31/08/2018 Advanced ceramic powders

Höganäs enters the ceramic market with the acquisition of H.C. Starck division

In March 2018, Höganäs acquired the H.C. Starck Group’s Surface Technology & Ceramic Powder division, STC, a leading producer and developer of non-oxide ceramic powders. Höganäs sees a bright future for its new business and aims to further develop its new portfolio.

'The acquisition of STC will successfully position Höganäs on the trajectory towards achieving its long-term strategy. STC’s extremely competent workforce, together with significant development capabilities will enable us to support our customers more and help them bring new applications to the market,' says Fredrik Emilson, CEO at Höganäs. Höganäs is the world leader of development and production of iron and metal powders.

To expand its portfolio, Höganäs acquired STC, a renowned manufacturer of high-quality surface technology, additive manufacturing and ceramic powders. STC offers one of the most extensive material portfolios in non-oxide ceramic powders specializing in boron, boride, carbide and nitride powders. Its high-quality products are utilized in various applications, such as clean energy technologies, technical ceramics or thermal management. In addition to its vast portfolio of standard grades, STC develops ceramic powders on a customer-specific basis.  

'STC has a high performing production of ceramic powders of high quality and great value to the market. Additionally, STC has some very interesting key differentiators, such as being one of the leading boron producers or the only aluminum nitride producer outside Asia. We are convinced that the ceramics business will achieve a lot', says Hans Söderhjelm, Vice President Research and Development at Höganäs.

Höganäs will support the ceramic business with expertise from its research and development department. “I am happy that we now have a stronger support towards our needs regarding development and new applications. With Höganäs’ support we are now in the position to speed up the development of specific powders, for example for fillers for the thermal management industry.  Additionally, we have a good chance to grow our market share of ceramic pastes for the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications, to only mention some of the new opportunities we have “says Maria Teresa Suarez Martin, Director Sales and Product Management Advanced Ceramic Powders.

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About H.C. Starck Surface Technology and Ceramic Powders GmbH and Höganäs:

The H.C. Starck Surface Technology and Ceramic Powders GmbH (STC) is a leading global premium producer of high quality ceramic and metal powders as well as of surface technology powders. At the sites in Goslar and Laufenburg, STC produces high-tech materials with unique chemical and physical properties for various industries, such as the aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries. STC is part of Höganäs AB, the world's largest manufacturer of iron and metal powders with around 2,300 employees worldwide. Höganäs is headquartered in Sweden and has sales and production sites in the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.