MaterialsSorel-Tracy, Quebec, CanadaFounded 1950· One of 955 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse
Produces titanium dioxide feedstock, scandium oxide, pig iron and high purity iron for industrial applications including additive manufacturing.
CEO / Founder
Sophie Bergeron
Team Size
1001-5000
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$247.9M
Latest Round
Grant
Key Investors
Government of Canada; Canada Growth Fund; Québec Government
Technology & Products
Key Products
Titanium dioxide feedstock (UGS™, RTCS™, RTCS-A™); Scandium oxide; Pig iron and steel; High purity iron
Technological Advantage
Proprietary slag production technology (UGS™) yields 95% TiO2 content; in-house metal powder production for AM; patented processes for scandium extraction; 70+ years of metallurgical expertise.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides high-grade titanium dioxide feedstock, scandium oxide and specialized metallurgical products for industrial applications including additive manufacturing, reducing dependency on imported materials.
How They Differentiate
Vertically integrated from mine to metal powder; proprietary high-purity slag process (95% TiO2 vs. industry ~85%); only North American scandium oxide producer; supplies ~19% of global titanium dioxide feedstock.
Additive Manufacturing; Aerospace; Automotive; Paints and Coatings; Wind Energy
Competitors
AP&C; Carpenter Technology; Höganäs
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Plans to quadruple scandium oxide production capacity from 4 tonnes to up to 12 tonnes per year; investing up to C$733 million by 2030 to decarbonise operations; metal powder plant closed October 2025.
Major Milestones
1950: Founded in Sorel-Tracy; 2022: Became first North American producer of scandium oxide; October 2025: Permanently closed Sorel-Tracy metal powder plant for AM
Rio Tinto Fet et Titane (RTFT) occupies a distinctive position in the additive manufacturing materials supply chain as a vertically integrated producer that controls the full process from ilmenite mining to metal powder production. Its Sorel-Tracy, Quebec facility uses proprietary UGS slag technology to produce titanium dioxide feedstock with 95% TiO2 content, well above the industry average of approximately 85%. This feedstock serves as the raw material for high-purity titanium metal powders used in LPBF and other metal AM processes.
RTFT's product portfolio includes high-purity metal powders for additive manufacturing, titanium dioxide feedstocks branded UGS, RTCS, and RTCS-A, and scandium oxide. The company became the first North American producer of scandium oxide in 2022, a material used in high-performance aluminum-scandium alloys for aerospace and automotive applications. RTFT supplies roughly 19% of global titanium dioxide feedstock, giving it significant leverage in the upstream AM materials market.
The company serves additive manufacturing firms, pigment producers, and manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, and wind energy. Key partnerships include C$737 million in decarbonization funding from the Government of Canada and collaborations with Paul Wurth and SHS-Stahl-Holding-Saar on low-carbon steel production. RTFT plans to quadruple scandium oxide output from 4 tonnes to 12 tonnes per year and invest up to C$733 million by 2030 to decarbonize operations.
A notable strategic shift occurred in 2025 when RTFT announced the closure of its Sorel-Tracy metal powder plant for additive manufacturing, raising questions about its long-term commitment to the AM powder market. While the company retains its upstream feedstock and scandium capabilities, this exit from direct powder production may open opportunities for competitors such as AP&C, Carpenter Technology, and Höganäs to capture former RTFT customers.
Competitive Intelligence
Competitors, SWOT analysis, and investment insights