European Cutting Tools Association
European Cutting Tools Association
European Cutting Tools Association
Metalworking must keep the raw material tungsten within its own cycle to achieve strategic independence
Frankfurt, December 9, 2025 – “Tungsten is a key raw material for cemented carbide tools, and we must keep it within the European cycle!” says Federico Costa, President of the European Cutting Tools Association (ECTA), and adds: “To secure essential raw materials for our industry in metalworking, we appeal to partners along the value chain to support the European recycling loop for cemented carbide.”
The current situation on the raw materials markets presents enormous challenges for the metalworking industry, especially regarding the raw material tungsten for cemented carbide. Since February 2025, there have been significant export restrictions on tungsten from China, which controls over 80 percent of global tungsten extraction and processing.
On the one hand, this leads to significant cost increases for tungsten imported from China. Particularly in the second half of 2025, the shortage of supply drove up costs enormously. Compared to the beginning of the year, the renowned market research agency Fastmarkets, for example, recorded a price increase of around 130 per cent for tungsten (APT) in November. On the other hand, a secure supply of tungsten for 2026 cannot currently be assumed. “Bottlenecks are foreseeable, so we must do more to ensure the availability of tungsten,” warns Costa.
Focusing on Recycling in Europe
For decades, recycling cemented carbide has been an ecological and economic success story. Ever more tool manufacturers offer take-back solutions for worn tools and cemented carbide scrap. These materials are used to produce new tools with a high recycled content, among other things – conserving resources and making economic sense. However, this success story is at risk if large quantities of cemented carbide scrap are bought up in Europe and moved outside the European single market. This deprives the market of valuable raw materials, drives costs even higher, and further endangers supply security. “Every gram of cemented carbide that remains in Europe is a gain for a more stable raw material supply and a resilient, competitive metalworking industry. Customers have it in their hands whether their used tools and cemented carbide scrap are recycled responsibly,” explains Costa.
Several industries compete for tungsten. Cemented carbide production represents the largest share of demand. Additional applications include high-performance steels, semi-finished products such as filaments for lighting, chemical processes, and the defense sector. At the same time, tungsten is a raw material with limited availability and high geographical concentration. Considering the instability in global politics, Europe would be well advised to become more resilient in this area. And addressing the political decision-makers in Brussels and Berlin, Costa emphasises: “We need to be more independent from overseas partners and consistently strengthen the circular economy, because the smartest approach is to reuse, refurbish and recycle in Europe.”
We are pleased to inform you that the next ECTA Conference will be organized from Thursday 7 May to Saturday 9 May 2026, kindly hosted by Boehlerit GmbH & Co KG.
The event will take place in the stunning city of Graz, Austria, known for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant atmosphere. The program promises to be diverse and engaging, featuring expert speakers and plenty of opportunities for networking and collaboration.
We look forward to welcoming you to Graz for an inspiring and memorable experience!
More than 100 decision makers and leading experts took part in the ECTA CONFERENCE 2025, the annual conference of the European Cutting Tools Association – the association representing European manufacturers of processing tools for industrial use - which returned to Italy after seven years and was held in the city of Turin from 20 to 22 March.
The Conference, organised by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Italian machine tools, robots and automation systems manufacturers' association, in cooperation with ECTA, the European Cutting Tools Association, represented a unique meeting opportunity to discuss and exchange views on the technical and economic developments in the sector. The event brought together the main players in the metalworking process, including manufacturers of cutting tools, inserts, tool materials, tool grinding machines, machine tool components and representatives from the academic and research world.
Austria, Australia, Belgium, South Korea, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Spain, United States and Switzerland were the countries represented by the attendees.
“We are very pleased – stated Federico Costa, president of ECTA – with the incredible attendance at the ECTA CONFERENCE 2025. The high interest confirms the importance of this event and the need for operators to meet and discuss the issues that are crucial for our industry, today and in the near future.”. “The city of Turin – added Costa – with its history, culture and strong tradition in the mechanical and automation sector, proved to be an ideal location to host both business activities and more informal side initiatives.”
The highlight of the three-day event was the conference on Friday 21, hosted in the historic setting of Palazzo Costa Carrù della Trinità. To open the work sessions, the welcome address by Federico Costa, followed by the speeches of Stefan Zecha, CEO of Zecha Hartmetall Werkzeugfabrikation and Chairman of VDMA Precision Tools; Manfred Grimm, Market Data and Statistics Specialist of VDMA Precision Tools; Mike Stokey, senior vice-president of USCTI and executive vice-president of Allied Machine & Engineering; Melissa Albeck, Member of the Executive Board of Ceratizit; Emilio Franco, CFA – Chief Executive Officer of Mediobanca SGR; Giuliano Noci, full professor of Strategy and Marketing and vice-rector for China at the Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano); Guido Saracco, full professor of Chemical Fundamentals of Technologies at the Polytechnic University of Turin and Jack Sintini, head of Training Department and Regional Sales Manager of Randstad and volleyball champion.
“The valuable content - said Federico Costa - presented during the conference on Friday, offered an accurate economic and geopolitical picture, with up-to-date data and future prospects for the sector. Moreover, issues such as Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation of production processes, together with more motivational insights, provided new food for thought and reflections for the business of operators in the sector”.
Not only business and in-depth thematic meetings: over the three days of the event, ECTA CONFERENCE 2025 also offered a rich social programme, an occasion for social, cultural and convivial gathering, really appreciated by all the attendees.
“I am proud to confirm – stated Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU – the excellent success of the ECTA CONFERENCE 2025, an initiative that met with the full satisfaction of all participants! For our association, it was an honour to organise, together with our colleagues from ECTA, this important event, which was able to attract so many operators from all over the world, as a testimony to Italy's central role in the manufacturing industry and mechanical and metalworking applications”. “The success of the Italian machine tool industry is also the result of the extensive and fruitful cooperation among our companies and their partners: among these, cutting tool companies play an important role. That is why the ECTA CONFERENCE is a crucial meeting opportunity not only for entrepreneurs and managers in the tooling industry, but also for manufacturers.”
“In a more and more digital world, the key factors in the event, such as the importance of personal relationships, the value of a continuous exchange of ideas and information among the various players of the modern supply chains are increasingly necessary to maintain the competitiveness of the enterprises in the sector. For this reason, - concluded Riccardo Rosa - UCIMU will be pleased to be able to organise this initiative again, on the occasion of the future edition that will be scheduled in Italy!”
“The success of the ECTA CONFERENCE 2025 – concluded Federico Costa – was made possible also thanks to the invaluable support of the numerous international sponsors, who actively contributed to the realisation of the event. Our thanks go to them!
The next ECTA CONFERENCE has already been scheduled from 7 to 9 May 2026 and will be held in Austria, in the city of Graz.”
The successful World cutting tools confernce (WCTC) in Osaka ended on 24 May!
This year's networking highlight of the cutting tool industry in 2024 took place in Osaka, Japan, organized by JTA, the Japan Cutting & Wear-resistant Tool Association.
Over 150 participants from 19 countries took part in the conference.
In addition to participants from Japan, the USA, Switzerland and Germany, representatives from South Korea, Italy, Spain, India, Austria, Ireland, Nigeria, Pakistan, Israel, France, Singapore, Thailand, China, Togo and Australia were also present.
Over four days, the participants not only experienced highly up to date topics from industry and science, but also an outstanding supporting programme with insights into Japanese culture.
The Asian market is of great importance to the European cutting tool industry.
Many customer industries are represented there with strong production capacities.
Even though demand was subdued last year, Asia remains the second most important export destination for tools manufactured in Europe. In 2023, cutting tools worth over 800 million euros were delivered to the region.
The WCTC 2024 was an ideal opportunity to establish or expand connections in this exciting region!
Next ECTC from 20 to 22 March 2025 in Turin, Italy!
The next networking event for the cutting tools industry will take place 2025 in Turin, Italy: the ECTC, organised by the Italian ECTA member association UCIMU.
We would already like to invite you to the European Cutting Tools Conference in Italy from 20 to 22 March.
We look forward to seeing you there!
