Manufacturer of tungsten carbide cutting tools and wear protection components for industry and mechanical engineering
Kennametal, Inc.
Latrobe, Pennsylvania (US) · Fürth (DE) · Essen (DE) · Schongau (DE)New on Amplifa
About Kennametal
Kennametal is a US manufacturer of high-performance cutting tools and engineered components headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1938 by metallurgist Philip M. McKenna after he developed a patented tungsten-titanium carbide alloy. The product portfolio includes indexable inserts, milling cutters, drills, threading tools and sawing tools for metalworking as well as components for aerospace, defense, transportation, oil and gas drilling, mining and road construction. Manufacturing comprises carbide tools, metal powders and wear-resistant coatings such as Conforma Clad and Stellite. The company grew through acquisitions, including Hertel AG in Fürth (1993), Widia GmbH in Essen (2002) and the Sintec Group in Schongau (2006). Kennametal has been listed on the stock exchange since 1977 and supplies customers worldwide.
- Site
- Latrobe, Pennsylvania
- Processes
- Manufacturing of carbide cutting tools (tungsten-titanium carbide alloy), Wear protection coatings (Conforma Clad, Stellite), Extrude Hone (abrasive flow machining), Metal powder production, Manufacturing of indexable insert systems, Production of vanadium alloys / tool steel, Custom Engineering
- Materials
- Tungsten-titanium carbide alloy (Kennametal), Carbide (hard metal), Tool steel with 18% tungsten, Vanadium alloy (VASCO), Tantalum carbide, Stellite, Tungsten carbide (kinetic projectiles), Tungsten carbide
- Founded
- 1938
- Industries
- Aerospace, Defense, Transportation, Oil and gas drilling, Mining, Road construction
- 01
Material development (carbide alloys)
- 02
Metal powder production
- 03
Tool manufacturing
- 04
Coating/wear protection
- 05
Distribution (WIDIA Products Group, Kennametal Products Group)
Materials & Processes
Tungsten-titanium carbide alloy (Kennametal)
Patented founding alloy, harder than tool steel, for the first time enabling high-speed steel turning.
Tungsten carbide
Main constituent of carbide cutting tools; also used for kinetic projectiles during World War II.
Tantalum carbide
Basis of Philip McKenna's early tool experiments before the founding of Kennametal.
Tool steel with 18% tungsten
High-speed steel developed by A. G. McKenna in 1900 with significantly increased cutting speeds.
Vanadium alloy (VASCO)
The addition of vanadium nearly doubled cutting speed; basis of VASCO founded in 1910.
Stellite
Wear protection alloy for coated components of the Kennametal Products Group.
Conforma Clad
Process for wear-resistant coatings within the company's materials portfolio.
Locations
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
USHeadquarters
- Materials
- Carbide, tungsten-titanium carbide
Fürth
DESite (acquisition Hertel AG 1993)
Essen
DESite (acquisition Widia GmbH 2002)
- Materials
- Carbide
Schongau
DESite (acquisition Sintec Group 2006)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing of carbide cutting tools (tungsten-titanium carbide alloy)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Tungsten-titanium carbide, Carbide |
| Wear protection coatings (Conforma Clad, Stellite)Surface | – | – | – | – | Stellite, Carbide |
| Extrude Hone (abrasive flow machining)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Metal powder productionCasting | – | – | – | – | Metal powder (carbide/tungsten carbide) |
| Manufacturing of indexable insert systemsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Carbide |
| Production of vanadium alloys / tool steelEngineering | – | – | – | – | Tool steel with 18% tungsten, vanadium alloys |
Additional services
History
- 1910
Founding of the Vanadium Alloys Steel Company (VASCO) by the McKenna family
- 1938
Philip M. McKenna founded Kennametal after developing a patented tungsten-titanium carbide alloy
- 1940
Founding of Kennametal of Canada Ltd.; distribution agreement with United States Steel Export Company for foreign markets
- 1946
Invention of an indexable insert system that revolutionized the tool industry
- 1958
Start of international expansion
- 1969
Death of founder Philip McKenna
- 1977
IPO
- 1993
Acquisition of Hertel AG in Fürth
- 2002
Acquisition of Widia GmbH in Essen (EUR 188 million)
- 2005
Acquisition of Extrude Hone Corp. (USD 137 million)
- 2006
Acquisition of the Sintec Group in Schongau
- 2009
Consolidation of brands into WIDIA Products Group and Kennametal Products Group
- 2013
Acquisition of Allegheny Technologies' tungsten materials business (USD 605 million)
- 2020
COVID-19-related loss of USD 5.66 million
- 2024
Moody's confirmed Baa3 rating with stable outlook