CERATIZIT S.A., Mamer, Luxembourg (Headquarters), 3 August 2023
CERATIZIT, a global leader in Cutting Tools and Hard Material Solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Andreas Fritz as President of the CERATIZIT Regional Unit Asia Pacific, effective May 1, 2023. In his new role, Mr. Fritz will oversee all CERATIZIT production and sales sites across Asia, as well as leading sales of branded cutting tool products throughout the region.
With over three decades of experience in leading positions in the cutting tool industry, Mr. Fritz brings a wealth of expertise to his new position. “Asia is already an enormously important market for CERATIZIT today and still offers a great deal of growth potential moving forward,” said Mr. Andreas Fritz. He will play a pivotal role in further strengthening the company’s presence in Asia and capitalizing on the region’s immense growth opportunities to further establish the brand as a market leader.
Beyond its strong position on the Indian market, CERATIZIT has a very robust foothold in China and other Asian countries through the CB-CERATIZIT joint venture, a fact that is especially true for the Hard Material Solutions segment. The local know-how coupled with the sales and production network CB-CERATIZIT provides form a solid foundation to further drive growth in the region. As part of the company’s global effort to become the sustainability leader in the hard metal and cutting tool industry, Mr. Fritz will also lead the implementation of sustainable practices across CERATIZIT’s operations in Asia.
“We are confident that Mr Fritz will be a catalyst for CERATIZIT’s expansion efforts in Asia on the way to becoming the third largest player in the carbide industry,” stated Thierry Wolter, CERATIZIT Executive Board Member.
CERATIZIT – with passion and a pioneering spirit for hard materials
For over 100 years, CERATIZIT, which is part of the Plansee Group, has been a pioneer in developing exceptional hard material solutions for machining and wear protection. The private company, with registered offices in Mamer, Luxembourg, develops and produces highly specialised cutting tools, indexable inserts, rods made from hard materials and wear parts. CERATIZIT is the global market leader in various application segments and successfully develops new carbide and cermet grades, such as for wood and stone working.
With more than 7,000 employees at more than 30 production facilities and a sales network with over 50 branches, CERATIZIT is a global player in the carbide industry. The company’s international network includes subsidiary Stadler Metalle and joint venture CB-CERATIZIT.
The technology leader is continually investing in research and development and holds more than 1,000 patents. Innovative hard material solutions from CERATIZIT are used in various sectors, including mechanical engineering and toolmaking, in the automotive and aerospace industries and in the oil, gas and medical industries.