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Aerial photo of Plansee company headquarters, Reutte

Plansee, the experts in innovative solutions made from molybdenum and tungsten

Plansee High Performance Materials specializes in the manufacturing of components from molybdenum and tungsten. Whether in the semiconductor industry, consumer electronics, medical technology, or high-temperature furnaces, our refractory metals and composites come into play in scenarios where regular metals reach their limits. As an innovation partner, together with our customers we develop sustainable solutions for the high-tech world and continually push the boundaries of what is technologically feasible.

Plansee Managing Directors Andreas Feichtinger and Ulrich Lausecker
Andreas Feichtinger (left), Executive Vice President, at Plansee since 2008 - Ulrich Lausecker (right), Executive Vice President, with the Plansee Group since 1997.

Founded in 1921 in Reutte, Austria, today we are a global and independent private company. We employ around 3,500 people at more than 10 production sites in Asia, the USA, and Europe and have a global sales network.

For more than 100 years, Plansee has stood for reliability and stability. This is also reflected in the long-standing company affiliation of our management board.

Plansee at a glance
  • Privately owned company with a success story spanning 100 years

  • Sustainable value chain from the raw material to the finished product

  • Powder metallurgy manufacturing process

  • Proximity to customers through more than 10 production sites 

  • Innovation partner from prototype development to series production

Company history

100 years of Plansee – competence and stability

Metallwerk Plansee original company building, Reutte
1921: Metallwerk Plansee Gesellschaft m.b.H founded in Reutte, Austria

On June 24, 1921, Paul Schwarzkopf from Prague founds Metallwerk Plansee Gesellschaft m.b.H with his business partner Richard Kurtz in Breitenwang/Reutte, Tyrol. A year later, the production of tungsten wires begins.

View over the Plansee in Austria
Named after Lake Plansee

The water of the Plansee is an important energy source for the company, which is why the lake is a decisive factor in choosing the location and name of the company.

Plansee tungsten wire production site, Reutte
1922: Opening and commissioning

The company starts producing tungsten wires for incandescent lamps with 15 employees. Tungsten wires are followed in 1923 by wires made of molybdenum and, from the late 1920s, the production of the carbide titanite.

Three employees at Plansee American Electro Metal
1925: Expansion into the USA

In 1925, Paul Schwarzkopf expands into the USA and founds the Plansee USA production site in Franklin in 1929.

Plansee Seminar event participants
1952: First Plansee Seminar "De re metallica" in Reutte

In 1952, Paul Schwarzkopf launches the Plansee Seminar, a meeting about material science and materials engineering that takes place every four years. At this seminar, powder metallurgy experts present their knowledge on the development, production, and application of refractory metals.

Plansee Managing Director Hilde Schwarzkopf
From 1970: Expansion under Hilde Schwarzkopf

After Walter Schwarzkopf's death in 1978, his widow Hilde Schwarzkopf takes over the management of the company and founds various sales companies worldwide, including in Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, and China.

Plansee Managing Director Chairman of the Supervisory Board Michael Schwarzkopf at his desk
1996: Michael Schwarzkopf manages the company

From 1996 to 2017, Michael Schwarzkopf, son of Walter Schwarzkopf, manages the company. Since then, he has been the Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

World map showing Plansee company sites worldwide
2007: Further acquisitions

Expansion into other markets, particularly Asia, takes place with Wolfra-Tech Pvt. Ltd. in Mysore, India and with TCB Korea Co., Ltd. in South Korea, among others.

Plansee celebrates 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary Reutte Foyer event
2021: 100-year anniversary

On June 21, 2021, the Plansee Group celebrates its 100th anniversary. What first began with the production of tungsten wire, has grown and grown. Today, Plansee manufactures over 75,000 products for numerous industries.

Aerial photo of Plansee Reutte site
2023: Plansee is one of the world's leading powder metallurgy companies

Today, Plansee is a global leader in powder metallurgy and operates across 32 sites in 24 countries. It has more than 10 production sites across the USA, Europe, and Asia. Our international supply chain and production network guarantees security of supply for our customers.

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Plansee in figures
  • Mio.

    € annual sales 2023

  • employees

  • patents

  • production sites

Find out more

Learn more about Plansee and make use of our comprehensive sources of information:

Sustainability
Plansee Reutte

A responsible future, since 1921

Security, trust, and sustainability: we still stand for these values after 100 years. The company was founded in 1921 near the Plansee. It is not only our namesake but also our energy source and more important today than ever. Whether it relates to hydroelectric power, sustainable company management, recycling of materials, or global compliance with labor laws, sustainability has always had many dimensions at Plansee.

More information about sustainability at Plansee
Corporate Culture

Strong values, strong culture

Our company values have always shaped the culture of Plansee. They are the bedrock upon which we build our relationships with each other and our partners.

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Increasing Customer Success
We are competent, reliable, and energetic.
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Living Integrity
We are honest, committed, and responsible.
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Strengthening Collaboration
We are open, respectful, and strong as a team.
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Shaping the Future
We are innovative, future-orientated and push the boundaries of what is technically feasible.
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Empowering Global Success
We are sustainably successful all over the world.
The Plansee Group

We are part of the Plansee Group

The Plansee Group is focused on the production and marketing of the refractory metals molybdenum and tungsten: Plansee specializes in the processing of molybdenum and tungsten into semifinished products and components. Ceratizit processes tungsten carbide into tools.

The Plansee Group guarantees a sustainable raw material supply. The supply of our key raw materials molybdenum and tungsten is guaranteed by the companies Global Tungsten & Powders and Molymet.

More information about the Plansee Group