The materials that Plansee Group produces from powder metallurgy seem taken from a science fiction novel – molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum, and tungsten-based composites.

But this periodic table of elements boil down to a simple value proposition – strong metals for strong products.

Plansee’s high-melting refractory metals are extraordinarily durable, which makes them ideal for numerous high-tech applications – including custom machined components for the semiconductor, energy sector, medical market, along with applications within aerospace and defense.

“As an innovation partner, we develop custom solutions for high-tech applications together with our customers. Our products are durable, efficient, and sustainable—and therefore perfect for extreme conditions and maximum precision,”  stated Harald Selb; President / CEO of Plansee USA LLC.

And now, Plansee is the recipient of AIM’s Excellence in Manufacturing Award for July. AIM will honor the company during its Manufacturing Day at the State House on July 8^th .

Founded in 1921 as a maker of tungsten wire in Reutte, Austria, Plansee is a global enterprise employing some 3,500 people at more than 12 production sites in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Plansee is a key partner to many industrial emerging technologies.

The Plansee USA was established in 1929 and provides a state-of-the-art production site in Franklin, MA. The facility now employs approximately 150 people producing CNC machined and fabricated components made of tungsten and molybdenum.

One of the company’s priorities in Franklin has been to train the next generation of skilled manufacturing workers.

Faced with an ongoing shortage of skilled labor—particularly in CNC machining – Plansee established a Manufacturing Training Center to provide a comprehensive blend of hands-on training and technical instruction, equipping participants with the advanced skills required to thrive in a modern CNC machining environment. Through a structured program combining classroom education with practical, real-world application, graduates developed expertise in machining processes, quality standards, workplace safety, and collaborative teamwork.

The Center recently graduated its fifth class of trainees.

“This program demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing in people and building a strong, skilled workforce,” said John Sousa, Manufacturing Training Center Leader. “Our graduates have shown exceptional dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to learn—qualities that will support their continued success in manufacturing.”

The training initiative underscores Plansee USA’s broader commitment to workforce development and community engagement. By fostering technical skills and career growth opportunities, the program plays a vital role in strengthening both the company and the regional manufacturing landscape.

The art and science of manufacturing built the Massachusetts economy, from Charles Goodyear producing the first vulcanized tire in Woburn in 1813 to bioscience companies like Takeda producing state-of-the-art medicines in the Commonwealth today. And though manufacturing companies employ about half the number of people they did three decades ago, the sector remains a critical conduit for economic opportunity and advancement.

It’s one of the reasons that AIM devotes much of its public-policy efforts to supporting manufacturers in areas such as taxation, sustainability, energy and regulation.

Approximately 230,000 people work at manufacturing companies here, 7 percent of the Commonwealth’s total non-farm payroll. Manufacturing is expected to contribute $64 billion in economic output this year – 9.6 percent of the Massachusetts gross state product.