Top 10 Companies in the Germany Tellurium Target Market (2025): Material Innovators Powering Advanced Thin-Film Technologies

In Business Insights
June 10, 2025

The Germany Tellurium Target Market was valued at US$ 1.7 million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 2.3 million by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.2% during the forecast period (2024-2030). This growth is primarily driven by increasing demand from solar panel manufacturers using cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology, along with emerging applications in infrared optics, thermoelectric devices, and quantum computing research.

German firms are at the forefront of developing high-purity tellurium sputtering targets essential for thin-film deposition processes. In this analysis, we examine the Top 10 Companies in the Germany Tellurium Target Market—material science specialists combining precision engineering with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.


🔟 1. Umicore Thin Film Products

Headquarters: Hanau, Germany
Key Offering: 5N-6N purity Tellurium targets for CdTe solar applications

Umicore’s advanced materials division dominates the German tellurium target market with its ultra-pure materials for photovoltaic applications. The company has developed proprietary recycling processes to address tellurium scarcity concerns in the solar industry.

Material Advances:

  • Industry-leading 99.9995% purity levels

  • Customizable target geometries up to 3m²

  • Integrated tellurium recovery solution for solar panel manufacturers

Download FREE Sample Report: Germany Tellurium Target Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Heraeus Materials Solutions

Headquarters: Hanau, Germany
Key Offering: High-density tellurium targets for semiconductor applications

Heraeus specializes in tellurium sputtering targets for advanced memory applications, particularly phase-change memory devices. Their patented hot-isostatic pressing technology ensures superior target density and longevity.

Material Advances:

  • Density exceeding 99.7% of theoretical maximum

  • Precision alloy compositions for specific resistivity requirements


8️⃣ 3. Plansee PVD Materials

Headquarters: Reutte, Germany (EU operations)
Key Offering: Large-format rotating tellurium targets (>400mm diameter)

Plansee’s engineered solutions enable high-volume CdTe solar panel production through improved material utilization. Their rotating target technology reduces waste by up to 40% compared to planar targets.

Material Advances:

  • Integrated cooling systems for continuous operation

  • Advanced bonding technologies for improved heat transfer


7️⃣ 4. Tosoh SMD Germany

Headquarters: Düsseldorf, Germany (Japanese parent)
Key Offering: Ultra-high purity (7N) research-grade tellurium targets

Tosoh supplies German research institutions with tellurium materials for cutting-edge applications in topological insulators and thermoelectric materials. Their MBE-ready targets support atomic-level deposition control.

Material Advances:

  • Custom stoichiometry controls for complex tellurides

  • Sublimation-purified source materials

Download FREE Sample Report: Germany Tellurium Target Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Materion Advanced Materials Europe

Headquarters: Munich, Germany (US parent)
Key Offering: Tellurium alloy targets for thermoelectric applications

Materion’s German technical center develops advanced tellurium-bismuth-antimony compositions achieving record ZT values above 2.0. Their materials enable new waste-heat recovery systems for automotive and industrial applications.

Material Advances:

  • Precision multi-element doping capabilities

  • Nanostructured grain boundary engineering


5️⃣ 6. H.C. Starck Tantalum and Niobium

Headquarters: Goslar, Germany
Key Offering: Tellurium byproduct recovery and refining

This German specialty metals processor recovers high-purity tellurium from copper refinery anode slimes, providing domestic supply chain security. Their vertical integration ensures consistent quality for target manufacturers.

Material Advances:

  • Closed-loop recycling systems

  • Low-impurity tellurium powder production


4️⃣ 7. Kurt J. Lesker Europe

Headquarters: Dresden, Germany (US parent)
Key Offering: Custom tellurium target fabrication services

Lesker’s German operation provides rapid prototyping and small-batch production of specialized tellurium targets for research and specialty applications, with turnaround times under 3 weeks.

Material Advances:

  • Complex 3D target geometries

  • Multi-material bonded assemblies


3️⃣ 8. AIM Specialty Materials GmbH

Headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany (US parent)
Key Offering: HIP-processed tellurium targets

AIM’s German division manufactures hot-isostatic pressed tellurium targets with exceptional uniformity for high-power sputtering applications in infrared detector production.

Material Advances:

  • Density variations <2% across full target

  • Superior thermal shock resistance


2️⃣ 9. Ferrotec Europe

Headquarters: Berlin, Germany (Japanese parent)
Key Offering: Cost-effective bonded tellurium targets

Ferrotec’s German facility produces tellurium targets with proprietary indium bonding technology that reduces thermal stresses in high-power deposition applications.

Material Advances:

  • Stress-relieved bonding interfaces

  • Large-area target configurations


1️⃣ 10. American Elements Europe

Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany (US parent)
Key Offering: Nanostructured tellurium targets

American Elements supplies German researchers with specialized tellurium nanomaterials for emerging applications in flexible electronics and quantum dot synthesis.

Material Advances:

  • 2D tellurene development kits

  • Quantum dot precursor materials

Get Full Report Here: Germany Tellurium Target Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔬 Industry Outlook: Tellurium Targets Enabling Next-Generation Technologies

The German tellurium target market is evolving beyond traditional solar applications into cutting-edge fields like quantum materials and infrared sensing. German engineering combined with global material expertise positions the country as a crucial hub for high-performance tellurium products.

📈 Key Market Developments:

  • Solar sector transitioning to >6N purity targets for higher efficiency CdTe cells

  • Increasing tellurium recovery rates from 50% to over 85% through advanced recycling

  • Rising adoption in LWIR detectors for autonomous vehicles and industrial monitoring

  • Growing research investment in tellurium-based topological quantum materials

Get Full Report Here: Germany Tellurium Target Market – View in Detailed Research Report

These market leaders aren’t merely suppliers—they’re material innovation partners enabling breakthroughs across renewable energy, advanced electronics, and next-generation computing technologies.