H.C. Starck Press Releases

H.C. Starck continues on profitable growth track

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Munich, March 23, 2012. H.C. Starck, one of the leading manufacturers of refractory metals and technical ceramics, achieved sustainable profitable growth in 2011. Worldwide, H.C. Starck’s sales grew by 28% to 883.2 million Euros from 689.3 million Euros in 2010. Also operating profit grew significantly compared to the year before.

“2011 was an outstanding year for H.C. Starck. We have more than exceeded our strategic and operational goals in all business segments and have continued on the positive, profitable growth track from the previous year,” explained Andreas Meier, Chairman of the H.C. Starck Executive Board.

2012: Introducing New Products and Strengthening Commitment in Asia

For the 2012 financial year, the company expects good results – despite the current difficulty in assessing economic prospects and low demand in the electronics industry at the beginning of 2012. “We’ve had a good start into 2012; however, the international economic conditions are significantly more demanding than they were last year,” said Meier. “Our goal is to prove the sustainability of our business success in 2012. We want to build on our market positions and use our technical expertise to develop new products and branch out into new markets. With our almost 100 years of experience in manufacturing technically sophisticated refractory metals, we can deliver crucial added value.”

Meier continued, “We want to further develop our fast-growing, unique recycling activities. We are the global technology leader when it comes to recycling refractory metals. With a current rate of around 50%, recycling is a vital pillar in our materials sourcing.”

Furthermore, alongside expanding European capacity in 2012, H.C. Starck intends to strengthen its regional commitments, particularly in Asia, and will invest in the development of high-quality tungsten products in China. In 2011, the company signed agreements for two joint ventures in the production of tungsten chemicals, tungsten metal, and tungsten carbide with Jiangxi Rare Metals Tungsten Holding Group Co. Ltd. (JXTC), one of the largest tungsten mining companies in China. Following the planned ground breaking ceremony for the production plant in early 2012, the plant should begin production of several thousands tons of high-quality tungsten products for the Chinese market in a matter of months. In October 2011, the ground breaking ceremony took place at the production plant site for CS Energy Materials Ltd (CSEM), a joint venture with Japanese chemical firm Japan New Chisso Corp., for the development and manufacture of cathode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars. Production is due to begin mid-2012 in Minamata, Japan.

2011: Sustainable Profitable Growth in All Segments and Secure Raw Material Supply

The fantastic developments in the 2011 financial year were supported by high demand in the tantalum and niobium division, particularly from the electronics industry. The company achieved excellent results in Asia, in particular, despite the natural disasters in Japan (earthquake) and Thailand (flooding). The tungsten division notably experienced an improvement in the field of carbide tools. Increased demand from the automotive industry and the renewable energy segment led to good results for ceramic powders. Alongside the sputtering target business for special coatings, H.C. Starck noted growing demand in the fabricated products business segment, primarily from the chemical processing and industrial furnace sectors. In the technical ceramics business segment, H.C. Starck was able to improve its results, especially through an increase in complex engineering parts and productivity improvements in business processes.

In addition, the company has resolved one of its most important core strategic issues by securing the long-term supply of conflict-free raw materials. H.C. Starck received the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) certification as a “conflict-free smelter” for the tantalum supply chain. “Our raw material procurement stands on two strong pillars: longer-term supply contracts with established mines and the continuous expansion of our recycling activities,” said Meier.

Now more than ever, an expertise in recycling honed over many years and the often unique processing methods for environmentally sound reconditioning make H.C. Starck the strategic partner of growth-oriented industries, who feel a responsibility toward the principles of sustainability. In light of ever more intensive global competition for strategic raw materials, technically sophisticated recycling will significantly increase – as an essential component of a stable raw material supply. With this resource cycle, natural resources will be conserved.

“We successfully developed H.C. Starck last year and were able to sustainably improve our market position. We therefore started 2012 in great shape and will demonstrate that our success can continue even under economically challenging market conditions. We want to implement a number of growth projects this year to attain an even stronger market presence, particularly in Asia,” stated Meier.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck operates 12 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with 2,816 employees worldwide (as of Dec. 31, 2011). Further information on the company is available at: http://www.hcstarck.com/en/home/press; Company Statement on Raw Material Procurement.

Contact
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
+49-89-500-942-155

OLED Raises FPD to a New Technology Level with H.C. Starck’s Sputtering Targets

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

NEWTON, Mass., USA, March 19, 2012 – Innovative thinking creates a sharp and brilliant vision for the future with OLED technology. The rapid growth of OLED screens in the flat panel display (FPD) industry punctuates the increased need for high tech materials.

With the majority of FPD production taking place in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China, H.C. Starck is a leading, vertically-integrated supplier of molybdenum planar and rotary sputtering targets for thin film sputtering applications in Asia.

Developing higher resolution and reduced energy consumption in flat panel displays requires higher target integrity to achieve cost savings though enhanced material utilization. H.C. Starck’s Gen 4.5 and above molybdenum sputtering targets are paving the way with higher deposition efficiencies, and proven capability to deliver high density (>99.5%) and high purity (>99.95%) planar targets as large as 14mm x 1580mm x 1950mm and rotary targets greater that 2700mm long.

With these developments, a local presence coupled with global reach is critical to efficiently meet the increasing demand for sputtering targets. With over 30 locations worldwide including Asia, Europe, and the U.S., H.C. Starck offers local and direct Sales and Technical support to its customers.

H.C. Starck is pleased to exhibit at this year’s FPD China 2012, 20-22 March, Shanghai New International Expo Center in China, Booth E1-1155. Visit with our experienced technical staff to learn how our leading-edge products and technical support could contribute to your success in competitive FPD and innovative OLED industries.

”We are excited about the recent industry developments in FPD,” says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products business segment. “New technologies such as ultra-high resolution displays and OLED, demand different performance levels from all display materials and components. As metals and sputtering target specialist, H. C. Starck can offer our expertise to the FPD customers to help them drive both system performance and cost.”

H.C. Starck manufactures custom rotary and planar sputter targets from its core competency materials: molybdenum (Mo), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb) and tungsten (W) and their alloys.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 5321.751.3450
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck
Christopher Michaluk
C +1 617-610-9882
chris.michaluk@hcstarck.com

ULTRA 76 Tantalum Alloy – Combats Aggressive, Hazardous Chemical Corrosion

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Newton, Mass, USA, March 13, 2012 – Ultra 76 tantalum alloy, a corrosion-resistant tantalum material for hot concentrated acid applications, is on display at NACE CORROSION 2012, Salt Lake City, UT, March 12-15, Booth 816. H.C. Starck invites you to visit us and meet our engineering and technology experts to discuss the benefits of Ultra 76 for critical corrosion resistant applications. H.C. Starck’s high tech materials: molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, and their alloys, are excellent choices for aggressive temperature and severe environment applications. Tantalum, in particular, is widely used in electronic, chemical process, and biomedical industries and provides cost-effective, long service life solutions for mission-critical components.

Ultra 76 Tantalum Alloy (Ta 2.5% W + “proprietary doping additives”) benefits corrosion applications by:

minimizing hydrogen embrittlement
extending equipment life
reducing operation downtime
increasing operating temperatures in HCI, H₂SO₄, and other acids
eliminating separate “Platinum Spot welding” application steps

”Chemical and corrosion applications are at the heart of our materials competency,” says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products business segment. “We are pleased to offer even higher performance solutions such as Ultra 76 to our customers who are constantly looking to improve their equipment performance, efficiency and cost of ownership.”

H.C. Starck’s Ultra 76 Tantalum Alloy can add value to a multitude of products:

Bayonet heaters
Heat exchangers, condensers, and coils
Thermocouple protection sheaths
Pumps, bodies, cases, shafts, and impellers
Paddle stirrers and agitators
Distillation columns, boilers, and condensers
Tantalum-clad dip pipes, heaters, and chemical plant equipment
Repair kits for tanks, vats, and other glass-lined containers
Crucibles in standard and special shapes and sizes
Furnace and Furnace Parts for use at temperatures up to 1400oC (2500 F) in controlled atmospheres

Download a free brochure “Ultra 76 Tantalum for Corrosive Resistant Applications”, email info@hcstarck.com or visit www.hcstarck.com.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 89.500942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Inc.
Cristian Cretu
T: + 1.216.392.5077
cristian.cretu@hcstarck.com

Going “Green” Garners H.C. Starck the Evolution of Manufacturing Award

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Newton, Mass., March 2, 2012 – For the second year running, H.C. Starck was among 11 companies honored at the 2012 Northeast Ohio Evolution of Manufacturing Awards sponsored by Smart Business magazine. Recognized for its excellence in manufacturing execution and implementation of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and a Sustainable Energy Management system, H.C. Starck also realized benefits from going “green”.

Going “green” means total compliance with local, state, federal, and international environmental regulations. In addition, H.C. Starck’s materials contribute to the energy efficiencies of electronic devices such as smart phones, tablet PCs, and HDTVs, fuel efficiency of airplanes, and "green" energy generation by solar panels. A joint venture to develop and manufacture cathode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries to power electric cars ranks high on its list of green initiatives.

"We are honored to receive this award in Euclid for the second year. Since 2011, H.C. Starck has increased its involvement in environmentally friendly technologies such as solar power, "green" energy generation and transmission, and energy-efficient lighting such as LED,” says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products business segment. “This award reflects our ongoing commitment to both our employees and communities, as well as to larger environmental issues that H.C. Starck products can help address."

Along with the gamut of technology innovations comes an increase in social and environmental responsibility. H.C. Starck embraced this challenge with key Responsible Care^® programs to address pollution prevention, process safety, environmental, health, and safety, community awareness and emergency response.

H.C. Starck benefited from its “green” initiatives when it was certified as a Sony Green Partner in 2011 for having an Environmental Quality Assurance System in place to meet Sony’s strict international environmental standards.

As a responsible corporate citizen, H.C. Starck meets and continually strives to exceed governmental, industry and environmental standards worldwide. To ensure this, H.C. Starck has implemented various internal management systems. These are based on international standards and encompass all areas of the company. H.C. Starck’s Responsible Supply Chain Management (RSCM) system ensures efficient and competitive sourcing of conflict free raw materials that meet the requirements of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. The EICC has declared H.C. Starck’s tantalum supply chain free of conflict materials and lists H.C. Starck as a Conflict-Free Smelter (CFS). Ultimately, most the metals, materials, and parts that H.C. Starck manufactures are recyclable at the end of their respective use.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T: +49 89.500942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Inc.
Mark Confroy
Chief Operating Officer
T: + 1.216.692.6920
mark.confroy@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Group expands its Executive Board

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Munich. As of January 1, 2012, H.C. Starck Group Executive Board will be expanded to four members, reflecting the Group’s significantly diversified business and supporting its future profitable growth.

John van Put will be representing the Advanced Metals and Ceramic Powders (AMCP) business unit and Dmitry Shashkov will act for the Fabricated Products (FPR) business unit. Together with CEO Andreas Meier and CFO Ludger Heuberg they will form the new management team of the Company.

“During the past years, H.C. Starck has become a leading developer and manufacturer of high performance technology metal and ceramic powders and fabricated products with a strong international footprint. In addition, the Group has especially focused on technology metal recycling as a dynamically growing business field”, said Engelbert Heimes, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. “The extension of the Executive Board is thus a logical step which will support H.C. Starck in fully capitalizing on market trends and in realizing additional growth opportunities. Both new Board members not only bring with profound expertise in their working areas, but also know H.C. Starck very well through their previous positions.”

“We are very proud that the Supervisory Board has identified and promoted two competent new Board members within the talent pool of H.C. Starck. John van Put and Dmitry Shashkov are two very experienced colleagues with a strong international background and entrepreneurial spirit”, said Andreas Meier, CEO of H.C. Starck. “Ludger Heuberg and I will look forward to continue working with them. With this new top management team H.C. Starck is very well positioned to continue our profitable growth track and to realize our ambitious targets for the coming years”.

John van Put has held several leadership positions with H.C. Starck since 2008 and currently leads the AMCP business unit. He holds a doctorate degree in Chemical Process Engineering and has studied Mining and Petroleum engineering at the Delft University of Technology (Netherlands).

Dmitry Shaskov joined H.C. Starck in 2010 and heads the FPR business unit. He holds a doctorate degree in Materials Science & Engineering from the Northwestern University of Illinois and studied physics at the Moscow Institute of Steel & Alloys.

Axel Westerhaus, who has been in the Executive Board since 2007, will be retiring from his position and leave the Company on December 31, 2011. “During his many years of work for H.C. Starck, he has significantly impacted the successful development of our company and in particular the Advanced Metals and Ceramic Powders business unit”, said Engelbert Heimes. “We thank Axel Westerhaus for his dedicated work and wish him all the best as he enters this new period of his life.”

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. Additional information about the company can be found at www.hcstarck.com

Contact
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
+49-89-500-942-155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

Carsten Rußner Taking Over as New General Manager of H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Munich. Effective November 1, 2011, Carsten Rußner will be taking over as general manager of H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH, a subsidiary of the H.C. Starck Group.

Carsten Rußner has comprehensive professional experience in the field of advanced ceramics. Over the course of seventeen years, he held numerous management positions at a leading company in the industry, including in Research and Development, Production Technology and Planning, Process Innovation, Systems Technology, and Business Development. Carsten Rußner studied Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (Germany), and subsequently began his career while simultaneously pursuing a second degree in Quality Assurance Engineering at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (Germany). Afterwards, he successfully earned a doctorate degree from the TU Dresden (Germany). Carsten Rußner is 46 years old, married, and has two children.

“Carsten Rußner is an experienced expert in technical ceramics. We are pleased that he decided to join H.C. Starck,” explained Axel Westerhaus, Member of the Executive Board of the H.C. Starck Group. “Thanks to his expertise, he will play a key role in the successful development and international expansion not only of H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH but also of the entire Group.”

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. Additional information about the company can be found at www.hcstarck.de

Contact
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
+49-89-500-942-155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

Sandia National Laboratories Presents H.C. Starck with Oro “Gold” Supplier Award

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Newton, Mass., October 31, 2011 – H.C. Starck was honored with the Oro “Gold” Award at the Annual Sandia National Laboratories Supplier Conference held October 5, 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. H.C. Starck was one of 15 manufacturing companies, out of 126 suppliers, selected as winners of the Oro Award.

"We are very proud that our customers honor continuous improvement efforts from our production, quality, and customer service teams in Euclid," says Robert Desberg, Regional Sales Manager. Robert was presented with the award by Tim Gardner, SNL Senior Manager of Product Delivery Value Stream and Jaime Moya, SNL Senior Manager of Explosive Technologies and CDM Programs.

H.C. Starck, who provides high quality materials in a timely manner that meet Sandia’s stringent quality requirements, received a commitment performance rating of better than 98% for on time delivery and quality. Achievements as these are due to the continuous improvements being made at H.C. Starck’s facilities that exceed the customer’s expectations. The Euclid, Ohio facility made significant improvements in customer satisfaction, product quality, and on-time delivery with its Lean Manufacturing initiatives and Six Sigma training.

“Recognition of the Euclid plant performance from Sandia is exciting and reflects the hard work by all involved,” says Greg Fuller, Director of Midwest Operations at H.C. Starck. “The plant and support teams understand the need to satisfy our customer with good quality and delivery.”

The Sandia National Laboratories are part of the U.S. Department of Energy with 8,300 employees and a $ 2.3 billion budget.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 modern manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck
Robert Desberg
Regional Sales Manager
Fabricated Products
T: + 1.480.332.1250
robert.desberg@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T: +49 89.500942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck – Creating Solutions for Future Heat Treat Technologies

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Newton, Mass., USA October 31, 2011 – H.C. Starck demonstrates its innovative powers with advanced technology metals targeting the accelerated growth in furnace production.

Visit H.C. Starck at the upcoming 26th ASM Heat Treating Society Conference and Exposition, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 1–2, Duke Energy Convention Center to learn how continuous research into future technologies leads to the design of new products for the furnace industry.

H.C. Starck addressed market demands to increase efficiency and reduce cost of clean technology with its expertise in high tech materials: molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and their alloys including La-doped molybdenum and TZM. Heat treating in clean environments requires furnace components produced from advanced materials with the highest melting points and purity levels.

“The industrial furnace market offers some interesting growth opportunities to H.C. Starck,” says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products Division. “We are excited to work with furnace makers on their next-generation designs.”

H.C. Starck’s value-added product solutions focus on high temperature furnaces including premium quality commercial, laboratory, and production furnaces. Customers heat treating large aerospace parts in vacuum furnaces, or brazing high volume production parts through controlled atmosphere furnaces, along with those annealing medical and aerospace products to critical specifications, look to H.C. Starck for creative solutions.

Contact one of H.C. Starck’s knowledgeable team members at Booth 2037 to discuss business opportunities using H.C. Starck’s advanced technology metals. Download free brochures “High Temperature Solutions for Furnace Operations and Repair” and “Creating Solutions for Future Heat Treat Technologies” from www.hcstarck.com or email info@hcstarck.com for more information.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 modern manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck
Douglas Hardy
Global Product Manager
T: + 1.610.772.7380
douglas.hardy@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T: +49 89.500942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

Groundbreaking ceremony for CS Energy Materials plant in Minamata, Japan

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Joint venture of H.C. Starck and Japan New Chisso Corp. aims to commence production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries in 2012.

Minamata, Japan. On October 17, 2011, an official groundbreaking ceremony started the construction work for the CS Energy Materials Ltd (CSEM) plant in Minamata. CSEM is a joint venture between H.C. Starck and Japan New Chisso (JNC) Corp. for the development and production of cathode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries used to power electric and hybrid cars. The ceremony was attended by representatives from JNC Corp., H.C. Starck and CSEM as well as by government representatives.

Since the founding of the joint venture in September 2010, CSEM had primarily focused on research and development of the cathode materials and the production engineering at their sites in Goslar (Germany) and Minamata. Tested by independent institutions, samples of the cathode materials have already achieved excellent results. The plant in Minamata aims to commence commissioning by mid 2012.

“With our joint venture we are aiming to enter into the fast growing lithium-ion battery cathode material market for electrical and hybrid cars especially in Europe and in Asia,” said Axel Westerhaus, Member of the H.C. Starck Executive Board. “Our highly skilled researchers worked very hard during the past months to ensure a successful start of the plant in Minamata. We have received very positive technical feedbacks from several major clients on our material samples developed by CSEM.”

“CSEM’s principal is to supply the high quality products with reasonable price for our customers. As the next target, we make this business successful soon and aiming to expand our capacities by building up a second plant,” stated Kazuyuki Marukawa, Senior Executive Vice President of CSEM.

Download Press Release in japanese language

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck owns 12 modern manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide. More news on H.C. Starck is available at www.hcstarck.com

Contact
H.C. Starck
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T: +49 89.500942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Wins the "Judges’ Special Award” at the 20th Best Factory Awards 2011 in London

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Munich, Germany October 7, 2011 – H.C. Starck’s UK facility in Calne was honored to receive the “Judges’ Special Award” at the 20th Best Factory Awards 2011 held September 30th at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London. In addition, H.C. Starck Calne was recognized for its achievements in factory health and safety.

At the Best Factory Awards 2011, the Cranfield School of Management, one of Europe’s leading university management schools, and Works Management magazine honored British companies that demonstrated manufacturing excellence in the UK.

H.C. Starck contributes its manufacturing success to the introduction of Continuous Improvement techniques: Lean Manufacturing initiatives, Six Sigma training, and other improvement techniques that focus on customer satisfaction, product quality, and on-time delivery. The Calne plant realized immediate benefits in waste reduction, productivity optimization, streamlined processes, improved efficiencies, and cost reductions from the manufacturing changes.

"We are delighted to receive this award, because it honors the ongoing quality efforts of our employees," said Andreas Meier, CEO of H.C. Starck Group. "We have ambitious growth targets which we can only achieve with satisfied customers. Therefore, the continuous improvement of our products and the efficiency of production processes are key factors for our business success."

"The Calne Plant provides a great example of how a continuous improvement culture can transform a facility from second rate to first class business partner. The Calne team has embraced and integrated the concepts of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma into their culture. Calne focused on the process, and the results now speak for themselves,” said Mark Confroy, Chief Operating Officer of H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products Business Unit.

H.C. Starck targeted process and product improvement through disc flatness by investing in cutting edge metrology equipment. Today, H.C. Starck’s precision, semiconductor discs have a standard flatness tolerance of 4 microns on a 140mm diameter disc. This is an achievement that provides genuine market differentiation and emphasizes a commitment to quality and cost-effective material processing of components for high-end power products, which is mandatory to have a competitive edge.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 modern manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide. More news on H.C. Starck is available at www.hcstarck.com

Contact
H.C. Starck Inc.
Mark Confroy
Chief Operating Officer
T: + 1.216.692.6920
mark.confroy@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T: +49 89.500942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

Chemistry Makes It Possible: Natural Gas Produced from Biomass

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck and Clausthaler Umwelttechnik-Institut (Cutec) have joined forces to successfully develop a completely new generation of catalyzers and process technology for the production of substitute natural gas from biomass as a renewable energy source.

H.C. Starck and Cutec have engineered a range of catalyzers with an oxide base containing cobalt, molybdenum, and aluminum, which have been successfully tested under laboratory and pilot plant conditions. The catalyzers proved to be robust and reclaimable, even under the most unfavorable conditions, having achieved high yields with which the synthesis of substitute natural gas is possible.

The use of biomass to generate energy offers many advantages. For instance, the energy supply is not dependent on naturally occurring forces of nature, and can be used to generate heat and electricity. At the same time, it conserves increasingly scarce fossil fuels. When it comes to the gasification of biomass, there has been a lack of economically efficient materials and processes for gas production in the past.

H.C. Starck has been active in the field of environmentally friendly technologies for many years and develops innovative and sustainable products such as those for the conservation of natural resources. The successful research project was funded as part of the European research network ERA-NET Bioenergy. Research and funding partners were the Vienna University of Technology, the Güssing biomass power station, the Austrian company Repotec, the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and the Agency for Renewable Resources – lead partner of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the electronics, chemical, automotive, medical engineering, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. You can find additional information about the company by visiting: www.hcstarck.com/press

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Senior Manager Digital Media, Regional Press Officer
T: +49-89-500-942-156
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck – Molybdenum Sputtering Targets and Silicon Nitride Powders for the Photovoltaic Industry – PVSEC 2011

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Newton, Mass., USA, August 31, 2011 – As a world leader in vertically integrated manufacturing of molybdenum sputtering targets for back contacts in CIGS and CdTe solar modules, H.C. Starck is proud to be a sponsor of the Welcome Reception as well as exhibitor at this year’s 26th European PV Solar Energy Exhibition, September 5-9, in Hamburg, Germany. Samples of highly engineered planar and monolithic molybdenum rotary targets will be on display at their booth in Hall A4, Stand B20.

H.C. Starck’s monolithic rotary targets directly address the increasingly pressing need to improve the cost/watt ratio in the manufacturing of thin film PV modules by offering superior density, excellent uniformity, and custom design for increased lifetime.

Highly sought by customers in photovoltaics and flat panel display, advanced rotary target characteristics are achieved by extruding molybdenum in the largest press for refractory metals in North America. With 12 modern and well invested production sites globally, H.C. Starck offers exceptional support to its customers in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Completing H.C. Starck’s product portfolio is its high grade Si₃N₄ powders that continue to meet the purity requirements set by ingot/wafer producers. H.C. Starck is a leading supplier of Si₃N₄ to the global PV industry and its well established Si₃N₄ Grade M11 hp has been approved by a large number of PV companies for many years now. Silica crucibles used for melting and crystallizing silicon are coated on their inside surface with a Si₃N₄ based coating, which facilitates an easy release of the ingot after finishing the production cycle, avoids impurities entering the silicon, and minimizes stress created during solidification.

During the show, Dr. Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of the Fabricated Products Division of H.C. Starck, will speak about “The Role of Molybdenum in Photovoltaics” in a recorded interview to be published in the Solar Leaders TV section of http://www.pv-tech.org/.

”Photovoltaic industry is front and center of our growth strategy”, says Dmitry Shashkov. “PV industry is finally approaching the grid parity – the self-sustained, subsidy-free growth phase. In this critical time, we at H.C. Starck view our role as that of material partner to the PV manufacturers, to bring our expertise in improved sputtering material and advanced target designs, so we can contribute to the growth of the industry.”

Stop by and meet H.C. Starck’s experienced technical staff: Dr. Francois Dary, Dr. Thomas Schmidt, Peter Faustmann, Michael Drost, and Cristian Cretu to learn about the innovations and development of value-added product solutions for the PV industry.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has 12 manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck - USA
Cristian Cretu
C: +1 216.392.5077
cristian.cretu@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck - Germany
Dr. Thomas Schmidt
T: +49 5321 751- 3962
thomas.schmidt@hcstarck.com

Public Relations
H.C. Starck
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 89 500942-155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Helps Aerospace Soar to New Heights at the 2011 Paris Air Show

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Munich, Germany, June 17, 2011 – Among the top global leaders in industrial and electronic applications, H.C. Starck has a growing presence in the Aerospace and Defense world.

With refractory metal and ceramic applications for everything from engines to airframes and warheads to rocket nozzles, H.C. Starck’s diverse product portfolio provides state-of-the-art, innovative solutions for these complex designs.

As aircraft turbine engines seek greater efficiency, their designs necessitate robust materials that withstand extreme mechanical and thermal stress. H.C. Starck provides not only refractory metal dies to cast the precision fan assemblies, but also the high performance powders to coat them providing an increased service life. Thermal-spray application of thick insulation layers on turbine blades optimizes engine performance, diminishes backflow, lowers fuel consumption, and enables safer engine operation.

Precision balancing of both fixed and rotary wing aircraft is critical to reducing vibration and enhancing pilot and passenger comfort. This is best achieved with dense, high-strength materials compressed for optimum weight concentration. To help balance and stabilize the control surfaces of ailerons, elevators, and rudder sections of aircraft, helicopter rotor blades, and cockpit instrumentation, H.C. Starck offers complex-shaped balance weights manufactured from tungsten alloys.

Providing both build-to-print components and design assistance, H.C. Starck provides tungsten, molybdenum, and tantalum products to the world’s premier warhead manufacturers. In line with other aerospace products, H.C. Starck supplies defense manufacturers precision balance weights for missile bodies and sensor arrays. Finally, solid rocket motors use numerous specialty compounds to enhance thrust and refractory products to guide propulsion though vanes and nozzles.

Completing H.C. Starck’s portfolio is its best-in-class extrusion and forging facility where large complex shapes are extruded from specialty metals and alloy-based systems including titanium, nickel, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium and other high tech materials for critical aircraft structural components.

”Aerospace and Defense are important markets for H.C. Starck”, says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products Business Unit. “Our company has been supplying to some Aerospace and Defense applications for several decades. As the industry performance requirements continue to grow, we are making investments in our own materials technology to support these requirements”.

Visit H.C. Starck at the upcoming 2011 Paris Air Show, June 20-26, Hall 6, Stand B30 to learn about H.C. Starck’s advancements in aerospace products.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the electronics, chemical, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Sales Contacts
H.C. Starck - Germany
Gerald Heuer
M +49 175 59 46 504
gerald.heuer@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck - France
Christophe Prim
T +33 6 50 29 98 72
christophe.prim@hcstarck.com

Public Relations Contacts
H.C. Starck Group
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 89 900 942 155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck employees help Japanese colleagues

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Mito/Japan June, 1 - Dr. Andreas Meier, Chairman of the Executive Board of H.C. Starck GmbH, presented the employees of the company's Mito plant in Japan a check for some 135,000 euros (16,000,000 yen) today.

After the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that killed thousands in early March of this year, employees at all the H.C. Starck sites spontaneously collected donations for their Japanese colleagues.

Our employees raised more than 67,000 euros for their colleagues in Mito, said CEO Dr. Andreas Meier. Most of the money was raised through the online donation tool that was set up specifically for this purpose. In addition there were so-called team donations in which individual teams organized their own fundraising activities by directly approaching their colleagues or recruiting support from their families. The children of many employees even gave up their own pocket money. Some employees donated the equivalent value of their overtime and flexitime hours.

In light of the enormous generosity of our staff, the company has decided to double the amount raised, Dr. Meier announced. Therefore a total of some 135,000 euros will be given to the Japanese colleagues. "I am very proud of this result and of all our employees," he said. "It shows the strength of the solidarity within the H.C. Starck Group."

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the electronics, chemical, automotive, medical engineering, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. You can find additional information about the company by visiting: www.hcstarck.com/press

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Senior Manager Digital Media, Regional Press Officer
T: +49 89 500 942 156
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck and Jiangxi Rare Metals Tungsten Holding Group Co. Ltd. sign Joint Venture to strengthen advanced tungsten products business in China

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Hong Kong, May 18, 2011. H.C. Starck, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and Jiangxi Rare Metals Tungsten Holding Group Co. Ltd. (JXTC), one of China’s largest tungsten mine operators, signed today two agreements in Hong Kong to form a Joint Venture to produce advanced tungsten chemicals, metal and carbide powders.

For H.C. Starck the Joint Venture is a crucial element of the company’s strategy to expand its presence in China. Based on the agreements, the joint investment sum will be 800 million RMB (Euro 85 million) to establish two companies based in the Chinese city of Ganzhou. With an installed capacity of 30,000 tons, by 2012 both companies will be producing approximately 10,000 tons of advanced tungsten products for the market annually.

Each partner holds the majority share in one of the two companies: JXTC in the manufacturer of ammonium paratungstate and tungsten oxide; H.C. Starck in the manufacturer of tungsten metal powder and tungsten carbide. The establishment and development of these two joint ventures will support the high-tech development of the tungsten industry in Jiangxi as well as in China. It will also provide additional economic and social benefits to the Jiangxi Province.

“Both JXTC and H.C. Starck are key players in the refractory metals industry, and have a unique expertise and a long-standing company history. This Joint Venture will definitely have a very positive impact on China’s as well as on the world’s refractory metal industry development. It will be a role model for Sino-German refractory metal strategic cooperation.” said Zhong Xiaoyun, President and CEO of JXTC.

“This Joint Venture is our largest project in China to date and is a core part of our growth strategy in Asia. With this step, we aim to significantly accelerate our capabilities to better serve the fast growing Chinese market,” said Andreas Meier, CEO of H.C. Starck. “Our outstanding long-term relationship with JXTC, the intense efforts shown by both parties during the negotiations, and the support of government agencies in China all helped to ensure a smooth process in the founding of these joint ventures. We believe that the Joint Venture will provide a win-win situation for both partners.”

Advanced tungsten products are used as high performance materials in a variety of different growth industries, including specialty cutting tool manufacturing, wear parts for mining, tunnel and street construction, as an alloy metal, and for components in the aerospace and medical engineering industry.

The companies benefit from the strengths of both partners, explained Andreas Meier. “The combination of a long-term secured supply of raw materials and a high level of technology expertise will enable us to provide the fast-growing Chinese market with advanced and high-quality tungsten products – and emphasizes the global leadership of H.C. Starck in tungsten.”

“China is the largest growth market of the future. And with our joint ventures, we will provide the same services to this market that are well known to our customers in other parts of the world for many years – a secure supply of raw materials and high-quality products combined with reliable, customer-oriented service,” said Kurt Wandaller, Head of the Tungsten, Molybdenum, and Rhenium Business Unit of H.C. Starck. “And we are supporting local and international companies in their efforts to serve the increasing Chinese demand.” The Joint Venture agreements are subject to governmental approval.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the electronics, chemical, automotive, medical engineering, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. You can find additional information about the company by visiting: www.hcstarck.com/press

About Jiangxi Rare Metals Tungsten Holding Group Co. Ltd.
Jiangxi Rare Metals Tungsten Group Holding Co., Ltd.is a large industrial enterprise devolved from central authority administration with a history of more than one hundred years. It has become the largest mining group characterized by tungsten and rare earths, and integrated with varieties of nonferrous metals mining, dressing, refining, processing, trading, and equipment. You can find additional information about the company by visiting: www.jxtc.com.cn

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Mr. Gerald Baehnisch
Senior Manager Digital Media, Regional Press Officer
T: +49 89 500 942 156
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

Jiangxi Rare Metals Tungsten Holding Group Co. Ltd.
Mr. Wang Jianming
Vice Chief of Foreign Affairs and Trading Division
T: +86 791-6203663

H.C. Starck Combines High Purity Materials and Technology at PowderMet 2011

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200

NEWTON, Mass., USA, May 17, 2011 – Creating flexible solutions for future technologies in a rapidly changing marketplace requires creative ideas, innovation, and the right materials. H.C. Starck, a market leader and innovation driver in powder metallurgy, offers a unique, comprehensive product portfolio matched with unsurpassed engineering talent to face this challenge.

Capitalizing on its position, H.C. Starck has secured sustainable raw material sources for its heavy metal powders – tungsten carbide, nitride, and silicide, and high purity tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, and niobium powders. Having a vertically integrated supply chain to transform tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, and niobium powders into flat and round mill, and fabricated products ensures the highest purity, product quality, and benefit to customers.

Continued research into the “hottest” emerging technologies assists H.C. Starck in developing strategic products and processes for a number of diverse applications in renewable energy, electronics, aerospace, and medical.

“Cutting-edge purification, powder processing, recycling, and other metallurgical technologies are critical to H. C. Starck. They enable us to support such diverse and rapidly growing industries as Flat Panel Display (FPD), Photovoltaic (PV) and Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting. We will continue to invest in innovation to ensure H. C. Starck stays on our critical customers’ roadmap”, says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of H. C. Starck Inc.

Stop by Booth 311 at the upcoming PowderMet 2011 exhibition and International Conference on Tungsten, Refractory & Hardmaterials in San Francisco, May 19-20 to learn more about the technological advances being made at H.C. Starck.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the electronics, chemical, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. For additional information about the company please visit: www.hcstarck.com/press; H.C. Starck Group’s Raw Material Procurement Statement.

Contacts
H.C. Starck Inc. - USA
Douglas Hardy
T +1 610 772 7380
douglas.hardy@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck GmbH - Germany
Michael Hinz
T +49 (5321) 751 3996
michael.hinz@hcstarck.com

Public Relations
H.C. Starck GmbH
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 89 900 942 155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Continues Positive Performance from 2010 in the First Quarter of 2011

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Munich, May 12, 2011. After an excellent fiscal year 2010, H.C. Starck, one of the leading manufacturers of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, continued the positive growth in all of its business units through the first quarter of 2011 as well.

In the 2010 fiscal year, H.C. Starck increased its revenues by 59 percent to €689 million. In doing so, the company exceeded its expectations in all of its business units and gained significant market shares, particularly with regard to its tantalum and tungsten activities. One important factor that contributed to this excellent performance was the resurgent demand seen across all markets. “But the rapid and systematic restructuring of our company also played a significant role in the positive development of our business. We made our organizational structure more efficient and more tailored to the needs of the market, and also focused our product range on our core business area,” explains Dr. Andreas Meier, CEO of H.C. Starck. “In addition, the cost-cutting measures we implemented made a noticeable contribution to our excellent annual result.” On December 31, 2010, the company had 2,727 employees in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, China, Japan, and Thailand.

In the first quarter of 2011, business was also strong thanks to the ongoing economic recovery and the resulting continued increase in market demand. In fact, H.C. Starck has once again exceeded expectations in several business units. “In addition, we have completed one of our most important strategic tasks,” explains Dr. Meier. “Thanks to longer term supply agreements with established mines and the EICC certification for our tantalum procurement process, we have been able to secure our supply of ethically produced raw materials. As a result, we are in an excellent position to achieve our above-average growth targets for 2011.”

H.C. Starck is well prepared for the remaining three quarters of this fiscal year, and is relying on three key areas of focus. An important part of the company’s 2011 growth strategy is to utilize its recycling capacities, which are one of a kind in the market, to secure the supply of conflict-free raw materials. “H.C. Starck currently obtains more than 45 percent of its raw materials from recycling – more than any other competitor,” says Dr. Meier. Furthermore, the company is striving to achieve strong organic growth with new innovative products, as well as an increased international presence – close to its customers and in regions with rapidly growing markets. The company also plans to grow on the basis of current megatrends. With its proven core competencies, H.C. Starck has systematically aligned its product range to focus on products that serve these trends. “Rapidly growing industries like the electronics industry require smaller and smaller components that at the same time are becoming increasingly powerful components that can process large amounts of data at high speeds. With our long-term expertise, we offer specific solutions for the individual needs of our customers in this area,” explains Dr. Meier.

Furthermore, industries like the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, and the mining industry place ever-increasing demands on the performance and durability of cutting and drilling tools. “With our one-of-a-kind technological expertise, particularly when it comes to tungsten, we can also offer solutions custom-tailored to the needs of our customers in this area as well,” says Dr. Meier.

The company is also active in the field of environmentally friendly technologies, developing innovative and sustainable products such as those for manufacturing fuel cells and solar cells. H.C. Starck is also working on the development of components for high-performance, safe batteries for the growing electric vehicles market.

“In 2010 we laid the foundation for further profitable growth, and we began the current fiscal year extremely well. We have a strong international presence and a high standard product portfolio. That’s why we are optimistic that we will successfully execute our ambitious growth strategy in 2011,” sums up Dr. Meier.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the electronics, chemical, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. You find additional information about the company by visiting: www.hcstarck.com/press; H.C. Starck Group’s Raw Material Procurement Statement.

Contact
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T +49 89 900 942 155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck’s Thin Film PV Solutions on Display at Society of Vacuum Coaters TechCon 2011

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Newton, Massachusetts, USA, April 15, 2011 – With increasing global interest in safe and sustainable energy sources, a bright future is shaping-up for U.S. based thin film PV production. With these developments, a local presence coupled with global reach is critical to efficiently and effectively meet the rapidly increasing demand for sputtering targets. With over 30 locations worldwide including the U.S., Asia, and Europe, H.C. Starck offers local support to customers and is pleased to exhibit at this year’s Society of Vacuum Coaters TechCon 2011 Exhibition, April 19-20 in Chicago, Illinois - Booth 1214.

By responding to the demand to lower the cost-per-watt, H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products Group developed sputtering targets with superior sputtering performance for thin film PV (TFPV) energy applications. State-of-the-art thin film materials labs, equipped with sputtering tools and supporting equipment for testing film characteristics, together with in-house prototyping and modeling achieve this performance.

Marketing to CIGS, a-Si (amorphous silicon) and CdTe thin films solar module manufacturers, H.C. Starck manufactures custom rotary and planar sputter targets from molybdenum and nickel based-alloys along with its other core competency materials: tantalum, niobium and tungsten. The most demanding requirements of target users in the areas of LCD display, large area coating and solar cell applications are accomplished through extrusion technology.

H.C. Starck produces molybdenum rotary targets with inside diameters of 125 mm (monolithic) and 135 mm (bonded) applications in molybdenum up through the current largest rotary target requirement. Tantalum, niobium, nickel-vanadium and other materials are produced in planar or rotary form. H.C. Starck’s extruded rotary targets are fully dense with extremely low oxygen levels.

Download a free brochure “High Performance Solutions in Thin Film Materials” here.

Join Cristian Cretu and Jack Miles to learn about the innovative product solutions H.C. Starck offers for the PV industry.

About H.C. Starck

The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck Inc.
Cristian Cretu
T: +1 216.692.6985
cristian.cretu@hcstarck.com

Public Relations
H.C. Starck - Germany
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 89 900 942 155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Signs Tantalum Supply Agreement with AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Munich, 04/08/2011. H.C. Starck has signed an agreement with AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V.’s subsidiary, CIF Mineração S.A. to purchase the vast majority of tantalum and niobium concentrates from AMG’s Brazilian MIBRA mine’s. This mine is one of the largest industrial tantalum mines in the world.

“Thanks to this agreement, we have secured a continuous supply of conflict-free tantalum raw materials for our company,” explains Dr. Andreas Meier, President & CEO of the H.C. Starck Group. The mine was audited by H.C. Starck using its Responsible Supply Chain Management System (RSCM) in order to ensure that the deliveries from the mine meet the company’s high standards when it comes to raw materials. “H.C. Starck locked in the majority of MIBRA’s production for the next two years,” says Dr. John van Put, Senior Vice President of the Tantalum, Niobium, Surface Technologies & Ceramic Powders business unit. “As the leader in the tantalum industry, this clearly shows our commitment to secure stability of supply to our customers.”

In addition to the agreement with AMG, H.C. Starck also entered into a number of supply agreements with other established mines during the past few months. The company wants to ensure that when procuring raw materials, it remains completely independent of suppliers from conflict regions over the long-term as well. “H.C. Starck decisively condemns all activities related to the illegal or unlawful exploitation of mineral deposits, regardless of where these activities occur,” says Dr. Meier. In early April this year, the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) has certified H.C. Starck’s tantalum supply chain free of conflict materials.

H.C. Starck is also working on alternative possibilities when it comes to the company’s supply of raw materials. “Thanks to our expertise, we not only process ore concentrates, but also recycle increasing amounts of secondary raw materials,” explains Dr. Meier. “Recycling with innovative technologies and a certified procurement process guarantee our customers safe and competitive raw materials supply based on sustainable ethical, social, and environmentally sound business practices.”

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the electonics, chemical, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. You find additional information about the company by visiting: www.hcstarck.com/press; H.C. Starck Group’s Raw Material Procurement Statement.

About AMG
AMG creates and applies innovative metallurgical solutions to the global trend of sustainable development of natural resources and CO₂ reduction. AMG produces highly engineered specialty metal products and advanced vacuum furnace systems for the Energy, Aerospace, Infrastructure and Specialty Metals and Chemicals end markets. (www.amg-nv.com)

Contact:
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T +49 89 900 942 155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

EICC Certification Confirms Use of Conflict-free Raw Materials at H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Munich, 04/05/2011. H.C. Starck, one of the leading manufacturers of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, uses only tantalum raw materials from ethical, non-conflict sources. This has been established by the affirmative certification H.C. Starck received from the independent Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC).

“We expect our suppliers to meet highest ethical standards. The EICC certification is confirmation of our intensive work in recent years to ensure the supply of conflict-free raw materials,” says Dr. Andreas Meier, President & CEO of H.C. Starck. “Our company has established stringent worldwide guidelines for purchasing raw materials, and we have integrated comprehensive sustainability criteria into our procurement process. The effectiveness of all these measures has now been verified by the successful EICC certification.”

H.C. Starck introduced its own Responsible Supply Chain Management System (RSCM) in the beginning of 2010 for the procurement of raw materials. This system ensures efficient and competitive purchasing as well as helps to avoid sourcing from conflict regions or from suppliers that do not act in line with environmental and social sustainability. The system fulfils all requirements of a management system standard required by ISO. The successful implementation of the system within H.C. Starck has been confirmed by the external auditor Bureau Veritas.

“With the RSCM system, we have already implemented an effective tool for the raw material procurement process. But EICC certification is still the most important proof to our customers that our raw materials are conflict-free,” explains Dr. John van Put, Senior Vice President of the Tantalum, Niobium, Surface Technologies & Ceramic Powders Business Unit. “That is why the EICC certification has strengthened our position as reliable supplier of raw materials from ethical, non-conflict sources.”

To successfully receive EICC certification, a company must have an effective system for continuously tracing back the origin of the raw materials it uses to guarantee that it is coming from non-conflict sources. The term “conflict materials” applies to metals such as tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold mined in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring nations. Tantalum is a sought-after raw material in the electronics industry and allows extremely small capacitors to be manufactured for devices such as laptops, cameras, or medical equipment. H.C. Starck is a leading manufacturer of high-capacity tantalum powders which can be used to build particularly small, high-performance capacitors.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and advanced ceramics, and uses its own manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia to serve growing sectors such as the telecommunications, chemical, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. You find additional information about the company by visiting: www.hcstarck.com/press; H.C. Starck Group’s Raw Material Procurement Statement.

Contact:
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T: +49 89 900 942 155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

Sony’s Green Partner Certification Awarded to H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Euclid, Ohio – H.C. Starck Inc., Fabricated Products site in Coldwater, Michigan receives the coveted “Sony Green Partner” certification, paving the way for H.C. Starck’s materials to be used in components for products bearing the Sony name.

Sony encourages suppliers, through the Green Partner program, to manufacture components with minimal environmental impact. Becoming a Green Partner means H.C. Starck is a “preferred supplier” to Sony and a qualified supplier to other companies who are seeking Green Partner sources for their products.

“We recognize Sony Green Partner program as one of the best established programs of its kind, effectively a “gold standard” of the electronics industry. As a leading supplier to the industry, we treat sound environmental standards, robust supply chain, energy efficiency and recycling as foundational pieces of our strategy”, says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO, H.C. Starck Inc.

As an energy conscious company, H.C. Starck looks for ways to advance its systems and processes to create environmentally safe material solutions. Harmonizing with this strategy, the Coldwater site established a Products Environmental Quality system to support the requirements of a Green Partner supplier.

To further achieve certification, H.C. Starck demonstrated it’s compliance with laws, regulations, and social standards that govern sound, financial operations; environmental conservation awareness; and the maintenance of quality standards throughout its fully-integrated supply chain, including reliable raw material sources.

By implementing Continuous Improvement techniques such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma in conjunction with a Sustainable Energy Management system, H.C. Starck has become a global leader in quality products and services manufactured from environmentally friendly materials.

“Our ability to utilize these continuous improvement techniques in the development of systems in all aspects of our business is clearly paying dividends. Most importantly our customers are directly benefiting from the results of these structured activities and have begun to recognize and acknowledge our accomplishments. In the end, it is all about striving to exceed our customer’s expectations and growing stronger in our business relationship to our mutual benefit” says Mark Confroy, Chief Operating Officer, H.C. Starck Inc.

About H.C. Starck

The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact:

H.C. Starck Inc.
Mark Confroy
Chief Operating Officer
T: +1.216.692.6920
mark.confroy@hcstarck.com

Public Relations:

Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
T: +49.89.500942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Features Ultra76 Tantalum Alloy for Chemical Process Industries at NACE Corrosion 2011

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Newton, Mass, USA - H.C. Starck Inc., Fabricated Products Group, a global supplier of refractory materials and fabricated products will exhibit at the upcoming NACE CORROSION 2011 in Houston, TX, March 14-17 featuring its Ultra 76 Tantalum alloy.

For years, tantalum and tantalum alloys have been extensively used in electronic, chemical processing, and biomedical industries. Process industries involving aggressive, hazardous chemicals require corrosion resistant tantalum alloys. These alloys provide cost-effective, long service life solutions for critical components in severe corrosive environments. The outstanding corrosion resistance of tantalum and tantalum alloys is attributed to a very thin, protective tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅) film that forms when the metal is exposed to oxidizing conditions. Only when the oxide film is penetrated by a chemical reagent does corrosive attack occur on the underlying metal. Industrial experience has repeatedly shown that when this attack occurs, hydrogen embrittlement rather than metal loss from corrosion is the predominant failure mechanism for tantalum materials.

H.C. Starck has developed a new tantalum alloy with improved corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement resistance. Ultra76 has significantly lower corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement rates than NRC76 with comparable mechanical properties. Ultra76 tantalum exhibits hydrogen embrittlement rates 10x to 100x lower than those of NRC76, with or without platinum spots in HCl environments outside currently acceptable ranges of concentration and temperature. Additionally, in aggressive H₂SO₄ solutions at temperatures 30⁰C to 50⁰C above currently acceptable ranges, Ultra76 had hydrogen embrittlement rates that were 5x to 10x lower than NRC76 also with or without platinum spots.

Visit Booth 1202 and meet our expert team to discuss the benefits of Ultra 76 for critical corrosion resistant applications. Download a free brochure “Ultra 76 Tantalum for Corrosive Resistant Applications” here or email info@hcstarck.com for more information.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities strategically located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck Inc. - USA
Fabricated Products Group
Tel: +1 617.630.5916
Fax: +1 617.630.5879

Dale Lathrop
dale.lathrop@hcstarck.com

Public Relations
H.C. Starck - Germany
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 89.500.942.155
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck’s Sputtering Targets and Si3N4 Powders at China’s SNEC PV Power Expo 2011

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

With the majority of PV manufacturing already taking place in China and the bright future shaping-up for thin film PV production in Asia, local presence and a global reach became critical in efficiently addressing the rapidly increasing demand for sputtering targets and ceramic powders. With over 30 locations worldwide including China, Taiwan, and Japan, H.C. Starck offers local support to customers and is pleased to exhibit at this year’s SNEC 5th International Solar Photovoltaic Power Expo, February 22-24, Shanghai New International Expo Center, Shanghai, China - Hall 6, Booth 253.

Responding to the demand to lower the cost-per-watt, H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products (FPR) group developed sputtering targets with superior sputtering performance for thin film PV (TFPV) energy applications. Marketing to CIGS, a-Si (amorphous silicon) and CdTe thin films solar module manufacturers, FPR manufactures custom rotary and planar sputter targets from molybdenum (Mo) and nickel based (Ni) alloys along with its other core competency materials: tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb) and tungsten (W).

The Advanced Metal and Ceramic Powders (AMCP) group’s high grade Si3N4 powders continue to meet the purity requirements set by ingot/wafer producers. Concerns during solidification of multicrystalline silicon are to avoid impurities entering the silicon and to minimize stresses created during solidification. Silica crucibles used for melting and crystallizing silicon are coated on their inside surface with a Si3N4 based coating, which facilitates an easy release of the ingot after finishing the production cycle.

H.C. Starck invites you to stop by and meet our experienced technical staff: Rex Lu, Dr. Thomas Schmidt, David Dai, Mike Hsieh, and Alan Lee; and learn how you can become a strategic partner in the innovation and development of value-added product solutions for the PV industry.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact
H.C. Starck - Taiwan
Rex Lu
C +886.933.867.385
rex.lu@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck - Germany
Dr. Thomas Schmidt
T +49 (0)5321-751-3962
thomas.schmidt@hcstarck.com

Public Relations
H.C. Starck - Germany
Ulrike Reich
T: +49 (0)5321-751-3450
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck and Leading Edge Metals & Alloys Synergize Business Strengths

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Euclid, Ohio, February 2, 2011 – H.C. Starck Inc. recently signed an agreement with Leading Edge Metals & Alloys to supply flat and round mill products for made-to-finish customer orders.

H.C. Starck’s choice of Leading Edge and its strategic West coast location will provide faster turnaround of products, reduce lead time constraints on minimum quantity orders, and improve product availability.

The collaboration will promote business synergy by combining H.C. Starck’s strengths in raw material processing and fabrication of refractory materials with those of Leading Edge, a leading stocking distributor of high-quality, specialty materials.

H.C. Starck is well-known for its ability to engineer materials to solve unique customer application challenges from its core competency, high-purity level materials: molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium, and their alloys.

Leading Edge will stock H.C. Starck materials in sheet, plate, coil, rod and bar in varying sizes and shapes for off-the-shelf delivery direct to customers from its southern California warehouse.

By extending its vertically integrated supply chain to include the finishing processes of Leading Edge, H.C. Starck will be better positioned to meet market demands and the growth potential presented through this relationship. As customer demands increase, additional products will be stocked at the warehouse.

About H.C. Starck

The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

About Leading Edge Metals & Alloys

Leading Edge is a customer-focused, relationship-oriented company located in Brea,California. It has extensive knowledge of metals and the materials industry. Many materials are available for immediate shipment from its west coast warehouse in southern California. Leading Edge services a wide variety of markets including aerospace, electronics, magnetic shielding and medical.

Contact:

H.C. Starck Inc.
Jane Heffner
VP of Sales – The Americas
1250 East 222nd
Euclid, OH 44117 USA
T: + 1.617.630.5810
F: + 1.617.630.5807
jane.heffner@hcstarck.com
www.hcstarck.com

Phil Guthrie
President
Leading Edge Metals & Alloys, LLC
877-455-5362
714-529-3913
www.leadingedgemetals.com

Public Relations

H.C. Starck GmbH
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
Im Schleeke 78-91
38642 Goslar, Germany
T: +49 5321.751.3450
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck sells shareholding in NRD Rwanda Ltd.

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

At the end of December 2010, H.C. Starck GmbH sold H.C. Starck Resources GmbH to The Spalena Company LLC, and therefore ended its shareholding in NRD Rwanda Ltd. Further details of the deal were not disclosed.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck owns and operates manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar
Germany
T: +49-5321-751-3450
F: +49-5321-751-4450
M: +49-1511-674-6771
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Receives Prestigious “Evolution of Manufacturing” Award

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Euclid, Ohio, January 12, 2011 – H.C. Starck Inc. will receive the prestigious “Evolution of Manufacturing” award on February 17th at the Evolution of Manufacturing Conference being held in Westlake, Ohio. The award is given to manufacturing companies located in Northern Ohio who have adapted their business plan and evolved their management style in order to better compete in a global economy. H.C. Starck in Euclid was one of 12 manufacturing companies selected as winners of the award.

Consumer goods used in everyday life, such as high-definition televisions and smart phones, are produced from materials and products manufactured by H.C. Starck. To improve its competitive position globally and expand its business and markets, H.C. Starck’s management team developed and implemented key strategic goals. Among them, deployment of effective management systems focused on customer satisfaction, product quality, and on-time delivery.

Significant improvements were realized with the implementation of Continuous Improvement techniques such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma in conjunction with a Sustainable Energy Management system. By virtue of these changes, H.C. Starck was able to reduce waste, optimize productivity, streamline processes, improve efficiencies and reduce cost to become more competitive. Enhancing these initiatives are H.C. Starck’s highly educated staff of research and development engineers who work closely with customers to develop and improve products.

"H.C. Starck is committed to supporting our customers with the best technology, quality and delivery. High-tech industries such as modern displays evolve rapidly, and our customers expect us to stay on the cutting edge. This means continuing to invest in our manufacturing processes, skills and technology. Euclid’s plant continues to be a critical site in our global manufacturing infrastructure. We are honored to receive this award" says Dmitry Shashkov, President and CEO of H.C. Starck Inc.

H.C. Starck will be featured in the February 2011 edition of Smart Business.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, with close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

Contact:
H.C. Starck Inc.
Mark Confroy
Chief Operating Officer
1250 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44117 / USA
T: + 1.216.692.6920
F: + 1.216.692.0031
mark.confroy@hcstarck.com

Public Relations:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar, Germany
T: +49 5321.751.3450
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck and Cabot announce patent cross-license agreement

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

H.C. Starck and Cabot Corporation have signed a broad, non-exclusive worldwide patent cross-license agreement allowing mutual access to tantalum and niobium powder technology portions of their respective patent portfolios. This agreement enables each company to independently focus efforts and resources on product innovation and development in vigorous competition.

H.C. Starck and Cabot Supermetals have independently built strong patent portfolios through intense R&D efforts on a wide range of powder technologies, in particular of metals, alloys, and oxides based on tantalum and niobium.

Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals and technical ceramics, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press.

About Cabot Corporation
Cabot is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, MA. The Company's major products are carbon black, fumed silica, inkjet colorants, capacitor materials, and cesium formate drilling fluids. Cabot operates 39 manufacturing facilities in 21 countries worldwide. The Company's website is: http://www.cabot-corp.com.

Contacts:
H.C. Starck Group:
Ulrike Reich
Director, Corporate Communications
+49 5321 751 3450

Cabot Corporation:
Susannah Robinson
Director, Investor Relations
617-342-6129

Ludger Heuberg appointed new CFO of H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100

On November 1, 2010, Ludger Heuberg will join the management team of H.C. Starck GmbH as Chief Financial Officer. In this role he will be responsible for Finance, Controlling, Mergers & Acquisitions, Taxes, Organization & Information, Accounting and Law. He succeeds Dr. Uwe Salzer, who is leaving the company as reported on his own request.

After completing his business studies, Ludger Heuberg started his professional career in 1985 with Bosch. He joined Rheinmetall AG in 1993, where he held senior management positions for various companies of the conglomerate, including Chief Financial Officer of Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG. In 2002, he was in charge of HR and Finances in the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo AG. Since 2004, Ludger Heuberg then worked as Director of Finance and HR at Thomas Cook AG in Oberursel and from 2007 also as Group CFO of Thomas Cook Group plc in London. Ludger Heuberg is 51 years old, married with four children.

"The shareholders Advent and Carlyle are pleased that they were able to win Ludger Heuberg as new CFO for H.C. Starck. Through his leadership positions in renowned companies, he brings over 20 years of experience and sound knowledge in finance and treasury. We are sure that this will be of great benefit for H.C. Starck", said Dr. Engelbert Heimes, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

"On behalf of the Board I warmly welcome Mr Heuberg. We really look forward to working together. Thanks to his extensive experience in the finance and management area he will make a valuable contribution to further developing and strengthening our company", said Dr. Andreas Meier, CEO of H.C. Starck.

"I look forward to take on new challenges at H.C. Starck. I am convinced of the great potential of H.C. Starck as a leading manufacturer of refractory metals and technical ceramics in a dynamic industry", said Ludger Heuberg.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and conductive polymers, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press.

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Ulrike Reich
Director Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar
Germany
T: +49 (5321) 751 3450
F: +49 (5321) 751 4450
ulrike.reich@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck opens branch in Munich/Germany - registered office of H.C. Starck GmbH remains in Goslar

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck GmbH, Goslar, combines its international customer-oriented management operations and moves them to Munich/Germany.

From the start of the coming year, the Executive Board and leading managers from the company’s locations across the world, together with approximately 25 employees from Goslar, will manage the company’s international business from a new branch in Munich/Germany.

More than 80 percent of H.C. Starck’s sales is achieved outside Germany and the company’s international activities will be increased over the coming years. In order to strengthen the company’s competitiveness and build an even closer relationship with its customers and suppliers, H.C. Starck will move its sales and customer-oriented operations to Munich.

“For an international company such as H.C. Starck, proximity to customers and suppliers is a central factor in maintaining its competitiveness. With the new branch close to the second largest airport in Germany, it will be easier and quicker for our international business partners to get to us. In addition, we will be able to press ahead with our international expansion quickly and efficiently, and improve our connections to our 30 locations and representatives across the world,” explains the CEO of H.C. Starck, Dr. Andreas Meier.

The registered office of H.C. Starck GmbH remains in Goslar. Dr. Andreas Meier states that “Goslar is and will remain H.C. Starck’s largest production site, as well as its technology and research centre. Over the next year, more than 10 million euros will be invested in the Goslar site, making it much stronger.”

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, advanced ceramics, and conductive polymers, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press.

Contacts:

H.C. Starck GmbH
Mr. Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman & Manager e-Communications
38642 Goslar
T: +49 (5321) 751 3230
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck and Chisso Corporation to establish a joint venture for the production of cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck GmbH, Goslar and the Japanese chemical company Chisso Corporation, Tokyo announced that they will establish a joint venture with the aim to develop and produce lithium mixed oxides for high-performance batteries used to power electric cars.

The development of highly efficient and reliable batteries is one of the key technologies for the promising ‘electro-mobility’ growth market. Lithium-ion batteries are considered to have excellent market and growth potential.

The two companies will jointly found CS Energy Materials, in which H.C. Starck will have a 49-percent and Chisso Corporation a 51-percent holding. The joint venture will combine the core competencies of both partners.

CS Energy Materials will build a production plant in Minamata, Japan with a capacity of 1000 tons per year, which is planned to be ready for operation by the beginning of 2012. At the same time the Goslar site will be working on the development of even more efficient battery intermediates for future production projects in Asia and Europe.

“In the race for the electric car of the future, H.C. Starck has internationally recognized material competencies in the field of lithium mixed oxides,” said Dr. Andreas Meier, CEO of the H.C. Starck Group. “With this joint venture, H.C. Starck will successfully penetrate the electro-mobility market, which is predicted to become an important technology of the future. Chisso is an excellent partner for us, who will secure an entry into the Asian market and drives the international expansion of this environmentally friendly technology.”

“It is extremely important for Chisso to do business together with the company like H.C. Starck, a company that carries great technical weight and stands for solid business foundations in the field of the Lithium-ion batteries”, stated Shun'ichi Okada, President of Chisso Corporation.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and conductive polymers, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press.

About Chisso
Founded in 1906, Chisso Corporation (http://www.chisso.co.jp/english/index.asp) is a leading Japanese chemical company that aims to contribute to society’s progress through superior technology. Chisso is the leading supplier of liquid crystal for flat screen displays. It also pioneered the product category of thermo-bondable composite fibers, paving the way for new breakthroughs in battery technology.

Contacts:

H.C. Starck GmbH
Mr. Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman & Manager e-Communications
38642 Goslar
T: +49 (5321) 751 3230
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

Chisso Corporation
Administrative department
Mr. Jyunichiro Tateya
T: +03-3243-6370

Chisso Corporation
Corporate Business planning department
Mr. Toshio Kajiwara

H.C. Starck Sells Clevios to Heraeus

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck GmbH, headquartered in Goslar, Germany, has signed a contract to sell its global “Conductive Polymers” Business Unit to Heraeus, Hanau, Germany. The Business Unit, which is based in Leverkusen, sells liquid polymer chemicals under the brand name “Clevios.” Due to their highly conductive nature, these chemicals are used in a wide range of applications, primarily in the electronics industry. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010. The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential.

By selling its Clevios business, H.C. Starck has completed a further step towards focusing on the company’s core areas of business, namely “Refractory Metals” and “Advanced Ceramics”. The company is one of the world’s leading suppliers in both areas which offer above-average growth potential in high-tech industries such as telecommunications, medical engineering, power engineering, aerospace and automotive engineering.

With its Precious Metals Business Group, Heraeus has seen many decades of success with metallic materials in the fields of electronics and semiconductor technology. By purchasing Clevios, Heraeus makes a targeted addition to its product portfolio and further expands its position as a leading global supplier of high-quality coating materials used in the electronics industry, among others.

“By selling our Clevios business, we shift the focus of our resources to our core areas of expertise, which will allow us to realize above average growth in these markets. As a market leader in both technology and quality with a global manufacturing structure, we are extremely well-positioned for the future,” says Dr. Andreas Meier, CEO of the H.C. Starck Group. “In Heraeus, we have found a reliable new owner for Clevios, who will not only take on the global Clevios staff of almost 80 employees and continue the facility in Leverkusen, but will also support the long-term development of the business,” he continues.

“By incorporating the conducting polymers of Clevios into our range of products, we open up completely new approaches in the important growth markets of the electronics industry. Heraeus plans to make continuous advancements to its product portfolio and provide innovative and unique metallic and non-metallic materials to the market. Clevios represents an essential component in the long-term expansion of Heraeus’ leading technological position in the market,” explains Dr. Roland Gerner, CEO of Heraeus’ Precious Metals Business Group.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and conductive polymers, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press

About Heraeus
Heraeus, the precious metals and technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a global, private company with over 155 years of tradition. Our businesses include precious metals, materials and technologies, sensors, biomaterials and medical products as well as dental products, quartz glass, and specialty light sources. With product revenues of € 2.6 billion and precious metal trading revenues of € 13.6 billion, as well as more than 12,300 employees in over 110 subsidiaries worldwide, Heraeus holds a leading position in its global markets. www.heraeus.com

Contacts:

H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman & Manager e-Communications
38642 Goslar
T: +49 (5321) 751 3230
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

Heraeus Holding GmbH
Martina Rauch
Vice President Corporate Communications
Heraeusstr. 12-14
63450 Hanau / Germany
T: +49 (0) 6181 / 35-5100
martina.rauch@heraeus.com

H.C. Starck Ceramics and Krahn Chemie cooperate in sales of silicon carbide and silicon nitride

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck Ceramics and the Hamburg distributor Krahn Chemie have announced a new cooperation covering the complete European sales of alpha-silicon carbide and silicon nitride powders already mixed with sinter additives and pressing agents.

The products will be marketed under the trade names Starceram^® S (α-SiC) and Starceram^® N (Si₃N₄). Both ceramic powders are used for the production of high-performance ceramics, and as ready-to-press material are suitable for direct processing.

Starceram^® N is used for high-stress components (slide rings, slide bearings, rollers, mill linings, wire dies of worm gears) in machines, light construction applications and casting technology. Silicon nitride has a high fracture toughness, and is therefore resistant to impact and shock stresses. Various strengths can be achieved by means of different hot-isostatic sintering processes at different pressures (10 bar, 100 bar and 2000 bar).

Starceram^® S is a densely sintered silicon carbide, which stands out for its extremely high hardness and wear resistance, good corrosion resistance, high heat conductivity and very good tribological characteristics. Starceram^® S is also available as an undoped SiC raw material in various qualities for further processing by the customer. The extreme corrosion resistance enables its use in almost all acids and alkalis. Thanks to the almost constant strength up to a temperature range of over 1600 °C, its common uses also include high-temperature applications. Starceram^® S is used for slide rings, slide bearings, pump components, worm gears, spouts and nozzles.

Monrad Joseph, Director Sales & Marketing Europe of H.C. Starck Ceramics, on the cooperation: “The very good connections of Krahn Chemie with the ceramics industry as well as its deep understanding of the products and customer requirements make Krahn Chemie a valuable partner”.

“H.C. Starck Ceramics is a highly capable producer with comprehensive material expertise and its products fit seamlessly into our existing portfolio”, explains Dr. Stefan Stolz, Segment Manager for Technical Ceramics at Krahn Chemie. “We have for many years been supplying manufacturers of technical ceramics with aluminium oxide, zirconia, aluminium nitride and rare earth oxides. With these new products of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, we can cover an even wider range of applications”, continues Dr. Stefan Stolz.

About Krahn Chemie
Krahn Chemie is part of the Hamburg-based Otto Krahn Group, and specializes in the sales, distribution, and marketing of chemical raw materials and specialty chemicals. As a distributor and trading company, Krahn represents a large number of renowned, globally operating raw material manufacturers in Europe. Krahn offers its 1,800 customers an extensive and high-quality product range, technical service, and sophisticated logistics solutions. The Krahn product range services the following industries: paint and coatings, adhesives and sealants, construction chemicals, technical ceramics, photovoltaics, lubricants, plastic and rubber. The company has 70 employees and generates a sales volume of approx. 140 million euros.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and conductive polymers, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has manufacturing facilities in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide.

The subsidiary H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG has an extensive product portfolio of highly sophisticated advanced ceramics and ceramic foils. The company is well known for its extremely high-quality products and many years of expertise in silicon carbide, silicon nitride, aluminum titanate, as well as zirconium oxide and aluminum oxide. The main products are highly refined machine and engine components, casting products, dental components, ceramics for ballistic protection and high-performance ceramic components for high-temperature fuel cells (SOFC).

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman and e-Communications Manager
38642 Goslar/Germany
T: +49-5321-751-3230
F: +49-5321-751-4230
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

CFO Dr. Uwe Salzer to leave H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0200

Dr. Uwe Salzer, Member of the Executive Board of H.C. Starck GmbH, Goslar, responsible for the company’s financial affairs, is leaving the company. Dr. Salzer informed the Supervisory Board that he will not be available for an extension of his current contract.

He cited personal reasons for his decision, as Dr. Salzer would like to concentrate on managing his family’s company in the Rhine-Main region of Germany in the future. H.C. Starck has begun searching for a suitable successor from outside the company. Dr. Salzer will continue to serve the company until a candidate has been found.

Since Dr. Salzer joined the H.C. Starck Group in April 2008, the company has undergone a challenging time. Through rigorous cost-saving measures, strategic growth projects and a sales initiative, Dr. Salzer and his colleague on the Executive Board, Dr. Axel Westerhaus, have succeeded in meeting the demands of the economic crisis and in leading the company on a successful growth course, said Dr. Andreas Meier, who took over as Chairman of the H.C. Starck Executive Board in February 2010. This year sales have clearly recovered, production capacity is very good and the operating result has improved significantly, Dr. Meier added. ”Axel Westerhaus and I sincerely regret Uwe Salzer’s decision. He is a highly qualified expert in his field, who, together with his team, did an excellent job, especially in bank negotiations. Uwe Salzer also has an extraordinary business sense, which he demonstrated while temporarily assuming the function of CEO during a particularly difficult time for the company in 2009. We wish him the best of success for the future.”

The company shareholders, Advent und Carlyle, and the Supervisory Board of H.C. Starck thank Dr. Salzer for his personal commitment during his years as CFO of H.C. Starck Group. We respect his decision and wish him continued success, said Dr. Engelbert Heimes, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and conductive polymers, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman and e-Communications Manager
38642 Goslar/Germany
T: +49 -5321-751-3230
F: + 49-5321-751-4230
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

A New Trendsetting Fuel Cell Alliance

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0200

Today H.C. Starck Ceramics and Kerafol announced their partnership in manufacturing, sales, and distribution of high-temperature SOFCs (solid oxide fuel cells) doped with scandium.

Because the scandium-doped zirconia used in these fuel cells is highly conductive, scandium-doped solid oxide fuel cells have the highest output potential of all electrolyte-supported fuel cells (ESC), and as a result are an essential, key component of innovative fuel cell technology.

H.C. Starck and Kerafol’s alliance creates new potential synergies which complement each other reciprocally, with Kerafol contributing its specialized knowledge of scandium-doped electrolytes and H.C. Starck its expertise in electrode manufacturing to the partnership. The result is the first high-output, scandium-doped cell with its origins in Europe.

In conjunction with the appropriate interconnectors, the new cells make it possible to manufacture SOFC stacks and systems with extraordinary performance and a long service life. Scandium-doped cells are particularly suited for use with interconnectors which contain a high percentage of chromium (CrFe₅Y). The cell, marketed under the product name ESC 10, is available for purchase immediately.

“I am extremely pleased that thanks to H.C. Starck and Kerafol bundling their fuel cell expertise, we were able to develop this new, promising fuel cell product in such a short period of time,” says Dr. Andreas Sieverdingbeck, President of H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG. “Each company’s range of competencies complements the other perfectly.”

Mr. Franz Koppe, President and Owner of Kerafol – Keramische Folien GmbH says: “The results of our jointly-developed ESC cell were excellent, and as a result we can manufacture cells with significantly improved performance characteristics at market-friendly rates. Together we are strong.”

H.C. Starck has been active in the field of fuel cell technology since 2003. In early 2008, H.C. Starck put two productions lines into operation at its facility in Selb to manufacture solid oxide fuel cells. These lines were especially designed for cells based on anode substrate and electrolyte technology, and have a capacity of approximately 200,000 cells annually.

With its existing state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment which can manufacture products with a width of up to one meter in cleanroom conditions, Kerafol can produce more than one million oxide and non-oxide electrolytes annually. This means that together, the companies not only have the ability to manufacture cells with improved performance characteristics, but will also be able to manufacture the quantities required to meet the increased demand.

Some background information on solid oxide fuel cells: Fuel cells are considered to be a key technology for the future of electricity generation. In an SOFC, a fuel’s chemical energy is directly converted into electrical energy in an electrochemical reaction. This is why fuel cells are more effective than other conventional means of generating electricity. Fuel cell technology is an environmentally-friendly and highly efficient solution for on-site energy or for combined heat and power. Solid oxide fuel cells have the ability to make direct use of a number of different types of fuel (natural gas, hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, biogas, or carbon monoxide). In order to achieve higher voltages, several cells are joined together in a series into what is known as a stack, and this stack forms one electricity-supplying fuel cell unit.

About H.C. Starck
The H.C. Starck Group is a leading global supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics, and conductive polymers, and serves growing industries such as the electronics, chemicals, automotive, medical technology, aerospace, energy technology, and environmental technology industries, as well as mechanical engineering and tool manufacturers. H.C. Starck has its own manufacturing facilities located in Europe, America, and Asia, and has close to 3,000 employees worldwide. This and further news is available at: www.hcstarck.com/press

About Kerafol
Kerafol – Keramische Folien GmbH develops and produces ceramic tapes for a wide range of applications using a special manufacturing process. Ceramic tapes are used in a number of different fields, including microelectronics, thermal management, filtration, sensor technology, porcelain tape, and solid oxide fuel cells. Kerafol has played an active role in the field of solid oxide fuel cells, specifically scandium-doped fuel cells, since development of the technology began in the 1990’s.

Contact
H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman and e-Communications Manager
38642 Goslar/Germany
T: +49 -5321-751-3230
F: + 49-5321-751-4230
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

Kerafol Keramische Folien GmbH
Isabell Koppe
Marketing Director
92676 Eschenbach/Germany
T: +49-964-588-300
F: +49-964-588-390
isabell-koppe@kerafol.com

H.C. Starck develops worldwide standard for sustainable and reliable raw material sourcing

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck GmbH, Goslar, one of the world’s leading producers of refractory metals and suppliers to high-tech companies, has aligned its sourcing policy to broad sustainability criteria.

The newly developed sourcing process called `Responsible Supply Chain Management`, in short RSCM, is unparalleled in the world and may also become an international standard.

H.C. Starck initiated the development and implementation of RSCM independently in order to emphatically refute claims of the use of “illegal” materials and to show that it is possible to practice a socially and ecologically acceptable raw material policy throughout the industry. The Electronic Industry Citizenship Council (EICC) is also demanding a sustainable and reliable sourcing of raw materials for the electronic industry.

As the first company in its sector, H.C. Starck has introduced a sourcing process based on RSCM. In addition to the internationally recognized standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 und SA 8000, it takes into account traceability, transparency and the far-reaching ethical, social and environmentally friendly principles of raw material sourcing. The international launch of RSCM at H.C. Starck was tested and corroborated in an extensive review carried out by an independent expert, BUREAU VERITAS Certification.

“H.C. Starck sets new international standards with the raw material management system that we have initiated of our own accord,” says Chairman of the Executive Board Dr. Andreas Meier. “Our RSCM activities are unique in our sector and have received international acclaim, as evidenced by the fact that H.C. Starck was recently nominated by the World Trade Group for the Sourcing Excellence Award in recognition of its sustainable RSCM commitment.”

One core element of RSCM are supplier audits, through which the proof of origin of the raw materials and thus the relevant documentation of traceability are verified. The standards defined in the RSCM system are also assessed, especially in connection with the sourcing of raw materials from mines. Here H.C. Starck can draw on its extensive pool of data and years of experience in the evaluation of raw material sources to check the plausibility of the assessment. Only those sources that are able to pass such an audit will be able to supply H.C. Starck. The company has already successfully conducted the first test audits with suppliers.

With nearly 3,000 employees at 13 sites around the world, the H.C. Starck Group is a leading supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics and conductive polymers.

Download RSCM Confirmation (english language)

Download RSCM Confirmation (japanese language)

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman & Manager e-Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
T: +49 (5321) 751 3230
F: +49 (5321) 752 4230
M: +49 160 747 95 67
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

URS Deutschland GmbH and Connexis AG supported H.C. Starck in developing and implementing the Responsible Supply Chain Management (RSCM) System.
URS is one of the world's leading engineering and environmental consultants with 47,000 people in more than 30 countries worldwide, and more than 20 years of experience in environmental and sustainability consulting for industrial clients, e.g. in the areas of environmental, social and governance due diligence assessments, carbon footprint studies and green buildings. Connexis AG provides strategic sustainability advice for the financial and industrial sector, focusing on Corporate Governance, management systems and reporting of sustainability performance.

Sustainable Energy Management System at H.C. Starck among the first to be certified

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck is one of the first companies in Germany to receive certification for the sustainable Energy Management System it has introduced at its production site in Goslar/Germany.

The certification in compliance with DIN EN 16001 recognizes the company for its continuous improvement of energy efficiency and the systematic optimization of energy flows. The implemented systems and processes to improve energy efficiency have been meticulously assessed and successfully validated by the ‘GUTcert’ certification organization.

Environmental protection and systematic energy management are top priorities at H.C. Starck. As part of its sustainable energy policy, H.C. Starck has introduced a number of measures to reduce energy consumption and the associated costs. With the implementation of an Energy Management System, the special processes of energy economy are integrated into the existing management systems. The centralization of all supply and disposal activities allows a comprehensive overview.

“After raw material and personnel costs, energy is the third largest cost factor in the company,” says Dr. Andreas Meier, Chairman of the Executive Board of H.C. Starck. “We see the introduction of the Energy Management System as an investment in the future and an integral part of a sustainable and environmentally acceptable corporate policy for H.C. Starck. We are extremely proud to be one of the first companies in Germany to achieve this certification.”

Dr. Jan Uwe Lieback, Managing Director of GUTcert and head auditor in the certification process, confirms that the system setup has been extraordinarily successful: “The assessment showed that Energy Management has been firmly established at H.C. Starck for years. With its EnMS based on DIN EN 16001 H.C. Starck has introduced a well-defined management process to identify and evaluate potential for savings and to continuously improve energy management. With the help of this systematic process, new potential can be detected and adapted again and again. Already shortly after starting up the formal system and its internal communication, many new ideas for further energy saving potential began to be investigated.”

The basis for an efficient energy provision and use as reflected in DIN EN 16001 is to know the main energy consumers in the company and their influence. For this, the operational processes must be transparent and continuously documented. DIN EN 16001 defines a structure for an operational Energy Management System. As a means to increase energy efficiency, it identifies the requirements of an integrated system so that companies can continuously improve their energy performance by ongoing measures.

With nearly 3,000 employees at 13 sites around the world, the H.C. Starck Group is a leading supplier of refractory metals, technical ceramics and conductive polymers.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Gerald Baehnisch
Company Spokesman & Manager e-Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
T: +49 (5321) 751 3230
F: +49 (5321) 752 4230
gerald.baehnisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH Patent Cross-Licensing Agreement with Agfa-Gevaert N.V.

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH, the world’s leading supplier of conductive polymers, is pleased to announce the establishment of a cross-licensing agreement with Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Mortsel, Belgium. This agreement resolves outstanding intellectual property disputes between the parties.

The agreement which covers PEDOT:PSS materials and formulations, provides a firm footing for the delivery of product and technological know-how to a number of industries including printed electronics, electroluminescence, touch screens and new technologies. By removing the uncertainty surrounding the intellectual property, the agreement will facilitate product development by both the companies and their customers.

The agreement justifies ongoing high investment in R&D, now unhindered by the rights of the other party.

For both Agfa-Gevaert N.V. and H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH the first steps into the technology of the electro conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS dates from when both companies were owned by Bayer AG. Bayer AG originally developed the material in 1988 and its first application was an antistatic in Agfa’s photographic film. For over 10 years the material has been marketed under the trade name of Orgacon™ from Agfa-Gevaert N.V. and Clevios™ (formerly Baytron) from H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH.

Dr. Aloys Eiling, CEO of H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH commented ‘The settlement of intellectual property disputes between Agfa and H.C. Starck will ensure access to this cutting edge technology and allow the accelerated application of PEDOT:PSS into emerging technologies such as printed electronics.’

The settlement is of particular and lasting interest as it relates to a number of patents, effective until beyond 2020, which will enable emerging technologies to be based on PEDOT:PSS.

About H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH

H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH is a 100% daughter company of H.C. Starck GmbH, Goslar, Gemany. The company supplies conductive materials to the capacitor, antistatic, conductive films, printed electronics, and P-OLED industries. Technology is delivered via extensive research and technical application laboratories in Leverkusen, Germany and Mito, Japan.

Contact

John Bayley, Sales Manager
H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH
T: +49 214 30 26718
john.bayley@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck investment supported by Ontario’s AMIS program

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0200

Sarnia, April 8th, 2010 - H.C. Starck Canada announced today agreement for a significant repayable loan, through Ontario’s AMIS program, to expand its tungsten facility in Sarnia.

Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Sandra Pupatello, attended a ceremony at the H.C. Starck facility in the Sarnia, Ontario Chemical Valley, where details were announced.

“Helping Ontario companies transition to more advanced technologies and manufacturing processes is the key to success in today’s modern economy. We’re proud to support H.C. Starck Canada’s investment which will spur the company’s future growth and create new high-value jobs for Ontario families”, said Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

Dr. Axel Westerhaus, member of the Executive Board of H.C. Starck GmbH in Germany, the parent company of H.C. Starck Canada, added: “We want to thank the Province of Ontario for making an AMIS loan available to H.C. Starck Canada. The installation of innovative technologies in the Sarnia facility enables us to diversify our manufacturing site, bringing the production of innovative powder products closer to the North American Customers. Sarnia, Lambton is the location of choice for this investment due to the excellent local infrastructure and availability of a skilled workforce. Support through the AMIS program facilitated our decision making process and made the Sarnia investment interesting and attractive for us despite recessionary times.”

H.C. Starck is a leading producer of intermediates for the Hardmetal industry. Production of these powders in Sarnia began in 1997. Now, there is a particular focus on providing high tech powders to the drill bit industry for Oil and Gas drilling. Due to the excellent quality of its products, H.C. Starck has increased market share in this industry in North America, and so to better serve the customers, both know-how and manufacturing is being transferred to H.C. Starck Canada.

The investment project began in Q3/2008, but was suspended in Q1/2009 due to the global recession and particularly the decline of the North American Hardmetal market. Fortunately, this industry is recovering and we are confident to continue with the investment. The possibility to use the Ontario AMIS loan program facilitated the decision to complete the expansion project this year. We expect to complete our investment by Q3/2010.

The H.C. Starck-Group is an international Group of Companies supplying high-tech industries such as Electronics, Aerospace and Aviation, Medical Technologies, Energy and the Chemical Industry with highly sophisticated specialties made from metals such as Tungsten, Tantalum, Molybdenum and Niobium, Advanced Ceramics and Conductive Polymers. The company has 13 sites worldwide and employs some 3000 specialist. Total Sales in 2008 was around 860 million Euros.

The Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy (AMIS) is a $500 million repayable loan program to encourage companies to invest in leading edge technologies and processes. The AMIS program is intended to provide targeted financial support to eligible manufacturing firms in Ontario to undertake product and process innovation that directly leads to advanced manufacturing investment and job creation.

Contact:
H.C. Starck Canada Inc.
Carol Gilmurray
Managing Director
933 Vidal Street South
Sarnia/Ontario N7T 8H8
Canada
Phone: +519 346 4358
carol.gilmurray@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
Vice President
Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
Phone: +49 (5321) 751 3153
Fax: +49 (5321) 751 4153
Mobile: +49 160 886 09 53
manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck sells its AMPERKAT business to Evonik

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Goslar, March 1^st, 2010 - H.C. Starck sold its AMPERKAT^® business to Evonik Degussa GmbH, Essen on February 26, 2010. With this acquisition, Evonik gains the know-how and technology for the production and application of these catalysts. The AMPERKAT^® brand includes activated nickel sponge metal catalysts, also known as skeleton-metal catalysts, and customized carrier catalysts for use in the pharmaceutical and food industries as well as in the production of fine chemicals.

Until now, H.C. Starck has manufactured these products at its Laufenburg site in Baden-Wuerttemberg. This facility will continue to be used, until Evonik transfers production to its site in Hanau.

H.C. Starck announced its intention to sell the AMPERKAT^® product line some time ago because these catalysts no longer belong to the company’s core businesses. In its markets the AMPERKAT^® brand is known for its high quality. In line with a license agreement, Evonik will continue to use this brand name for a limited period of time.

When catalyst production is discontinued in Laufenburg, jobs for the eight employees working in this plant will be found in other areas of the site, as stipulated in the company agreement to secure jobs in Goslar und Laufenburg.

The business of the H.C. Starck Group with catalyst precursors based on tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium and rhenium will not be affected by this sale. These products will remain an important part of the company’s product portfolio.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
Vice President
Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar
T: +49 (5321) 751 3153
F: +49 (5321) 751 4153
M: +49 160 886 09 53
manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck reacts to reversal of price trends in raw materials

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

- clear market upturn with increasing raw material prices for W, Mo and Ta
- higher costs to be quickly passed on to end markets

The effects of the economic crisis and falling tungsten and molybdenum prices led to the temporary closure of some raw material mines. This situation coincided with a decline in recyclable raw materials. The resurgence of industrial production in the second half of 2009 and the end to the reduction of stock levels have prompted a considerable increase in demand. This has resulted in a reversal of price trends and higher quotations of the respective raw materials in recent months. H.C. Starck assumes that this trend will also lead to further increases in quotations similar to rising demand.

The tantalum market is currently driven by end industries’ demand for ethically irreproachable material. It has therefore come to a shift in raw material procurement from the Congo regions hit by conflict to other suppliers, which will also lead to price increases.

In line with this trend, H.C. Starck will quickly pass on the increase in raw material prices to the end markets and secure supplies.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
Vice President Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
T: +49 (5321) 751 3153
F: +49 (5321) 751 4153
M: +49 160 886 09 53
manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

Dr. Andreas Meier to become new Chairman of the Executive Board at H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The H.C. Starck Group will complete the team of its Executive Board as of February 1, 2010, when Dr. Andreas Meier becomes Chairman of the Board of H.C. Starck GmbH and Chief Executive Officer of the international H.C. Starck Group.

Among other things he will be responsible for the strategic direction and further development of the Group. Dr. Andreas Meier joins the two current Executive Board members Dr. Uwe Salzer and Dr. Axel Westerhaus.

After studying chemical engineering at the University of Graz, Andreas Meier obtained his doctorate at the Montan University of Leoben in Austria. In 1985 Dr. Meier started his professional career with the Austrian public company RHI AG, a leading manufacturer of refractory products with 8,000 employees and a sales volume of 1.6 billion euros. Dr. Meier held various positions in research, production and marketing with global responsibility and became a Board member of RHI AG in 1999. In 2007 he was appointed Chairman of the Board of RHI AG.

Dr. Meier is 47 years old. He is married and has three children.

“We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Meier as Chairman of the Executive Board of H.C. Starck,” says Dr. Engelbert Heimes, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of H.C. Starck. “With his successful professional career, Dr. Meier has the broad industrial competence and valuable experience that will serve him well in his position at H.C. Starck. We wish him and his two colleagues, Dr. Salzer and Dr. Westerhaus, much success for their mutual tasks.”

“I am looking forward to my new responsibilities at H.C. Starck”, says Dr. Andreas Meier. “The company has a very wide and technologically sophisticated product portfolio, a strong international market position and is therefore well-positioned for profitable growth in the long term.”

Contact:

H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
Vice President
Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
T: +49 (5321) 751 3153
F: +49 (5321) 751 4153
M: +49 160 886 09 53
manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck increases production capacity for tungsten catalyst intermediates/precursors

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Goslar, 14. September 2009 - It is predicted that the international markets for fine chemicals, agrochemicals and special catalysts will generally continue to experience steady growth rates over the normal GDP, despite the current economic difficulties.

To participate in this long-term growth, the management of the Business Line Chemicals at H.C. Starck is placing specific importance in its strategic position as a supplier to the chemical industry of high-quality tungsten catalyst intermediates. Considering the periodic global shortage of high-quality sodium tungstate and ammonium metatungstate compounds, H.C. Starck has increased the production capacity for these intermediates and can today meet the vast majority of the known world requirements.

“As one of the few fully integrated enterprises, H.C. Starck is already able to take the individual product wishes of the chemical industry into account, regarding the physical and chemical properties of the products, right at the start of the production chain. We can set our process parameters over the complete value added chain in such a way that we can in fact solve the unique problems brought to us by our customers with a very custom approach ,” said Silke Gray, Vice-president Sales & Marketing of the Chemicals Business Line at the H.C. Starck headquarters in Goslar, Germany. “Close and trusting cooperation between our applications engineering department and our customers’ technology departments has always in the past achieved highly satisfactory solutions for all parties; we are now working even harder to ensure that this success continues with existing and new partners. In addition, our customers are now able to satisfy their complete requirements from the one source, eliminating the need to use several different sources to achieve the same supply objective,” stated Gray.

As a compliment to their primary chemical supply, H.C. Starck also offers comprehensive expertise in the area of tungsten recycling. With decades of experience in the recycling of tungsten from the classic hard metal applications, the company can also recycle tungsten-containing materials from the chemical industry. These would include the reprocessing of spent catalysts and production wastes as well as the technology transfer for the recovery of tungsten losses from wastewater effluents at customer sites. Tungsten is separated from other substances in the vast range of starting materials and is then converted to pure tungsten chemicals. Beyond the clear economic and ecological benefits of recycling, the dependencies on primary raw material sources can also be reduced in the form of a direct closed loop. In addition, valuable raw material resources are additionally conserved.

Contact:

H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
Vice President Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar
T: +49 (5321) 751 3153
F: +49 (5321) 751 4153
M: +49 160 8860953
Manfred.Buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck GmbH
Silke Gray
Vice President Sales & Marketing Business Line Chemicals
38642 Goslar
T: +49 (5321) 751 3628
F: +49 (5321) 751 4628
M: +49 151 12174 328
Silke.Gray@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Business Performance 2008

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0200

The critical situation of the financial markets as a result of the insolvency of Lehman Brothers and the global economic downturn in the fourth quarter of 2008 left their mark on H.C. Starck’s business performance in the year 2008.

The consequences of the financial and economic crises especially affected the chemical sector already in the summer months of 2008. Nearly all regions and sectors experienced a fall in demand, which in some cases was considerable. H.C. Starck, too, was not left completely unscathed by this downward trend, but the company initiated measures early enough to counteract the changed market conditions. In the fall of 2008, various steps were taken to make the production structures more flexible. At the same time, the core business units were restructured, the work procedures were streamlined and the decision-making processes were simplified. These measures aimed at further improving the efficiency and profitability of the H.C. Starck Group and increasing its competitive strength for the long term.

The Group generated sales of € 856 million (sales in 2007: € 905 million) in 2008. This decline compared with the previous year was largely attributed to currency effects and the sale of the Levasil business in 2008 to the Akzo Group. Adjusted for these effects, sales reached the previous year’s level.

The respective areas of the H.C. Starck Group developed differently. The Ceramics and Surface Technology Business Unit, in particular, achieved successes in the business year 2008. Surface Technology business line was able to further strengthen its market position and to press ahead with its technological leadership in the recycling of basic materials. In addition, the Electronics and Optics Business Unit boosted its business relationships to the optical industry.

The development in the individual business lines
The Hard Metals, Mill Products and Catalysts (HMC) Business Unit benefited from the high demand for its products in the European tool industry in 2008. Although sales were under last year’s level, this was mainly due to the withdrawal from the molybdenum chemicals business. Allowing for this, HMC achieved the previous year’s level of sales, despite sharply declining molybdenum prices in the fourth quarter.

A considerable slump in the Asian electronics market affected the Electronics and Optics (EOP) Business Unit in 2008, which resulted in a drop in sales of tantalum metal powder and conductive polymers. This effect was partly compensated by the strong demand from the optical industry. Since a large part of H.C. Starck’s sales are generated in Japan, but the yen to euro conversion developed poorly, the exchange rate also negatively affected results.

The growth surge of the Ceramics and Surface Technology (CST) Business Unit continued in 2008 with a further increase of sales. The Surface Technology Business Line developed very positively. H.C. Starck was able to strengthen its market position, supported by its technological leadership in the recycling of basic materials. However, business with ceramic components suffered a slight decline, due to falling demand from the automotive industry.

Despite sharply declining molybdenum quotations and the weak US$, the Fabricated Products (FPR) Business Unit, which manufactures customer-specified fabricated parts from molybdenum, tungsten and tantalum for the electronics, medical equipment and aircraft industries, was able to increase sales slightly in comparison with the previous year. Products for electronic applications played a large part in this success.

At the end of 2008, the H.C. Starck Group employed some 3,250 people at its 14 sites worldwide, compared with 3,400 at the end of the previous year.

Product Innovation at H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Newton, 7 August, 2009 – H.C. Starck, FPR Group, announces increased focus on producing high quality sputtering targets for the thin film photovoltaic industry in both planar and rotatable forms.

At the 24th EU PV SEC in Hamburg from 21 to 25 September, four extruded rotary targets from 550mm to 4.2m in length will be on display at their booth located in Hall B2G, Booth 39. Extruded targets offer superior sputtering performance being virtually fully dense and having extremely low oxygen levels.

Targeting CIGS, a-Si (amorphous silicon) and CdTe thin films solar module manufacturers, H.C. Starck has been developing and successfully producing custom sputtering targets in molybdenum (Mo) and nickel based (Ni) alloys, along with its other core competency materials: tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb) and tungsten (W).
H.C. Starck, a leading worldwide manufacturer of refractory metals and fabricated products, uses highly specialized equipment and technologies capable of producing rotatable sputtering targets at the height of the most demanding requirements of target users in the areas of LCD display, large area coating and solar cell applications. Newly developed processes allow a wider range approach to materials used in thin film PV such as silver, Al, ZnAl, etc.

With their 5,000 metric ton direct extrusion press, unique in the refractory metals business, H.C. Starck can produce rotary targets for all 125 mm (monolithic) and 135 mm (bonded) applications in molybdenum up through the current largest large area coating rotary target requirement. In alloys of lower high temperature strength like niobium, CP Ti, copper, etc., they are typically able to produce multiples of a single target.

Editor
H.C. Starck Inc.
Fabricated Products Group
45 Industrial Place
Newton, MA 02461 USA
Cristian Cretu
T +1 216.692.6985
F +1 216.692.0031

H.C. Starck Tops Qualifying List of Suppliers of High Grade Si3N4 Powders in PV Industry

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Goslar, 7 August, 2009 – H.C. Starck, AMCP, can meet the purity requirements as set by ingot/wafer producers using their high grade Si3N4 powders.

One of two suppliers qualified with their renowned Si₃N₄ Grade M 11 HP powder in the PV industry worldwide H.C. Starck is finding an increasing number of manufacturers selecting them as their primary supplier. Also, H.C. Starck’s product quality and global market appearance makes them a desirable choice.
High grade Si₃N₄ powders are essential for purity of silicon ingots. Multicrystalline silicon ingots are obtained by melting and solidification of high purity silicon in fused silica crucible in dedicated furnaces. The purity of silicon ingots is known to be an essential parameter leading to high quality wafers - the core part of any solar cell.

The main concerns during solidification of multicrystalline silicon are to avoid impurities entering the silicon and to minimize stresses created during solidification. In the currently established production technology silica crucibles used for melting and crystallizing silicon are coated on their inside surface with a Si₃N₄ based coating, which facilitates an easy release of the ingot after finishing the production cycle.

The layer is sprayed on the crucible wall to prevent silicon/silica reactions that would provoke cracks and inhibit diffusion of oxygen and additional impurities from the crucible into the melt /solidified silicon. This application requires high grade Si₃N₄ powders provided by H.C. Starck.

Learn more about the advantages of H.C. Starck’s high grade Si₃N₄ powders by visiting them at the 24th EU PV SEC, Hamburg, from 21-25 September, Hall B2G, Booth 39.

Editor
H.C. Starck GmbH
Im Schleeke 78 - 91
38642 Goslar/Germany
Dr. Thomas Schmidt
T +49 5321 751-3962
F +49 5321 751-4962

Change in the Executive Board of H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0200

• Dr. Heinz Heumüller resigns as Chairman of H.C. Starck as from July 1, 2009
• Dr. Uwe Salzer, Chief Financial Officer, will temporarily assume Dr. Heumüller`s responsibilities

Goslar, June 30th, 2009 - Dr. Heinz Heumüller, Chairman of the Executive Board of H.C. Starck GmbH and CEO of the international H.C. Starck Group since 2003, will leave the company of his own accord and in full agreement with the shareholders effective July 1, 2009.

“Based on my personal circumstances and after much deliberation, I have come to an agreement with the Supervisory Board to relinquish my position as from July 1, 2009,” said Dr. Heumüller and added, “This will clear the way for a successor to lead the company also beyond the planned exit of our shareholders. It is clear that this time will have to be further postponed due to the world economic crisis, and I would prefer not to change my plans.”

The Supervisory Board sincerely thanks Dr. Heumüller for his hard work and commitment as Chairman of the Executive Board of H.C. Starck GmbH and CEO of the international H.C. Starck Group. Dr. Heumueller has left his stamp on the company and helped in its development in the past six years.

Until a successor has been appointed, Dr. Uwe Salzer, Chief Financial Officer, will temporarily assume Dr. Heumüller`s responsibilities.

Dr. Heumüller will continue to be associated with the company. The extent of this relationship and the function are currently being discussed with the private investors.

H.C. Starck Inc. and Comet Network Co., Ltd. sign Supply Agreement

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck Inc., Newton/MA and Comet Network Co., Ltd, Seoul, South Korea, announced today that they have reached a long-term agreement for the supply of refractory metal for sputtering targets used in the production of LCD flat panel display screens. H.C. Starck will supply Comet Network from its production facilities in Euclid/OH, where additional investment will be made as necessary to fulfill Comet Network’s requirements.

The agreement was concluded on May 19, 2009 with Terry Shin, CEO of the Comet Network Group and Dr. Heinz Heumüller CEO of the H.C. Starck Group during a visit to the H.C. Starck facility in Leverkusen/Germany.

The signing took place in Leverkusen also because Comet is interested to expand its cooperation with H.C. Starck into other areas. Of high interest to Comet are the conductive polymers, produced and sold by H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH in Leverkusen. The CLEVIOS™ material and its derivatives pave the way for innovative solutions and new products of the electronics industry. Both parties confirmed their intention to broaden the scope of the present business relations.

“This agreement is a clear indication of the strength of Korea’s electronics industry - even in these difficult economic times,” said Richard McCorry, President and CEO of H.C. Starck Inc. and its Fabricated Business Products Unit: ”We are pleased to be able to support the continued growth of Comet in its business activities.”
“We value H.C. Starck and its Fabricated Products Business Unit as a reliable supplier for delivery of these crucial high-quality materials and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial cooperation,” added Terry Shin, CEO of the Comet Group.

Comet Network is a leading sputtering target manufacturer in Korea and supplies both LG Display and Samsung Electronics with various sputter targets such as Molybdenum, Molybdenum alloy, Copper and Aluminium for the production of flat panel display screens.

H.C. Starck is specialized in processing refractory metals and is able to successfully meet the steadily increasing demands of the electronics industry through its extensive research activities. The Group offers tailor-made product solutions, geared to the needs of its customers.

Further Information:

H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
General Manager
Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar
T: 49-5321 751 3153
F: 49-5321 751 4153
M: 49-160 886 09 53
Manfred.Buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck will continue to meet Tantalum demand

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Goslar, November 26, 2008 - The H.C. Starck Group announced today that it regrets the decision of Talison Minerals Pty. Ltd. to suspend mining at the world's largest tantalum operation in Wodgina, Australia in early December 2008.

"We have known Talison as a reliable supplier for many years, always selling its tantalum in compliance with recognized social, legal, ethical, safety and environmental standards", said Dr. John van Put, General Manager of H.C. Starck's Electronics and Optics Business Group. "As Wodgina has supplied more than 30 percent of the world's tantalum so far in 2008, the repercussions on tantalum prices are predictable".

Talison's decision is clearly driven by the downturn in worldwide demand for consumer electronics, a major user of tantalum products. Besides the present crisis the strong trend to reduce costs in the electronics supply chain impacted the tantalum market, leading to increasing tantalum supplies from the crisis area of the Democratic Republic of Congo. "It is clear that at the current spot prices, reputable companies like Talison cannot compete with unscrupulous traders offering little economic benefit to small miners or the local population", said H.C. Starck's CEO Dr. Heinz Heumüller.

Dr. van Put went on to say that his company has sufficient stocks and supply channels to meet the foreseeable needs of its customers, in particular, because of its backward integration relying on scrap recycling.

In spite of Talisons’s production termination H.C. Starck will continue to offer materials of high quality exclusively based on tantalum obtained from reputable sources, like Talison. "Clearly, the industry will see price increases as the significant effects cannot be absorbed by the supply base alone", said Dr. van Put.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
General Manager
Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
P: +49/5321 751 3153
F: +49/5321 751 4153
M: +49/160 886 09 53
Manfred.Buetefisch@hcstarck.com

BAYMETEC® is now AMPERTEC™ - Ultra High Purity Materials

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Leverkusen, October 15, 2008: The consistency of high purity materials for the semiconductor and lighting industries is becoming ever more important. H.C. Starck delivers a comprehensive range of ultra pure products to these industries, but from October 2008 we will offer the materials under a new name.

From 15th October the BAYMETEC^® range will be marketed under the name of AMPERTEC™.

The name change to AMPERTEC™ is necessary, because all patent rights for BAYMETEC® products are with H.C. Starck, but the naming rights are retained by the Bayer Group. “Beyond that, everything remains the same for our customers,” emphasizes Dr. Stephan Kirchmeyer, Vice President, Electronics and Optics Business Unit at H.C. Starck.

With these versatile products that are based on metals, alloys and compounds of Tungsten, Tantalum, Niobium and Molybdenum, H.C. Starck has provided materials for use in the production of sputtering targets (PVD) as well as CVD and lighting applications. Under the new AMPERTEC™ name the materials will continue to offer the best solutions for the needs of the semiconductor, electronics and optical industries.

AMPERTEC™ - Ultra High Purity Materials
www.ampertec.info

H.C. Starck continues to focus on growth and restructures its service support functions

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0200

- Management presents restructuring plans to supervisory board
- H.C. Starck continues to invest in projects to enhance high performance
- Company takes steps to adapt to changed market conditions

Goslar, 25 September 2008 - H.C. Starck, the leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals, advanced refractory metal, and ceramic products, is pursuing its growth and further development as a high performance enterprise. Yesterday, H.C. Starck management presented the strategy and business plans to achieve these objectives to the supervisory board. The company’s priority remains the systematic implementation of its mid-term growth strategy. However, the company is also taking immediate actions to adapt its business strategy in response to increasingly difficult market conditions. The company has already initiated external measures, including price increases. Internally, the company will implement a restructuring plan with the objective of reducing costs, streamlining the organization and enhancing operational flexibility. In addition, the company will transfer part of the tantalum production currently located in Goslar and Japan to Thailand.

Profitable lines of business the foundation for future growth

Over the next three years, H.C. Starck plans capital expenditure of up to €50 million annually in order to reinforce and further expand its existing strong market position in the fields of wolfram, ceramic and metallic powders, surface treatment technology, ceramic components, metallic components and CLEVIOS™. These growth markets are expanding rapidly.

The company is taking action to achieve substantial cost efficiencies in the production of tantalum. In addition, the company is entering into strategic cooperation agreements with raw materials suppliers of tantalum and wolfram to compensate for its current structural disadvantages with respect to its raw materials supply chain.

Restructuring planned

Because of the significant slowdown in the broader chemical sector and the substantially higher prices for raw materials and energy, the H.C. Starck group will not achieve its profitability targets for 2008. In light of the continuing deterioration in business conditions, the company has decided to implement further cost savings measures immediately.

Following an extensive process optimization program in the areas of production and technical services over the past eighteen months, the company will now implement a restructuring program for its administrative and other service functions. “Market conditions oblige us to become more efficient and flexible. Our current structure arose during the period when our company was part of a much larger corporation. As a result, we are less streamlined than our competitors and therefore less able to deal effectively with the rapid developments in our industry. We therefore will focus on maximizing the cost savings in our administrative and service functions where there is most potential for such efficiencies,” noted Dr. Heinz Heumüller, CEO of H.C. Starck.

The reduction in staff numbers will affect most of H.C. Starck’s sites around the world, in particular the corporate headquarters in Goslar, where the administrative and service functions are concentrated. Worldwide, a total of approximately 200 positions are expected to be eliminated by the end of this year. Further reductions in headcount are expected in connection with the outsourcing of a number of activities. The company is cooperating with the works council to develop a social plan for the employees affected by these measures.

The supervisory board and management are convinced that the company will resume its successful development upon implementing these strategic and operational measures.

Further information:

Manfred Bütefisch
General Manager
Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
Phone +49/5321 751 3153
Fax +49/5321 751 4153
Mobile +49/160 886 09 53
Manfred.Buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Canada Inc. on expansion course

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Goslar, July 21st, 2008 – The H.C. Starck Group, the world’s leading supplier of refractory metals, ceramics and fabricated parts, has earmarked several million dollars for an investment project at its Canadian production site in Sarnia, Ontario. The project is addressing the increasing demand for premium quality tungsten powders in North America. Within a time span of approximately 15 months, the company will construct a new building, install state-of-the-art equipment, and hire additional technical staff. Site enabling works started on July 21st, 2008.

Established in 1996, H.C. Starck Canada currently produces fine grade tungsten and tungsten carbide powders, and employs more than 30 people.

H.C. Starck is an international group of companies with more than 3,500 employees at 13 production sites in Europe, North America and the Far East. It generated sales of 905 million euros in 2007.

The Group produces an assortment of refractory metal powders that is unique the world over, including tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, rhenium as well as their compounds (borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides, silicides, sulfides). Further production capacities focus on thermal spray and advanced ceramic powders, nonferrous metals, such as nickel and cobalt and their salts, as well as boron and boron compounds. In addition to metal and advanced ceramic powders, semi-finished and finished products are also manufactured. H.C. Starck is also a leading supplier of specialty chemicals and products formulated for the electronics industry.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Buetefisch
General Manager Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
Phone +49 5321 751 3153
manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

Statements regarding business progress during 2007

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Goslar, 9 May 2008 – following a very successful financial year in 2006 H.C. Starck again achieved good results in 2007 and was able to increase sales in core business further. However as compared to the previous year the overall sales of the H.C. Starck group decreased to EUR 905 million as a result of the sale, respectively the conscious disposal, of the less profitable business sectors. In the year 2007 H.C. Starck GmbH achieved sales of EUR 572 million.

The concentration of the company portfolio on the key business sectors could be driven forward as planned with the sale of the battery business to the Japanese Toda-group. This strategy is to be continued with the planned sale of the Kieselsol-business in 2008. Besides these portfolio measures various projects for increasing growth and revenue were successfully initiated in 2007. In this connection especially the qualification offensive regarding the further training of our staff deserves special mention, and received a very positive reception.

In view of the measures undertaken H.C. Starck is well set to face the competition in a slowing global economy.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
Director of Company Communication
38642 Goslar
Telephone 05321 751 3153
Telefax 05321 751 4153
Mobile 0160 886 09 53
Manfred.Bütefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck to sell its silica sol business to Akzo Nobel

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Goslar, May 9, 2008 - The H.C. Starck Group has sold its silica sol business in Leverkusen to Akzo Nobel Chemicals GmbH, Düren. The acquisition price was not disclosed.

"We are convinced that the silica sol business continues to have very attractive growth possibilities under the ownership of Akzo Nobel," says Dr. Heinz Heumueller, CEO of the H.C. Starck Group.

The companies concluded the contracts on April 30, 2008. The sale is subject to the approval by the antitrust authorities.

"This strategically important acquisition will enable us to enter a number of additional silica sol markets, primarily in Europe," explains Rob Frohn, Akzo Nobel's Board member responsible for Specialty Chemicals. "Our streamlined chemicals portfolio is primed for investment and this transaction emphasizes our commitment to focusing on growth."

Headquartered in Goslar, H.C. Starck is an internationally leading producer of refractory metal and ceramic powders, special chemicals and fabricated products made from advanced ceramics and refractory metals. Last year the company generated sales of 905 million euros. The international H.C. Starck Group employs more than 3,400 employees at 13 sites in Europe, Asia and North America.

"Akzo Nobel is the ideal partner for our future expansion," stress H.C. Starck Silica Sol's Managing Directors Dr. Gabriele Hey and Sven Marienfeld. "With the support of Akzo Nobel we are well positioned continue to pursue our growth strategy." Akzo Nobel is committed to Levasil's existing operations in Leverkusen and also considers expanding its local production capacity.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
General Manager
Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar
Phone +49 5321 751 3153
Fax +49 5321 751 4153
Mobile +49 160 886 09 53
Manfred.Buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck Inc.’s Fabricated Products (“FPR”) Division announces higher refractory metal prices

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck Inc.’s Fabricated Products (“FPR”) Division is notifying customers worldwide of a double digit price increase for molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and niobium metals effective immediately or as contracts permit.

The substantial increase in demand for molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, and tantalum, including from emerging markets such as China and the global consumer electronics market has resulted in a sustained increase in the cost of raw materials. These market conditions for refractory metals are increasingly projected to be secular, not cyclical. This means that pricing pressures will be sustained and likely increase. In addition to the cost of molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, and tungsten, prices of other commodities, such as energy, significantly affects FPR including, for example, in production and transportation.

“H.C. Starck Inc. thus far has absorbed all of these macro economic based cost increases, said Andrew Towey, Vice President of Global Marketing for FPR. Unfortunately the prevailing market conditions have reached a point where H.C. Starck must recoup some of these costs.”

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is an international group of companies with more than 3,400 employees at production sites in Europe, North America and the Far East. Widely known for its technology in refractory metals, ceramics, and chemicals for the electronic, semiconductor, and optical industries, H.C. Starck is owned by Advent & Carlyle.

Contact:
Andrew Towey
Phone: +1 617.630.5810
Fax: +1 617.630.5807
andrew.towey@hcstarck.com

Ceramic Fuel Cells partners with H.C. Starck to secure volume supply of fuel cell components

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (“CFCL”), a global leader in developing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, has signed agreements with H.C. Starck of Germany to secure a high volume supply of fuel cell components.

Under the co-operation agreement, CFCL and HC Starck will collaborate to develop advanced SOFC components, in particular anode-supported cells. CFCL is prepared to license its relevant IP in order to optimize the performance of the cell. H.C. Starck will assist in improving manufacturing processes and in reducing unit costs.

As stipulated in the supply agreement, H.C. Starck will supply fuel cells at agreed prices until December 2011, which secures long-term costs for CFCL. The supply of the fuel cells is expected to commence in mid-2008, with further increases in forecast volumes and reductions in unit prices from 2009.

H.C. Starck has recently commissioned two lines for manufacturing solid oxide fuel cells, specifically for anode-supported cells and for electrolyte-supported cells, with an annual capacity of about 700,000 cells each. The SOFC manufacturing lines are located at its subsidiary company H.C. Starck Ceramics in Selb, Germany. H.C. Starck’s world-class manufacturing facility is dedicated and fully equipped to produce high-quality anode-supported fuel cells in accordance with CFCL’s rigorous specifications. H.C. Starck’s manufacturing processes are certified to ISO standards 9001 and 14000.

As part of CFCL’s commercialisation strategy, the partnership will combine CFCL’s and H.C. Starck’s expertise in SOFC as well as H.C. Starck’s manufacturing capabilities, securing the supply chain for mass manufacture of high-quality cells at commercially viable unit costs.

CFCL will continue to produce fuel cells at its Melbourne R&D and pilot manufacturing facility, leveraging its 15 years of development expertise to drive continued improvements in cell performance.

This cooperation is non-exclusive for both parties. CFCL is reviewing similar opportunities with other suppliers throughout Europe.

Commenting, Brendan Dow, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells, said:

„We are delighted to have secured our supply chain for basic fuel cell components with a global leader in advanced ceramic production. This announcement represents a significant step in fuel cell commercialisation. We have combined our valuable intellectual property – developed since 1992 - with H.C. Starck’s manufacturing capacities in order to quickly move to volume production, with the same level of quality, at a lower cost and a lower risk.“

Commenting, Aloys Eiling, Managing Director of H.C. Starck Ceramics, said:

“The partnership with CFCL, a major global SOFC manufacturer, is an excellent fit for our strategy to become the world’s leading supplier of SOFC cell technology. The collaboration enables us to bundle our strengths and further develop our cell technology and to optimize manufacturing processes to CFCL’s advanced technical and commercial requirements. Through the supply agreement we will utilise our existing SOFC manufacturing facilities and invest in additional equipment to further expand our capacity to supply the growing market for solid oxide fuel cells. We are excited about the agreement and consider this to be the next important step towards maturity of the solid oxide fuel cell technology.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Managing Director Brendan Dow discusses the agreement with HC Starck on a
Boardroomradio webcast – click here or go to www.brr.com.au/cfu.

For further information please contact:

Ceramic Fuel Cells
Andrew Neilson - Tel.: +61 (0) 419 950 771
Email: investor@cfcl.com.au

Hogarth Partnership (PR für CFCL)
Sarah MacLeod / Sarah Richardson / Vicky Watkins - Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7357 9477

Libertas Capital (NOMAD für CFCL)
Aamir Quraishi / Andrew Hardy - Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7569 9650

H.C. Starck Ceramics
Hans Peter Baldus - Tel.: +49 (0) 9287 807 304
Email: hans-peter.baldus@hcstarck.com

About CFCL
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is a world leader in developing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology which can provide reliable, energy efficient, high-quality, and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas and renewable fuels. CFCL is developing SOFC products for small-scale on-site micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) and distributed generation units that co-generate electricity and heat for domestic use. CFCL

is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and the Australian Securities Exchange (code CFU).
www.cfcl.com.au

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is an international group of companies with more than 3,500 employees at 13 production sites in Europe, North America and the Far East. It generated sales of 985 million euros in 2006.

H.C. Starck produces an assortment of refractory metal powders that is unique the world over, including tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, rhenium as well as their compounds (borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides, silicides, sulfides). Further production capacities focus on thermal spray and advanced ceramic powders, nonferrous metals, such as nickel and cobalt and their salts, as well as boron and boron compounds. In addition to metal and advanced ceramic powders, semi-finished and finished products are also manufactured. H.C. Starck is also a leading supplier of specialty chemicals and products formulated for the electronics industry.

H.C. Starck started to develop SOFC materials in 1996. Through the acquisition of SOFC cell producer InDEC in 2003, H.C. Starck obtained know-how in cell technology. Since then H.C. Starck has built large production lines for electrolyte- and anode-supported cell technology and improved the SOFC technology significantly to meet the technical requirements for series production.

H.C. Starck’s fuel cell development and manufacturing operations are located at its 900-m2 facility in Selb, Germany. H.C. Starck employs 20 staff at these facilities, which comprise state of the art continuous tape casters and automatic screen printers located in air-conditioned clean room facilities, production rooms for slurry and paste preparation plus sintering facilities supported by ISO-certified quality control processes. Since 2000 H.C. Starck has invested double-digit million euros in the development of SOFC components.

H.C. Starck’s facilities in Selb have a capacity of 1.4 million fuel cells per year. H.C. Starck is currently investing in further equipment to expand this capacity to supply the growing market for solid oxide fuel cells.

Fuel Cells and m-CHP product development
H.C. Starck produces anode-supported solid oxide cells, comprising a porous anode support layer, which gives the cell its mechanical strength, a functional anode, a thin-film electrolyte and a porous cathode. CFCL also makes anode-supported cells at its facilities in Melbourne, Australia.
These cells convert all sorts of fuels into electricity and heat, via an electrochemical reaction. The cells are combined into fuel cell stacks to produce very efficient power and heat for micro-CHP units, auxiliary power units and other advanced stationary power appliances.
CFCL will use the cells supplied by H.C. Starck in CFCL’s Gennex fuel cell module, comprising an advanced metal-ceramic fuel cell stack plus highly efficient balance of plant components developed by CFCL. CFCL will sell its Gennex module to CFCL’s appliance partners for integration into m-CHP products for homes, running on widely available natural gas.
CFCL is developing m-CHP products with leading appliance partners and utility customers in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Japan.

H.C. Starck expanding raw material supply base for tantalum

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Goslar, 23 November 2007; H.C. Starck GmbH, Goslar, one of the world’s most important producers of tantalum metal, today announced that it had concluded a long-term contract on the purchase of tantalum raw materials with Tantalum Egypt JSC, an enterprise in which the Australian mining company Gippsland Limited in Perth/Australia has an indirect interest with a 50 % stake.

Tantalum Egypt JSC holds the mining rights for the Abu Dabbab exploration area in Egypt. The contract has a term of 10 years and comprises a volume of 600,000 lbs / Ta₂O⁵ per year.

“The contract is a solid cornerstone of our raw material strategy and enables H.C. Starck to continue to be a reliable partner at all times for our customers on the basis of a sound supply source,” commented Dr. Heinz Heumüller, chairman of the executive board, on the agreement.

The conclusion of this contract not only constitutes an expansion of its tantalum raw material base for H.C. Starck, but is rather also to be seen as a commitment to the tantalum-processing industry that H.C. Starck is equipped for long-term involvement in the tantalum market.

Tantalum metal powder is an indispensable intermediate for the production of capacitors without which modern cell phones, laptops or flat screens would not be possible. H.C. Starck is particularly a specialist for high capacitance tantalum powders which are above all indispensable for the latest generation of modern electronic appliances. In combination with the conductive polymer CLEVIOS, H.C. Starck offers the worldwide capacitor industry a unique product portfolio.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH
Manfred Bütefisch
General Manager Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar
Phone: +49 5321 751 31 53
Fax: +49 5321 751 41 53
E-Mail: manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

Toda Kogyo has acquired the Battery Products business of H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0200

H.C. Starck GmbH of Goslar/Germany and Toda Kogyo Corp. of Hiroshima/Japan announced today, that Toda Kogyo has acquired the Battery Products business of H.C. Starck effective as of August 1, 2007. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction value.

“Based on our longstanding and fruitful relationship with Toda Kogyo, we believe that Toda Kogyo is an ideal partner for the future development of the Battery Products business,” explained H.C. Starck Managing Director Dr. Heinz Heumüller. “We are convinced that with the support of Toda Kogyo, the business will continue its growth path and work to further improve performance.”

Mr. Toshiyuki Toda, President of Toda Kogyo said, “With the acquisition, Toda Kogyo Corp. can avail itself of a global supply network combined with its existing manufacturing facilities in Japan. The battery materials business unit of Japan has two factories, one in Onoda, Yamaguchi, and the other in Kita-Kyusyu, Fukuoka. The latter is producing 600 tons a year, that will be inceased more near future, of nickel oxides cathode materials for Li-ion batteries, commonly used in PCs and cellular phones and expected to be one of the promising batteries for HEVs. The acquisition also enables Toda Kogyo Corp to add cathode materials for the Ni-HM batteries to its traditional product line. The demand for Ni-MH batteries, currently used for HEVs, is also growing.“

The business relationship between Toda Kogyo and H.C. Starck goes back to 2003 when both companies started a joint development of a new type of battery cathode materials. Since then, H.C Starck has supplied Toda Kogyo with precursor materials from its Sarnia plant in Canada, which Toda Kogyo uses in the production of cathode material for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries. Based on strong R&D capabilities and material science know-how, the Battery Products division has developed a leading technology position in battery production. The production site in Sarnia is the only industrial scale production facility for spherical Nickelhydroxide (SNH) in the western world.

H.C. Starck GmbH is the world’s leading producer of specialty metals, advanced ceramics and electronic chemicals for a wide range of applications in high-growth markets such as electronics, chemicals, aerospace & defense, automotive, energy and medical equipment. The Company’s specialty metals portfolio comprises molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, niobium and rhenium, which it offers along the value chain from chemicals/powders to sophisticated fabricated products. H.C. Starck is known as one of the technology and innovation leaders in its industry. In 2006, the Group reported sales of € 985 m and employed approximately 3,400 employees at 15 production sites across Europe, North America and Asia.

Toda Kogyo was founded in 1823, and is the world’s leading manufacturer of iron oxide particles which are essential raw materials, or integral components of industrial and consumer products. The Company’s design concept optimally harnesses the chemical and physical properties of iron oxide particles for various applications and the experience gained from the manifold combinations of Toda Kogyo’s particle design elements is not only applied to iron oxides, but also to oxide materials for rechargeable batteries and numerous application areas of nanotechnology. Focusing on the battery materials on lithium nickel oxides, their research and development were started in 1992 and they have been marketed since 1999 as applying for hi-energy and hi-power Li-ion batteries. Toda Kogyo is continuing to focus its efforts on solutions that reduce the burden on the environment, enhance energy efficiency, and support a richer, more convenient and fulfilling life.

Contact H.C. Starck GmbH:
Manfred Buetefisch
General Manager Corporate Communications
38642 Goslar/Germany
Phone:   +49 5321 7513153
Fax:       +49 5321 7514153
E-Mail:    manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

Contact Toda Kogyo:
Energy Solution Company
Todakogyo Corp.
Hiroshima/Japan
Phone: +81-3-3433-2411
Fax:       +81-3-5404-7244
E-Mail:    Kenji_Ogisu@todakogyo.co.jp

H.C. Starck Group now under new ownership

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Goslar, February 2, 2007 - The Bayer Group has sold its H.C. Starck subsidiary to Advent International and The Carlyle Group. The closing, effective February 1, 2007, marks the take over of H.C. Starck based in Goslar/Germany by the two financial investors. H.C. Starck is a producer of metal and ceramic powders, special chemicals and components made from advanced ceramics and refractory metals. The EU and US anti-trust authorities have both approved the sale agreed on November 23, 2006.

The investor consortium plans to develop the H.C. Starck Group into a top performing company over the short term. Preparations are already in progress. The current business plan specifies a comprehensive range of optimization programs. Together with external consultants it is intended to identify additional areas of potential and implement in a timely manner.

Dr. Carl Voigt has been appointed chairman of the supervisory and advisory boards. Dr. Voigt, who has many years of experience as member of the Board Management of Degussa AG, was pleased to accept the appointment after recognizing H.C. Starck's potential based on its unique materials and technologies platform.

“We are very pleased that we have been able to find such top level support for the further development of our company in such a short time,” said Dr. Heinz Heumüller at an information event organized in early February 2007. Dr. Carl Voigt, new supervisory board chairman of the H.C. Starck Group, added: “H.C. Starck is a company with an enormous innovation potential and the strength to develop into a high-performer very quickly, capable of operating successfully and completely independently in global markets. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to contribute to the success of this challenging task.”

About H.C. Starck:
The International H.C. Starck Group has more than 3400 employees in 15 locations world-wide and achieved sales of Euro 920 million in 2005. H.C. Starck produces a unique range of powders of refractory metals such as tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, rhenium and their compounds (borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides, silicides, sulphides). A further core production area includes ceramic powders, sintered metal powders, thermal spray powders, non-ferrous metals; nickel and cobalt and their salts as well as boron and boron compounds.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH & Co. KG
Manfred Bütefisch
General Manager
Marketing Services and Public Relation
Phone: +49 5321 751 3153
Fax: +49 5321 751 4153
E-mail: manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

H.C. Starck inaugurates new production facility in China

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 +0100

Facility will produce heavy metal alloyed components for its Fabricated Products Business Group

Taicang City, Jiangsu Province – H.C. Starck, a leading global producer of metal and ceramic powders, today celebrated the inauguration of its first production facility in China. The ceremony, at H.C. Starck’s facility at the Taicang Development Zone in Taicang City, Jiangsu Province was held in the presence of senior ranking local government officials and the company’s global management executives.

“Today represents a significant milestone in the history of H.C. Starck,” noted Dr. Heinz Heumüller, H.C. Starck Managing Director. “We established a state-of-the-art production capability located here in China to meet demand for fabricated products both from this country, as well as from our international customers. We intend to use Taicang as our base for providing China’s upcoming medical technologies and also the glass industry with tailor-made products. We are very confident that in the near future we will also become partners to the successful electronics and optical industries in China, from our location here in Taicang,” he added.

In his address, Dr. Heumüller noted that the business registration number for H.C. Starck Specialty Materials (Taicang) Co Ltd. is 000001. “Our success at being the first company to be registered to operate under Taicang City legislation, reflects the strong and efficient support of the local authorities during the planning and approval process. We are very grateful for this support and look forward to continued good cooperation in the future,” he said. The facility will mainly manufacture hard metal alloyed components for H.C. Starck’s Fabricated Products Business Group.

About H.C. Starck
H.C. Starck is an international group of companies with more than 3,400 employees at production sites in Europe, Asia and North America. The companies produce refractory metal powders, other special metals and intermediates for advanced ceramics. They also process these materials into mill products and fabricated parts. Worldwide sales of the H.C. Starck Group in 2005 were approximately 920 million €.

Contact:
H.C. Starck GmbH & Co. KG
Mr. Manfred Bütefisch
Manager Marketing Services and Public Relations
Tel.: +49 5321 751 3153
E-mail: manfred.buetefisch@hcstarck.com

Bayer sells H.C. Starck to Advent International and The Carlyle Group for EUR 1.2 billion

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 +0100

• Proceeds will help to finance the Schering acquisition • Acquirers plan expansion of H.C. Starck business • Goal is to position the company for an initial public offering in 3 to 5 years

Leverkusen – The Bayer Group plans to sell its subsidiary H.C. Starck to a consortium formed by financial investors Advent International and The Carlyle Group for approximately EUR 1.2 billion. As planned, the proceeds will help to finance the acquisition of Schering. Commenting on the transaction, Bayer Management Board Chairman Werner Wenning said: “We are convinced that H.C. Starck will have very good development prospects under the new owners.”

The transaction value comprises a cash component of more than EUR 700 million and the assumption of financial liabilities and personnel-related commitments totaling some EUR 450 million. The divestment thus reduces Bayer’s net debt by about EUR 1 billion, with an accounting gain of about EUR 150 million. Closing is planned to take place at the beginning of 2007, subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities.

Advent and Carlyle intend to continue developing the H.C. Starck business, with the aim of positioning the company for an initial public offering in three to five years. Gregor Böhm, Carlyle Managing Director in Munich, said: “We’re delighted to be investing in such a first-class company. H.C. Starck is an extremely innovative and highly specialized enterprise with excellent positions in its various markets. We look forward to working with the entire team to help grow H.C. Starck for the benefit of the company and its employees.”

Ralf Huep, General Manager at Advent International in Frankfurt, commented: “H.C. Starck is a highly attractive investment. It not only holds leadership positions in its markets, but also has enormous growth potential, both in existing and prospective new business areas. We will work closely with management and Carlyle to leverage these strengths and continue the successful development of H.C. Starck’s business.”

Bayer conducted the sale of H.C. Starck as an auction process. Several of the many prospective acquirers were invited to examine the company in detail and submit a binding offer. Both strategic and financial investors participated in the bidding through the final stage.

H.C. Starck, headquartered in Goslar in northern Germany, manufactures metal and ceramic powders, specialty chemicals, and parts made from advanced ceramics and refractory metals. The company employs some 3,400 people and last year posted sales of EUR 920 million. H.C. Starck has 15 sites in Europe, Asia and North America.

“Advent and Carlyle are ideal partners for our future expansion,” explained H.C. Starck Managing Director Dr. Heinz Heumüller. “With their support we will continue to pursue our corporate strategy and business objectives and work to further improve performance.”

Bayer announced in March 2006 that it would divest its subsidiaries H.C. Starck and Wolff Walsrode and use the proceeds to partly finance the Schering acquisition. The two companies have so far been part of the Bayer MaterialScience subgroup, which will focus in future on its core businesses.

About Advent International:
Advent International is one of the world’s leading private equity firms, with over EUR 8 billion (US$ 10 billion) in cumulative capital raised and offices in 14 countries across Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. Since its inception in 1984, Advent has invested in more than 500 companies in 35 countries and has taken over 130 of these businesses public on major stock exchanges worldwide. Advent has a proven track record of success in the German market, having concluded eight transactions in the past two years. In 2004, for example, Advent and Carlyle jointly acquired HT Troplast, the world’s leading manufacturer of vinyl profiles for windows and doors.

About The Carlyle Group:
The Carlyle Group is a global private equity firm with more than US$ 46 billion (EUR 36 billion) under management. Carlyle invests in buyouts, venture and growth capital, real estate and leveraged finance in North America, Europe and Asia. Focus industries are aerospace, automotive & transportation, consumer & retail, chemicals, energy & power, healthcare, industrial, technology & business services, and telecom & media. Since 1987, Carlyle has invested total equity capital of US$24 billion (EUR 19 billion) in 576 transactions.

Leverkusen, November 23, 2006

Contact:
Bayer AG:
Günter Forneck, phone +49 214 30 50446
Email: guenter.forneck.gf@bayer-ag.de

Christian Hartel, phone +49 214 30 47686
Email: christian.hartel.ch@bayer-ag.de

Advent International:
Claudia Werth, phone +49 69 92037-114
Email: c.werth@abfd.de

The Carlyle Group:
Katherine Elmore-Jones, Tel.: +44 207 894 1560
Email: Katherine.ElmoreJones@carlyle.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Allegations against H.C. Starck now also dismissed in court and by state authorities

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 00:00:00 +0200

In the course of the work of a United Nations’ panel of experts, H.C. Starck was accused of illegally purchasing raw materials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The allegations were finally withdrawn with the UN panel’s report of 23 October 2003. In the UN final report H.C. Starck was put in the category “matter settled – no further activities necessary”.

The Austrian Krall Group, which allegedly owns a pyrochlore mine in the DRC, apparently cannot live with this decision. Krall Metal Congo S.c.a.r.l. (hereinafter referred to as Krall) is indulging in allegations which threaten to damage the H.C. Starck Group’s good name. So-called “proof” of alleged misconduct by our company (and other companies) is offered on the internet site niob.cc. In addition, it has – unsuccessfully – tried three times to date to have these or similar allegations also backed up by the courts or by state authorities.

We for our part have decided not to take legal action against Krall (because we do not have to concern ourselves with such absurd accusations); however, so that an opinion can be formed, we are indicating in brief the results of the previous proceedings that Krall has brought against us.

Goslar, 21. July 2006

1. Attempt to institute OECD proceedings through the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor
In November 2004, Krall attempted to prove that H.C. Starck among others had illegally purchased raw materials from a pyrochlore mine which allegedly belongs to Krall. However, H.C. Starck cannot in fact process pyrochlore in any manner in its plants. The further examination by the relevant state authorities at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor in Berlin came to the view that the questions and factual position “do not justify a further examination”.

2. Lawsuit before Brunswick Regional Court
Despite this result, Krall Metal Congo S.c.a.r.l. brought an action against us on behalf of Krall Metal Congo scarl in March 2005 concerning the same matter before Brunswick Regional Court. The lawsuit was dismissed at the first hearing as being inadmissible and unfounded. Krall could not only not present any evidence for its allegations – in the view of the court, not even the ownership of the said mine was “conclusively presented”.
Interestingly, the statement of the complaint is published on the website niob.cc, not, however, the court’s negative ruling for Krall.

3. Renewed attempt to institute OECD proceedings through the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor
Krall thereupon attempted once again in November 2005 – this time directly through the Austrian OECD contact office – to institute proceedings in the same matter against H.C. Starck. It was apparently able to convince the Austrian authorities that the prerequisites for proceedings “viewed overall, at least seem possible”. The Austrian contact office finally closed the file in May 2006 because Krall could not provide any evidence for its allegations.

Bayer AG announces the sale of H.C. Starck

info@hcstarck.com (HC-Strack) — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0200

The Bayer Group is planning to significantly strengthen its HealthCare business by acquisition. In line with this decision, the board of management has determined to offer for sale their subsidiary companies H.C. Starck and Wolff Walsrode.

H.C. Starck has been a valuable and appreciated addition to the Bayer MaterialScience portfolio. “For us, the separation brings regrets, but, at the same time, we are filled with great confidence for the future of H.C. Starck”, BMS- Chairman of the Board, Dr. Hagen Noerenberg, comments this step. ”Within the last few years, we worked together intensely on a wide range of high level innovations. Regardless of the current changes, this overall positive and trustful cooperation remains a solid basis for the further development of shared projects in the future.”

“H.C. Starck has a strong tradition, is now leaner and more competitive than ever and has outstanding potential for growth”, emphasizes H.C. Starck Managing Director, Dr. Heinz Heumueller. In 2005 sales revenue grew by 31 percent to 920 million Euros. “We are fully committed to uphold our tradition as a solid employer for our staff, a valued business partner for our clients, and a good neighbor at our sites. Both company management and employees will ensure that the business relationships will be continued to the fullest satisfaction of all partners.

At this point it is too early to comment on the further development and timing of the sale. In the interest of all involved parties, the next steps will be initiated as soon as possible.