An independently managed industrial diamond group, Element Six is the world's leading supplier of high quality superabrasives and industrial diamond materials.
These include synthetic and natural diamonds and complementary superabrasive cubic boron nitride (CBN).
Diamond and CBN products are mainly used in the manufacture of tools for applications including drilling, sawing, cutting, grinding and polishing of different materials such as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, natural stone and concrete, wood based materials, plastics, glass, and ceramics.
Recent additions to the product range are a group of chemical vapour deposition diamond products. These engineered materials are suitable for use in medical, optical, radio frequency, thermal management and precision applications.
Element Six is an important manufacturer and supplier of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) for drill bits used in oil and gas well drilling. PCD bits are designed to remove rock by shearing rather than by crushing or grinding as is the case with conventional "roller cone bits".
This is possible because PCD combines the hardness and abrasion resistance of diamond with the impact resistance of tungsten carbide.
2008 Outlook
In 2007 Element Six acquired Barat Carbide, formerly the Hard Materials division of Boart Longyear. With this Element Six acquired significant materials competence in carbide as well as market channels and application know-how in mining, road constructions and for wear parts.
The acquisition of Barat Carbide is an important step for Element Six in its ambitious programme of generating US$1 billion in revenue growth over the next few years. It supports the company's goal of bringing novel material engineering solutions to a broad range of new markets and applications.
Looking ahead, the prospects for further growth in oil and gas will continue. Cutting tools are also forecast to grow, benefiting from the continued effect of substitution of traditional materials used in metal cutting.
A new business structure for the Element Six group will be put in place with a stronger focus on proximity to the customer base and customer service.