March 18, 2026

Advancing Materials Science Through Collaboration:
CERATIZIT at the 21st Plansee Seminar

The 21st Plansee Seminar — officially the International Conference on Refractory Metals and Hard Materials — was hosted by the Plansee Group and brought together 530 participants from 30 countries at the Plansee Group’s headquarters in Reutte, Austria, in June 2025. The event continued a tradition of scientific exchange that began in 1952. Founded by Dr. Paul Schwarzkopf, a pioneer in powder metallurgy, the seminar reflects his view that collaboration is more important than competition — a principle that continues to define one of the world’s leading platforms for refractory metals, hard materials, and powder‑metallurgical processing.

Over more than seven decades, the event has evolved into a central forum for global knowledge exchange. While early editions covered a broad range of powder metallurgy, today’s program focuses on refractory metals, hard materials, and surface engineering, and spans the full spectrum from fundamental research to industrial applications. The seminar combines scientific presentations, poster sessions, and networking, with strong international participation and special focus on students.

CERATIZIT’s Role: Turning Shared Knowledge into Industrial Impact

As co‑host alongside the Plansee Group’s second business area, Plansee HPM, CERATIZIT helped drive this global exchange and contributed across multiple research areas. Our teams and partners presented work that connects materials innovation with digitalization and sustainability.

Discussions took place around key topics such as:

AI, Machine Learning & Data Driven Process Optimization

We are advancing predictive, data driven approaches in coating and carbide development.

Why it matters: Faster learning cycles, fewer experiments, lower environmental impact, and better first time right outcomes.
Advanced Microscopy & Atom Probe

Next generation characterization tools reveal how microstructure influences performance.

Why it matters: More accurate nanoscale insights lead to better coating and carbide design and more robust quality control.
Coatings Innovation: TiAlN Across PVD, CVD & HiPIMS

We are shaping future TiAlN solutions with improved performance, sustainability, and manufacturability.

Why it matters: Smart chemistry, architecture, and flexible process routes deliver durable, oxidation resistant coatings with lower environmental impact

Binder Systems & Alloy Design (with Ru)

Binder engineering is key for toughness, fatigue resistance, and microstructural stability.

Why it matters: Adjusting interphase populations with Ru enables strong, stable carbides for demanding thermo mechanical conditions.
Magnetic Methods & Micromagnetics

Magnetic signals are emerging as non destructive indicators of material structure for hardmetals.

Why it matters: Faster quality control and improved property prediction with the help of AI.
Micromechanical Testing & Reliability

Reliable measurement leads to reliable design.

Why it matters: High quality data accelerates development and avoids both under and over engineering.

Additive Manufacturing of Carbides

We are advancing AM hard metals toward real world industrial use.

Why it matters: Standard carbide grades combined with smart geometries enable lighter, resource efficient tools without compromising performance.
Recycling & Circularity

We are closing the loop on critical raw materials.

Why it matters: With tungsten and cobalt classified as critical materials, strong recycling capabilities support supply security and CO₂ reduction.

These topics reflect CERATIZIT’s long term commitment to materials science, responsible resource use, and delivering industrial solutions with measurable performance.

Innovation Needs a Talent Pipeline

_{A group of participants arrives together, engaging in conversation as they walk toward the event venue.}

The seminar’s technical presentations highlighted major progress in materials research, machining, and sustainability. But they also showed a clear challenge: the industry needs new talent to carry these innovations forward.

This commitment to talent development was also reflected in the dedicated Student Dinner, held for the first time at the 21^st Plansee Seminar, where students and young professionals had the chance to engage directly with researchers, engineers, and industry leaders. The event created an open forum for questions, career insights, and genuine connections—demonstrating how collaboration across academia, industry, and research can accelerate both innovation and future-ready talent.This commitment to talent development was also reflected in the dedicated Student Dinner, held for the first time at the 21^st Plansee Seminar, where students and young professionals had the chance to engage directly with researchers, engineers, and industry leaders. The event created an open forum for questions, career insights, and genuine connections — demonstrating how collaboration across academia, industry, and research can accelerate both innovation and future-ready talent.

Dr. Christoph Czettl, R&D Manager at CERATIZIT Group and a key contributor to the seminar, emphasized the global skills gap:

"Technology alone won’t solve the future of manufacturing. Without new generations of machinists, engineers, and researchers, even the most advanced tools and processes will remain underutilized."

_{Dr. Christoph Czettl, R&D Manager at CERATIZIT Group.}

Manufacturing itself is changing quickly. Today’s shop floor is digital, simulation‑driven, AI‑assisted, and highly precise. It is a modern technology environment that offers meaningful and exciting career opportunities for young people.

This progress relies on cooperation between universities, technical schools, research institutions, and the companies that turn innovation into real‑world impact. This spirit of shared learning reflects the core purpose of the Plansee Seminar, accelerating the transfer of new technologies from research labs to production floors.

Sustainability is also playing a stronger role in attracting new talent. Circular‑economy initiatives, carbide recycling programs, and CO₂‑reduction strategies don’t just improve environmental performance; they resonate with young people who want their work to have purpose. When manufacturing aligns its technological ambitions with meaningful sustainability goals, it becomes a sector where talent can contribute to both innovation and impact.

Dr. Czettl summarized this shift in three points:

The skills gap is global, and innovation depends on people.
Manufacturing is now a true technology field shaped by digital machining, simulation, and AI.
Sustainability isn’t just good practice; it attracts talent because people want their work to have purpose.

Advancing Metallurgy Together

_{Participants seated in the conference hall, focused on the speaker’s insights.}

The 21^st Plansee Seminar showed why it remains one of the most important events in the metallurgy community. It brings together experts from around the world, connects scientific progress with industrial needs, and supports the next generation of professionals entering the field.

For CERATIZIT, co-hosting the event reinforces our responsibility to help drive advances in materials science, share knowledge openly, and support the development of skilled talent worldwide. Our secure supply chain as part of the Plansee Group adds resilience to our innovation efforts and reinforces CERATIZIT’s role as a dependable partner to the industry. The seminar’s presentations — from AI‑enabled process optimization to circular solutions for critical raw materials — show the strength of global collaboration. At the same time, the conversations between students, researchers, and industry leaders highlight the need to prepare the workforce of the future.

As the industry moves through rapid technological change and faces a shortage of skilled experts, events like the Plansee Seminar remain essential. They ensure that innovation, knowledge, and talent continue advancing together.