1. About H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH
MMC acquired H.C. Starck Holding GmbH ("H.C. Starck Holding") as a consolidated subsidiary in 2024.
H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH is the core operating company of H.C. Starck Holding and one of the world's leading tungsten product manufacturers, with a history spanning more than 100 years.
H.C. Starck manufactures and sells high-quality powders based on tungsten, tungsten carbide and related alloys across Europe, North America and China, while also maintaining sales operations in Japan. In addition, it possesses one of the world's largest tungsten recycling capacities and provides an integrated value chain ranging from tungsten scrap collection and recycling to the production and sale of tungsten intermediates and powder products.
2. Background of the Investment
Tungsten is a critical mineral used in a wide range of industrial applications, including cemented carbide tools. In recent years, the importance of securing a stable supply has increased due to the geographical concentration of mineral resources and growing geopolitical risks.
H.C. Starck operates a recycling business that recovers and recycles tungsten scrap collected from used cemented carbide tools and other sources. Today, recycled tungsten already accounts for approximately 80 percent of the raw material supply used at the Goslar site.
This investment will expand the site's tungsten scrap processing capacity to approximately 7,000 metric tons per year and further strengthen the tungsten resource circulation platform in Europe. The expansion is expected to enable the Goslar operation to meet almost all of its tungsten requirements with recycled material.
3. Position Within MMC Group's Medium-term Management Strategy
Under its Medium-term Management Strategy (FYE March 2027-2029), MMC has adopted "creating the future through resource circulation" as its basic policy. In the Tungsten Business, MMC aims to achieve a 100% recycling ratio (ratio of recycled raw materials used) at tungsten product manufacturing sites in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Japan, by the fiscal year ending March 2031.
This investment will further advance resource circulation initiatives in the Tungsten Business by strengthening H.C. Starck's recycling capacity and expanding the tungsten resource circulation platform in Europe. It represents an important step toward achieving MMC Group's target of a 100% recycling ratio and will contribute to both the stable supply of tungsten, a critical mineral, and the further promotion of resource circulation.
4. Executive Comment