Dignitaries celebrate tungsten maker’s local expansion

Pinellas County is at the center of what local, state and German officials believe is a transformative moment for the tungsten manufacturing industry in the United States. 

Largo-based Astaras provides exclusive forms of tungsten heavy alloys in the Americas and celebrated the opening of an advanced manufacturing facility Wednesday at 11625 54th St. N. Tungsten is a rare, difficult-to-process metal formed from cosmic dust. 

The aerospace and defense industries increasingly rely on tungsten due to its unique properties. When asked how the new facility would impact the area, Commissioner Chair Brian Scott succinctly said, “future jobs.” 

“We have a good core right now of defense and aerospace manufacturing,” Scott told the Catalyst. “Are we going to have General Motors build a plant here? Probably not. But we can do more of this.” 

Attendees included Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly, a former brigadier general and lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, a lieutenant colonel in the German Air Force, the Consul General of Germany in Miami, Rep. Linda Chaney, five county commissioners and several other local and company officials. The IBG Group, an international holding company based in Cologne, Germany, owns Astaras. 

The event featured 10 speakers, a five-person panel and a tour of the new 14,000-square-foot facility.

Manufacturing tungsten heavy alloys in the U.S. bolsters national defense and benefits allies. The facility, once at full capacity, will employ about 60 people across three shifts. 

Asteras is filling new roles with local hires and will train people how to use its specialized equipment. “We have an opportunity for families to earn a decent living and, hopefully, remain here in our community,” said Commissioner Renee Flowers. 

“But I think more importantly, it shows our strong partnerships – not just nationally, but internationally,” she added. “I think it speaks to what the county has had at the forefront for a very long time.” 

The tungsten manufacturing process is notoriously difficult. It has the highest melting point of any metal, is nearly twice as dense as lead and ranks just below diamond on the hardness scale. 

Scott noted that “projects of this magnitude don’t happen overnight.” Pinellas County Economic Development, led by Dr. Cynthia Johnson, “provided invaluable assistance in finding the ideal building” for Astaras.

Facility manager Kent New said Duke Florida installed a “massive,” million-watt transformer to accommodate a hydrogen-powered furnace. Scott credited the City of Pinellas Park, “whose efficiency and commitment helped expedite this project.” 

The densely populated county ranks third in Florida and first in the region for manufacturing employment. Scott said nearly a third of the roughly 1,500 Pinellas manufacturers produce “vital parts” for the defense industry, “a sector where Asteras shines so incredibly brightly.” 

A hydrogen-powered furnace Astaras uses to melt tungsten.

Kelly noted that the Florida Department of Commerce has worked to strengthen partnerships in Germany. The state’s economy has increased from $1.1 trillion to nearly $8 trillion, more than many countries, and “so much of that has to do with the growth in manufacturing.” 

Kelly credited the county’s “tremendous” leaders and partners, including St. Petersburg College and the University of South Florida, for creating a “truly great ecosystem for supporting key industries.” 

The local expansion will play a crucial role in strengthening the domestic supply chain. Space Florida provided tax credits, as tungsten alloys shield interplanetary vessels and equipment from cosmic radiation. 

Dr. Steve Calwell, a technical expert and consultant, said hypersonic jets, gun-launched projectiles, earth-penetrating munitions and “missile-based warheads that disperse a cloud of high-density fragments to neutralize incoming threats” utilize tungsten heavy alloys. 

Consul General Christofer Burger called the event a “testament to the engineering prowess of German companies.” He also credited the “fantastic business environment” in Florida and Pinellas County. 

Burger believes the U.S. now has better access to a “trusted supply chain for very critical minerals.” He called it a win for America and allies like Germany, or “team freedom.” 

“We have an advantage that China will never have – we have friends and allies because we share the belief in freedom and democracy,” Burger continued. “That enables us to cooperate across borders and bring together the best talent, the best engineering, the best ideas and the best ingenuity we have to offer all over team freedom. 

“I think this investment here today is just such a perfect example of what we can achieve when we really take that approach to heart.”