On October 9, Kyocera announced that it will build a refining facility
within one of its plants in Japan
to recover tungsten carbide, the main raw material for cemented carbide,
from used cutting tools.
Using a proprietary technology that utilizes naturally derived amino acids,
the company aims to shorten the recycling process
and contribute to resource circulation and a stable supply.
Operations are scheduled to begin in fiscal 2030.
What Was Announced: A Facility That Turns Used Tools Back into Raw Material
The new facility will recover tungsten carbide from used cutting tools.
The announcement concerns plans to build the facility;
it does not announce the start of operations.
The initiative has been certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
as a supply assurance plan for securing a stable supply of critical minerals.
According to Kyocera, tungsten is the main raw material for cutting tools
used in manufacturing automobiles, aircraft, and other products,
and is also a critical mineral used in semiconductors and electronic components.
Japan relies on imports for much of its domestic consumption,
and securing a stable supply has become a challenge
amid growing global demand and rising supply risks.
What Changes: Shortening the Recycling Process with Amino Acids
Kyocera has developed a proprietary technology
called the “amino acid shortened process,”
which uses naturally derived amino acids.
The company says the technology shortens the process,
allowing tungsten carbide to be recovered efficiently from used cutting tools.
It aims to promote resource circulation and reduce environmental impact.
The announcement does not provide specific figures,
such as how much the process is shortened, recycling capacity,
or reductions in environmental impact.
The effects of the technology are based on the company’s description,
and the facility is planned to begin operating in fiscal 2030.
Adding Recycling to Longer Tool Life, Reuse, and Collection
Kyocera has been working to extend the life of cutting tools,
reuse them through regrinding, and collect used tools.
With the new facility, it will further strengthen resource circulation.
The company says this will contribute to a stable supply of tungsten
and a more resilient supply chain.
LC Signal’s Perspective: Making Use of Tools as Raw Material After Their Life Ends
This plan adds a raw material recovery facility
to Kyocera’s existing efforts to extend tool life, regrind, and collect tools.
It connects efforts to use tools longer
with efforts to make use of their materials after use.
For tungsten, which depends heavily on imports,
using spent tools as a source of supply is a concrete step.
With operations scheduled for fiscal 2030,
it will take time before the facility contributes to actual supply.
Once the company shows how much raw material it can recover,
its contribution to a stable supply should become clearer.
Key Sources
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Kyocera official announcement (Japanese):
京セラ、使用済み切削工具を再資源化する製錬設備を国内に新設
This article was prepared with AI assistance using publicly available information
as of October 10, 2026.
Announcement dates follow the dates shown on the official pages.
Plans to build and operate the facility
are distinguished from current activities.
“LC Signal’s Perspective” reflects this publication’s interpretation
of the available information.