American Elements
American Elements is a privately held advanced materials manufacturer founded in 1997, producing more than 35,000 specialty metals, chemicals, rare earths, nanomaterials, and crystals across vertically integrated facilities in the U.S., China, and Mexico for Fortune 500 enterprises, U.S. national laboratories, and military customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What American Elements does
American Elements is a privately held advanced materials manufacturer founded in 1997 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with production operations across the United States, China, and Mexico. The company produces a catalog of more than 35,000 products spanning ultra high purity metals and compounds (up to 99.999%), rare earths, engineered nanomaterials, custom alloys, ceramics, oxides, isotopes, III-V and II-VI semiconductor crystals, sputtering targets, organometallics, and life science chemicals. Its underlying technology stack is anchored by proprietary refining, crystal growth, spray-drying, and co-precipitation/calcination processes that are operated under ISO 9002, IATF 16949, GMP, and REACH-compliant SOPs.
The company operates a vertically integrated model that begins at the mine through mineral refining and chemical separations, supporting cost-effective manufacturing from raw inputs to finished products at both laboratory/research and industrial tonnage scales. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of physical materials, supplemented by contract custom manufacturing, toll production, and analytical/testing services. Pricing is entirely quote-based with no publicly disclosed rates. American Elements sells through a self-service e-commerce storefront, direct enterprise field sales, and a network of exclusive regional distributors across more than 35 countries.
Its customer base is heavily enterprise and government-weighted, including over 30% of the Fortune 50, all U.S. national laboratories and military branches, and named customers spanning aerospace and defense (NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, Rolls Royce), electronics and semiconductors (Apple, Intel, Samsung, IBM, HP, ASML, Meta), energy and automotive (Tesla, Toyota, GM, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell), industrial chemicals (BASF, DuPont, Dow, 3M, GE, Honeywell, Siemens), pharmaceuticals and medical devices (Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Medtronic, Roche), and academic and national lab institutions (CERN, MIT, Harvard, Caltech, Los Alamos, Sandia, Oak Ridge).
American Elements firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Elements
- Legal name
- American Elements
- Website
- https://americanelements.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- American Elements is a privately held advanced materials manufacturer founded in 1997, producing more than 35,000 specialty metals, chemicals, rare earths, nanomaterials, and crystals across vertically integrated facilities in the U.S., China, and Mexico for Fortune 500 enterprises, U.S. national laboratories, and military customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Elements industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advanced Materials Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3329)
- SIC
- Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rare Earths Separation & Refining (Oxides/Metals) (IMAKAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Display & Optoelectronics Chemicals (OLED/LCD materials, polarizer chemicals) (IMAEAKAN), High-Purity Acids & Bases (UPW-grade) (IMAEAKAC), Metals, Plastics & Fabrication Materials Marketplaces (CRAFAHAN)
Keywords
Where American Elements is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Elements 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
- Advanced Materials Sales: Sale of metals, alloys, ceramics, crystal structures, compounds, and composites across a catalog of more than 35,000 products. Products sold in both industrial bulk quantities and laboratory/research quantities. Revenue generated through direct product sales with pricing based on material type, purity, quantity, and specifications.
- Custom Manufacturing Services: Contract custom manufacturing and tolling services for chemical manufacturers, distributors, traders and wholesalers. Includes development of proprietary formulations, sample provision in documented formulations, and scale-up from research to commercialized tonnage level production.
- Analytical and Testing Services: Contract analytical and testing services including spectroscopy (Atomic, X-ray fluorescence, Infrared), classical wet chemistry, physical/structural analyses, thermal analysis, and electrical measurements provided to customers including Fortune 100 companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing model for all products |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
American Elements product offering
Product offeringCore offering
American Elements is a vertically integrated manufacturer and global supplier of advanced materials, producing more than 35,000 products including ultra high purity metals and compounds (up to 99.999%), engineered nanomaterials, custom alloys, ceramic fibers, single crystals (III-V and II-VI), isotopes, and sputtering targets. The company serves industrial bulk and laboratory/research quantity markets from production facilities in China, Mexico, and the United States, complemented by contract custom manufacturing, analytical and testing, and regulatory compliance services.
Product overview
American Elements operates as a diversified advanced materials manufacturer offering more than 35,000 products across multiple categories. The company's core portfolio includes Rare Earths (lanthanides and other strategic elements), Nanomaterials (nanoparticles, nanopowders, nanoscale foils), Sputtering Targets, Organometallics, Alloys, Ceramics, Oxides, Isotopes, Semiconductors, and high-purity metals. The product line spans from industrial bulk quantities to laboratory/research quantities, with specialized offerings like Zirconium Acetate, Terbium Oxide Powder, Calcium Granules, Platinum Boats, and Cerium Oxide Sputtering Targets. The company complements its product offerings with Custom Manufacturing Services, Analytical Services (spectroscopy, wet chemistry, thermal analysis), and Regulatory Compliance Services (MSDS authoring, REACH compliance). Key application areas include battery materials, aerospace, defense, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and energy storage. As the world's largest manufacturer devoted exclusively to advanced materials, American Elements serves industries ranging from Fortune 500 companies to academic institutions and government laboratories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AE Carbides: Product group for carbide materials
- AE Refractory Metals
- AE Solar Energy
- AE Organo-Metallics
- AE Isotopes
- AE Solutions
- Nanometal
- P-MITE
- I-Mite
- AE Water Treatment
- T-MITE, C-MITE, A-MITE
- Z-MITE
- NanoFluor
- Cerifine
- Yttrifine
- Mangasorb
- VACUUMELT
- Heavy Gadolinium Nitrate
Products and services
- Rare Earths Comprehensive category of rare earth elements including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium in various forms for industrial and research buyers.
- Nanomaterials Advanced nanoscale materials including nanoparticles, nanopowders, and nanoscale foil with specific particle distributions, shapes, and surface areas for electronics, healthcare, and energy applications.
- Sputtering Targets High-purity sputtering targets and rotatable sputtering targets for thin film deposition applications in semiconductor, electronics, and optical coatings manufacturing.
- Organometallics Organometallic compounds for photovoltaics, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials synthesis.
- High Purity Materials Ultra high purity refining (up to 99.999%) of metals and compounds for advanced technology applications.
- Alloys Custom and standard alloy formulations in various configurations for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications.
- Ceramics Ceramic fibers and bulk ceramics for structural, conductive, and industrial applications.
- Oxides Metal oxide compounds in various purities and morphologies for industrial and research applications.
- Isotopes Isotopic materials including radioactive and stable isotopes for research, medical, and industrial applications.
- Semiconductors III-V and II-VI semiconductor compounds with special orientations, purities and dopants for electronics applications.
- Custom Manufacturing Services Contract custom manufacturing and tolling services including custom alloy manufacturing, toll production, proprietary formulations, sample provision in documented formulations, and scale-up from research to commercialized tonnage-level production for chemical manufacturers, distributors, traders, and wholesalers.
- Analytical and Testing Services Contract analytical and testing services including spectroscopy (Atomic, X-ray fluorescence, Infrared), classical wet chemistry, physical/structural analyses, thermal analysis, and electrical measurements provided to customers including Fortune 100 companies.
- Regulatory Compliance Services Custom MSDS authoring, REACH compliance advising, and regulatory support for chemical regulations including GHS, OSHA, WHMIS, and CLP.
- Battery Materials Materials for battery technology including battery-grade lithium, cathode materials, and electrolyte components (including novel nanoscale electrolyte for next-generation lithium batteries) for energy storage applications.
- Life Sciences Products Organic chemistry products including alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, amines, amino acids, enzymes, and other biochemical compounds for pharmaceutical and research applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Served over 30% of Fortune 500 companies and all U.S. national laboratories & military branches
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use American Elements
Customer profileNamed customers41 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
American Elements technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
American Elements partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- GivePower FoundationminorAmerican Elements CEO Michael Silver participated with GivePower Foundation in installing solar farms, including one on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The partnership supports renewable energy access for indigenous communities and remote locations through solar power installation projects.
- National Science FoundationcoreAmerican Elements co-sponsored with the National Science Foundation a four-part PBS NOVA series titled 'Making Stuff' examining the world of materials science. This represents a significant public science education partnership.
- UCLA Institute of the Environment and SustainabilityminorAmerican Elements provides funding to support the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (IoES) in Los Angeles, California. Additionally, CEO Michael Silver hosted a delegation from UCLA Medical Center to the Inner Mongolian Medical Teaching College in Baotou, China, facilitating student and teacher exchanges and joint AIDS program development.
- Pebbles ProjectminorAmerican Elements provides funding to the Pebbles Project, which provides community and educational support to the agricultural communities of the Western Cape of South Africa.
- Getty MuseumminorAmerican Elements donated materials to the Getty Museum for the 'Art of Alchemy' exhibition, showcasing the artistic and cultural applications of advanced materials.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
American Elements competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alfa Aesar (Thermo Fisher Scientific): Research chemicals, pure metals, and inorganic materials catalog serving academic, government, and industrial labs. Directly comparable to American Elements in catalog breadth, lab-scale packaging, and target customer base.
- Goodfellow: Supplier of metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, and compounds in research and small-quantity formats. Comparable catalog model and customer base for advanced materials in R&D settings.
- Strem Chemicals: Specialty chemicals manufacturer focused on organometallics, catalysts, and high-purity inorganic compounds for research and industrial customers. Direct overlap with AE's organometallics and high-purity materials lines.
- Materion Corporation: U.S. advanced materials manufacturer of high-performance alloys, beryllium products, and engineered materials for aerospace, defense, and semiconductor end markets. Closest U.S. publicly listed peer in advanced/specialty materials.
- MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich): Life science and high-purity chemicals arm of Merck KGaA. Overlaps with American Elements across research-grade metals, organometallics, and specialty chemicals sold to academic, pharma, and industrial customers.
- Noah Technologies Corporation: U.S. manufacturer of high-purity inorganic and organometallic chemicals, custom synthesis, and contract manufacturing. Directly comparable contract manufacturing and tolling capabilities for chemical/materials producers.
- Indium Corporation: Specialty manufacturer of indium-based compounds, solders, and nanomaterials for electronics, semiconductor, and thermal management applications. Overlaps with AE's I-Mite indium nanoparticle line and electronic materials.
Emerging players
- ESPI Metals: U.S. specialty metals and rare earth supplier focusing on high-purity metals, sputtering targets, and custom alloys. Comparable niche but smaller scale than American Elements.
Broad incumbents
- China Northern Rare Earth Group: State-affiliated Chinese rare earths conglomerate dominating separation and refining. Most consequential competitor for AE's rare earths product line and a structural counterweight to AE's pricing power in that category.
- Mersen: Global industrial materials company serving electric, electronic, and advanced materials markets, including graphite, carbon, and high-temperature materials. Adjacent in advanced materials but with broader industrial portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Elements social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Elements compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
American Elements financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Elements leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
American Elements funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Elements 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 American Elements
What does American Elements do?
American Elements is a vertically integrated manufacturer and global supplier of advanced materials, producing more than 35,000 products including ultra high purity metals and compounds (up to 99.999%), engineered nanomaterials, custom alloys, ceramic fibers, single crystals (III-V and II-VI), isotopes, and sputtering targets. The company serves industrial bulk and laboratory/research quantity markets from production facilities in China, Mexico, and the United States, complemented by contract custom manufacturing, analytical and testing, and regulatory compliance services.
Is American Elements a public or private company?
American Elements is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was American Elements founded?
American Elements was founded in 1997. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is American Elements based?
American Elements is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Elements make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advanced Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Manufacturing Services and analytical and Testing Services.
Who are American Elements's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alfa Aesar (Thermo Fisher Scientific), Goodfellow, Strem Chemicals, Materion Corporation, MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich), Noah Technologies Corporation and Indium Corporation. ESPI Metals is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are China Northern Rare Earth Group and Mersen.
Does American Elements have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Elements.
What industry is American Elements in?
American Elements's product category is Advanced Materials Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAFAH, Rare Earths Separation & Refining (Oxides/Metals), with a secondary code of IMAEAKAN, Display & Optoelectronics Chemicals (OLED/LCD materials, polarizer chemicals). Its NAICS code is 33441 and its SIC code is 3330.