September 01, 2026

In a recent interview with MM Maschinenmarkt, CERATIZIT Executive Board Member Oliver Sax shared his perspective on the factors shaping the future of manufacturing and why long-term thinking has become more important than ever.

A key theme of the discussion was resilience. As geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain disruptions and raw material volatility continue to challenge manufacturers worldwide, Oliver Sax highlighted the importance of building sustainable competitive advantages over decades rather than reacting to short-term market trends.

One example is CERATIZIT's longstanding investment in tungsten recycling and circular economy capabilities. Long before sustainability became a major industry focus, the company invested in technologies and infrastructure to recover and reprocess valuable raw materials. Today, these capabilities allow CERATIZIT to recover more than 90% of materials through recycling, helping to strengthen supply security for customers while reducing dependence on external sources.

Oliver Sax also emphasized the growing importance of securing raw material supply. With a large share of global tungsten reserves concentrated in China and increasing pressure on availability, reliable access to materials has become a critical concern for manufacturers. A vertically integrated approach, combined with advanced chemical reprocessing capabilities, helps provide customers with greater stability and continuity even in highly volatile market conditions.

Looking at the broader business environment, Oliver Sax described adaptability as an ongoing management responsibility. Through a "Resilient by Design" approach, CERATIZIT continuously evaluates geopolitical, technological and market developments to ensure it can respond quickly to changing customer needs while maintaining a long-term strategic focus.

Finally, Oliver Sax reflected on the deep materials expertise that has been built within CERATIZIT over more than a century. He highlighted this scientific and technological foundation as a key enabler of innovation and a critical factor in the company's ability to continue supporting customers in an increasingly complex world.