Kennametal introduces exclusive additive tungsten carbide gradeenabling next-generation metal cutting tools
Kennametal Inc. announced a breakthrough in additive manufacturing that enables the rapid production of custom carbide hole-finishing tools with advanced features such as optimized cooling channels and complex geometries.
The new technology, KAF82, is the first additive manufacturing fully dense tungsten carbide grade of its kind to be commercialized at scale and with proven performance for metal-cutting applications, made possible by Kennametal's decades of expertise in powder metallurgy and sintering. Kennametal is debuting the offering at IMTS 2026 in Chicago.
With KAF82, solutions that traditionally required months of development and production can now be delivered in a matter of weeks, helping manufacturers accelerate new programs, respond quickly to changing requirements, and improve machining performance. Because the powder is not sold externally, the performance advantages of KAF82 are available exclusively to Kennametal customers, creating a differentiated offering that competitors cannot easily replicate.
"Bringing KAF82 to market reflects our strength in materials science and our ability to translate that into real-world manufacturing impact," said Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Carlonda Reilly. "Because we engineer our own powders and control the entire process, we can push the boundaries of additive manufacturing and help customers bring highly engineered custom hole-finishing tools to production faster. The result is advanced tooling solutions with optimized cooling, complex geometries, and the performance and reliability our customers expect."
Two major automotive OEMs have already successfully integrated custom tooling made with KAF82 into their production lines, demonstrating its ability to deliver performance and reliability in high-volume production environments.
"Additive changes the way customers think about metal cutting tools - from designing within constraints to engineering for performance," said Vice President of Technology Ed Rusnica, Kennametal. "With KAF82, we're helping customers move faster from concept to production while unlocking geometries and solutions that conventional manufacturing couldn't achieve."
Key benefits of KAF82 include:
- Shorter lead times for custom tooling solutions
- Increased design flexibility, including advanced coolant capabilities
- Rapid replacement of critical components
- Performance that matches or exceeds conventionally manufactured tools
- More efficient material usage, requiring less tungsten
- KAF82 supports a wide range of demanding applications across aerospace and defense, energy, general engineering and transportation.
The new grade is part of Kennametal's fully vertically integrated additive manufacturing capability, from proprietary powder production to process expertise in sintering and finishing. It builds on Kennametal's broader additive manufacturing leadership, where binder jet technology has already enabled breakthrough solutions for complex, high-wear applications that traditional methods could not achieve.
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