CeraNova

CeraNova
Name	CeraNova
Type	Private
Industry	Advanced materials
Founded	1998
Headquarters	Basel, Switzerland
Key people	Dr. Elena Morozova (CEO), Prof. Hans Keller (CTO)
Products	Ceramic composites, nano-oxide powders, thermal barrier coatings
Employees	1,200 (2025)

CeraNova

CeraNova is a multinational firm specializing in advanced ceramic materials, ceramic matrix composites, and related nanomaterials for high-performance engineering. The company develops thermal barrier coatings, wear-resistant ceramics, and additive-manufacturing feedstocks used across aerospace, automotive, energy, and biomedical sectors. CeraNova is noted for collaborations with research institutions and industrial partners to translate ceramic science into commercial applications.

Overview

CeraNova produces engineered ceramics and ceramic-based systems combining expertise from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, and Tsinghua University with industrial partners like Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, Siemens, and Toyota. Its product families include ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), thermal barrier coatings (TBCs), refractories, and nano-oxide powders used in 3D printing platforms developed alongside companies including Stratasys, EOS GmbH, and Desktop Metal. Corporate research programs have received grants from agencies such as the European Research Council, National Science Foundation (United States), and Swiss National Science Foundation. CeraNova's standardization efforts involve consortia including ASTM International, ISO, and the European Committee for Standardization.

History

Founded in 1998 by a group of materials scientists from ETH Zurich and entrepreneurs from Basel, CeraNova grew from a laboratory spin-off to a global supplier. Early milestones include licensing agreements with Rolls-Royce plc and joint development projects with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In the 2000s the company expanded into advanced coatings through collaborations with NASA centers and entered automotive markets via partnerships with Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company. Strategic acquisitions in the 2010s integrated capabilities from firms with histories at Corning Incorporated and 3M. In the 2020s CeraNova scaled additive-manufacturing feedstocks and opened manufacturing sites near Shanghai, Tampa, Florida, and Munich.

Materials and Technology

CeraNova's portfolio centers on silicon carbide, silicon nitride, alumina, zirconia, and mixed oxide systems developed for high-temperature and high-wear environments. R&D programs leverage techniques pioneered at Max Planck Society laboratories and academic groups at Caltech and Stanford University to optimize grain boundary chemistry, dopant strategies, and phase stability. The company utilizes sol-gel processing, chemical vapor deposition strategies influenced by work at Bell Labs, spark plasma sintering methods with roots in Dresden University of Technology, and additive-manufacturing formulations compatible with powder bed fusion and binder-jetting platforms. Nanostructured oxides and engineered interfaces draw on research from Argonne National Laboratory and Riken for enhanced fracture toughness and thermal conductivity. Surface-engineering efforts incorporate plasma-spray methods developed alongside Rolls-Royce research centers and thermal barrier chemistry informed by studies at Pratt & Whitney.

Applications

CeraNova materials serve in turbine engines produced by firms such as Pratt & Whitney, GE Aviation, and Safran. Automotive applications include lightweight brake components and high-temperature exhaust systems supplied to Volkswagen Group and Hyundai Motor Company. In energy, CeraNova provides refractory linings and corrosion-resistant ceramics for projects involving ExxonMobil refineries and Shell facilities, and supplies solid-oxide fuel cell components echoing research at Bloom Energy and Siemens Energy. Biomedical uses include bioceramic scaffolds and orthopedic coatings developed with research hospitals such as Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital and commercialized with medical-device firms like Stryker Corporation. Electronics and semiconductors use CeraNova dielectric ceramics and substrates for companies including Intel, TSMC, and Samsung Electronics.

Production and Manufacturing

Manufacturing integrates pilot-scale facilities and large-scale plants using processes accredited under standards from ISO 9001 and AS9100. Powder production employs high-purity precursor routes similar to those commercialized by Heraeus and Merck Group, with milling and spray-drying lines adapted from industrial partners such as Fives Group. Sintering and hot-isostatic pressing facilities are augmented by automation systems developed with integrators like ABB and Siemens. Additive-manufacturing feedstocks are produced to work with machines from GE Additive and 3D Systems, and quality control leverages metrology equipment from Hexagon AB and microscopy infrastructure from JEOL and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Logistics networks reach global OEMs and tier suppliers through distribution channels modeled on industrial supply chains used by Bosch and ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

Safety and Environmental Impact

CeraNova conducts health and safety programs aligned with guidance from World Health Organization and workplace standards from Occupational Safety and Health Administration and European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Occupational exposure controls address respirable ceramic powders following research and protocols developed at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Health and Safety Executive. Environmental management adheres to ISO 14001 systems; emissions controls and waste minimization reflect practices used in the chemical sector by BASF and DuPont. Recycling initiatives target ceramic scrap reclamation and reuse, with pilot projects for closed-loop recovery inspired by work at Apple Inc. and Patagonia on material circularity.

Market and Regulation

CeraNova operates in markets influenced by procurement cycles of defense and aerospace primes such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, regulatory frameworks from agencies including Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and trade policies negotiated among entities like the World Trade Organization. Intellectual property is protected through patents and licensing compatible with practices at IBM and Qualcomm, while export controls follow regimes administered by U.S. Department of Commerce and European Commission. Competition includes materials divisions of Corning Incorporated, Saint-Gobain, and specialty ceramics firms such as CoorsTek and Kyocera. Financial relationships include partnerships with investment firms and development banks similar to European Investment Bank and BlackRock for capital projects.

Category:Materials companies Category:Ceramics