Based in Huntsville, Ala., ATI prides itself on being a leader in the tungsten powder industry

Premier Business Partners:

Tungco Inc. Dynalloy Industries, Inc.

The high cost of raw materials has encouraged ATI Alldyne – which produces tungsten, tungsten carbide and molybdenum powders – to manufacture more of its products from recycled materials. “The costs of raw material, primarily ore, used to make these powders have doubled or tripled in the past few years,” Vice President Jim Oakes says. “This is due in large part to the rapid growth of the Chinese economy.”

Tungsten and cobalt are the main metals used to produce cemented carbide cutting tools.  Approximately 80 percent of global tungsten ore reserves are in China, which has limited or prohibited their export, he explains.  

However, tungsten-based scrap material is readily available anywhere in the world. For example, when worn-out tungsten carbide tools are discarded, more than 95 percent of the original metal weight is available for recycling into new tools.  

Having the technology to convert this scrap back to useful products has been a core competency of ATI Alldyne for more than 30 years. “We recognize the value that recycling plays in helping ATI Alldyne’s customers stay competitive in markets that are increasingly global,” Oakes says.

For example, used tools contain cobalt as well as tungsten, both of which are valuable enough that recycling worn-out tungsten carbide tools makes good economic sense, he explains.  

ATI Alldyne’s processes, which allow both metals to be recovered, also make good sense for preserving the environment, he continues.

Global Customer Base
Based in Huntsville, Ala., ATI Alldyne prides itself on being a leader in the tungsten powder industry. “Our goal is to be the supplier of choice for tungsten-based specialty powders,” Oakes stresses. “The extensive experience and knowledge of tungsten technology that our employees have developed allows us to produce customized solutions for our customers.  

“The R&D group actively develops new products and processes that enable our powder products to be on the cutting edge,” he adds. “This focus on providing our customers with world-class products and service is the key to achieving our goal.”

The company primarily serves the global oil and gas, aerospace, medical and defense markets. “Our position in the U.S. is significant,” Oakes says. “We are one of the two main domestic manufacturers of tungsten powders.

“However, our markets are global,” he points out. “We sell our products to customers worldwide, primarily Europe, Asia and North America.”