Element Six manufactures synthetic diamond and hard-material solutions (including CVD diamond, tungsten carbide, CBN) for industry and high technology.
Element Six
Shannon, IE · Burghaun, DE · Springs, ZA · Harwell (near Oxford), UK · Portland (Gresham), USNew on Amplifa
About Element Six
Element Six is a manufacturer founded in 1946 of synthetic diamond, tungsten carbide and other superhard materials, with main locations in the UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa and the USA. The company belongs to the De Beers Group (Technologies division: 100%; Abrasives division: 60% De Beers Group, 40% Umicore) and employs more than 1,500 people. Its value creation encompasses proprietary synthesis and sintering platforms for synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide, CVD diamond synthesis, micronisation, machining and other value-add processes. Products are used among others in energy, machining, mining, thermal management, wear protection, semiconductors, optics and water treatment; Boron Doped Diamond (BDD), for example, is used for electrochemical oxidation of PFAS. The headquarters of the Global Innovation Centre is located near Oxford (Harwell); production sites are Shannon (Ireland), Burghaun (Germany), Springs (South Africa) and Portland/Gresham (USA, CVD diamond). Until 2002, the company operated under the name De Beers Industrial Diamonds.
- Site
- Shannon
- Processes
- Synthesis and sintering of superhard materials (synthesis/sintering platforms), Micronisation (micronising), Machining / machining, Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) diamond synthesis, Micronisation, Machining (Machining), Value-add processes, Sintering platforms
- Materials
- Synthetic Diamond (synthetic diamond), Tungsten Carbide (tungsten carbide), Cubic Boron Nitride (cubic boron nitride), CVD diamond, Boron Doped Diamond (BDD), Synthetic Diamond, Tungsten Carbide, Cubic Boron Nitride
- Certificates
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001
- Founded
- 1946
- Employees
- +1.500
- Industries
- Energy, Machining, Road, Mining & Construction, Thermal Management, Wear Protection, Semiconductors
- 01
Synthesis (High-Pressure-High-Temperature)
- 02
CVD diamond deposition
- 03
Sintering
- 04
Micronisation
- 05
Machining
- 06
Value-add processes
Materials & Processes
Synthetic Diamond
Hardest material with high tensile strength, chemical inertness, broad optical transmission and very high thermal conductivity for wear, cutting and high-technology applications.
Tungsten Carbide
Cemented carbide for wear parts and tools, e.g. picks for road and mining applications.
Cubic Boron Nitride
Grinding and cutting material for hard workpieces such as machine tools and automotive components.
CVD Diamond
Chemically deposited diamond film for optics, power electronics, thermal management and water treatment.
Boron Doped Diamond (BDD)
Electrochemically conductive diamond, e.g. in the Diamox™ solution for the oxidation of PFAS.
Sites
Shannon
IEProduction
- Materials
- Synthetic Diamond
Burghaun
DEProduction
- Materials
- Synthetic Diamond, Tungsten Carbide
Springs
ZAProduction
- Materials
- Synthetic Diamond, Tungsten Carbide
Harwell (near Oxford)
UKGlobal Innovation Centre (R&D)
Portland (Gresham)
USProduction (CVD diamond)
- Materials
- CVD Diamond
Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthesis and sintering of superhard materials (synthesis/sintering platforms)Casting | – | – | – | – | Synthetic Diamond, Tungsten Carbide |
| Micronisation (micronising)Machining | – | – | – | – | Synthetic Diamond, Tungsten Carbide |
| Machining / machiningMachining | – | – | – | – | Synthetic Diamond, Tungsten Carbide |
| Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) diamond synthesisAdditive | – | – | – | – | CVD diamond |
Additional services
Quality
All operational sites are equipped with integrated, certified management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001) following independent annual audits by SGS. The production sites Shannon (2021), Burghaun (2023) and Springs (2024) additionally hold ISO 50001 for energy management.
| Evidence | Shannon | Burghaun | Springs | Harwell | Portland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | |||||
| ISO 14001 | |||||
| ISO 45001 | |||||
| ISO 50001 |
History
- 1946
Founded by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer (Industrial Distributors), focus on industrial diamond use.
- 1956
Establishment of the Adamant Research Laboratory for diamond synthesis.
- 1959
Public announcement of successful diamond synthesis.
- 1961
Production plant in Springs, South Africa, begins operation.
- 1963
Plant in Shannon, Ireland (May).
- 1975
Acquisition of Charters (Sunninghill, Berkshire) as a research centre.
- 1992
Breakthrough in CVD technology.
- 1996
Takeover of the superabrasives distribution business of Ernst Winter (Germany).
- 2001
New diamond research laboratory opened in Springs.
- 2002
Renaming of De Beers Industrial Diamonds to Element Six.
- 2006
Majority stake in Poltava Diamond Plant (Ukraine); first Asian plant in Suzhou, China.
- 2007
Acquisition of Barat Carbide (cemented carbide parts).
- 2012
Acquisition of Megadiamond (Schlumberger); announcement of the Global Innovation Centre.
- 2013
Global Innovation Centre near Oxford opened.