented Carbide Tools (rotor end mills, end mills, gravers, and semi-finished rods/blanks), Diamond and CBN Tools (electrolytically coated tools, dressing tools, diamond pastes, profile rolls, and branded products from Cafro and Diacut), and Ceramic Abrasives (Rollierscheiben, Degussit tools, Boride stones, and Flexicut discs). The company also offers expert consultation services for selecting optimal tools and materials for machining cemented carbide and composite materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Cemented Carbide Blanks Custom manufactured cemented carbide blanks produced to customer specifications from approximately 30 different carbide grades, using the proprietary Sinter-HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) process. Available in small and medium series with in-house post-processing including eroding, grinding, polishing, turning, and milling. Designed for industrial manufacturers in wear protection, cutting, milling, punching, embossing, and forming tool applications.
• Cemented Carbide Tools Standard cemented carbide cutting tools sold from catalog, including rotor end mills, end mills, gravers, round blanks, and cemented carbide semi-finished products (round rods, rectangular rods, square rods). Targeted at industrial customers machining hard materials who need ready-made cutting tools.
• Diamond and CBN Tools Catalog line of diamond and cubic boron nitride (CBN) tools, including electrolytically coated diamond and CBN tools, diamond dressing tools, diamond pastes, Consort diamond profile rolls, Cafro grinding wheels, and Diacut cutting and groove discs. Targeted at Swiss industrial customers machining cemented carbide, ceramics, and steel.
• Ceramic Abrasives Catalog line of ceramic grinding tools and abrasives including Rollierscheiben (ceramic roller discs), Degussit fine grinding tools, Boride grinding and polishing stones, Flexicut cutting discs, and ceramic powders. Targeted at industrial customers finishing and grinding cemented carbide and other hard materials.
• Cemented Carbide Grades (HIP Series) In-house developed cemented carbide grade portfolio spanning ultra-fine grain (UM20, UM30, UM40), fine grain (SM20, SM30, SM40, SM50), medium grain (V20-V70), coarse grain (B50, B70), corrosion-resistant nickel-bonded (TN08-TN12), EDM grades (E series), and temperature-resistant grades with cobalt or nickel binders. Sold as the material specification for custom blanks.
• Expert Technical Consulting Expert advisory service on selection of optimal tools and aids for machining cemented carbide, composite materials, and other metals, supporting customers in material grade selection and tool optimization. Targeted at industrial customers evaluating carbide tooling solutions.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WMR - Wilhelm Metzger SASUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner company. WMR is a French company specializing in metal duro (cemented carbide) products, representing a strategic partnership for the cemented carbide industry.
• EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPA is a research institution for materials science and technology. WMC Sinterstar holds membership, indicating collaboration in research and development for advanced materials technology.
• FPM - Fachverband Pulvermetallurgie e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for powder metallurgy in Germany. Membership indicates participation in the cemented carbide and powder metallurgy industry community.
• Consort Precision Diamond Co. LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive manufacturer of diamond profile rolls. WMC Sinterstar resells these profile rolls in Switzerland, offering them as a cost-effective and high-precision solution for dressing and profiling ceramic grinding wheels.
• CafrocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWMC Sinterstar represents Cafro in Switzerland. Cafro specializes in diamond and CBN grinding wheels with innovative bonds and high cutting efficiency for machining cemented carbide, ceramics, and steel. Core competency is resin-bonded diamond and CBN grinding wheels, also producing metal, hybrid, and ceramic-bonded wheels plus PCD/PCBN tools.
• Chinese Partner CompanycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCooperation with a partner company in China for manufacturing cemented carbide round rods (330mm) and fixed lengths using WMC grades (SM30 HIP, UM40 HIP) and WMC sinter-HIP processes. Partner is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, working toward EN 9100 aerospace certification. Enables cost-competitive production while maintaining Swiss quality standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sandvik (Sandvik Coromant): Swedish multinational with a major cemented carbide and cutting tools division (Sandvik Coromant). Overlaps with WMC in carbide blanks and machining tooling, but operates as a global, multi-segment industrial conglomerate.
• ISCAR (IMC Group): Israeli-headquartered global manufacturer of metalworking cutting tools including cemented carbide inserts, end mills, and tooling systems. Comparable to WMC in cemented carbide tooling products, though operating globally with much broader product portfolio.
• Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal: Japanese manufacturer of cemented carbide cutting tools, inserts, and wear-resistant parts. Comparable in core cemented carbide product and industrial tooling market, though operates globally with much larger R&D and product breadth.
• Mitsubishi Materials Corporation: Japanese conglomerate with a hardmetal / cemented carbide division producing cutting tools, wear parts, and carbide blanks. Comparable product line and industrial customer base, with global reach exceeding WMC's European focus.
• Kennametal: US-based global manufacturer of cemented carbide products, metalworking tools, and wear solutions. Directly comparable in product (carbide blanks, cutting tools) and end markets (industrial, aerospace, automotive), but operates at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Walter AG (Sandvik): German precision tooling company (part of Sandvik) specializing in metal cutting tools including cemented carbide end mills and drills. Direct overlap with WMC's cemented carbide tools and trading product lines.
• OSG Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of taps, end mills, and cemented carbide cutting tools serving precision engineering customers. Directly comparable to WMC's end mill, graver, and carbide tool trade product lines, with overlapping aerospace and tooling customers.
• Ceratizit (Plansee Group): Austria-based cemented carbide manufacturer producing custom blanks, cutting tools, and wear parts for industrial applications. Most directly comparable to WMC in terms of product portfolio (carbide grades, semi-finished products, tools) and B2B industrial customer base, though at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Hyperion Materials & Technologies: US-based specialist manufacturer of cemented carbide and diamond/cBN products, comparable to WMC's focus on hardmetals for industrial tooling and wear applications. Smaller and more focused than majors, but larger than WMC.

Regional players

• Zhuzhou Cemented Carbide Group (ZCC): China's largest cemented carbide manufacturer, producing carbide blanks, cutting tools, and mining/machinery wear parts. Comparable product portfolio, but primarily serves Chinese and Asian markets — relevant to WMC as a competitive benchmark on cost and as a partner/customer in the region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wmc-sinterstar-ag

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 WMC Sinterstar