When Tatiana Hainzl first started working in the tungsten industry, she didn’t even know what W03 was. Today, as Expert Strategic Raw Materials Purchasing at Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG, she’s navigating the complex world of tungsten oxide, impurities, and global supplier relationships with the expertise of someone who’s mastered one of the industry’s most demanding roles.
In Episode 103 of Cliff’s Notes, Cliff Nance sits down with Tatiana to explore her unexpected career path—from financial management to tungsten purchasing, and why that transition turned out to be one of the best moves she could have made.
A Career Built on Relationships
Tatiana’s story isn’t your typical industry trajectory. With a background as both a German and English teacher and a financial manager, she brought a unique combination of structure, communication skills, and analytical thinking to her role at WBH. When her contract for transitioning bookkeeping operations to India concluded, she was offered a chance to try something completely different: purchasing.
“I liked people, and I was thinking, why not try?” Tatiana recalls. “I was familiar with the company, I knew how it works, I knew everybody—it had a nice flair.”
That decision to step out of the finance office and into the world of supplier relationships, business trips, and daily negotiations marked a turning point. While finance kept her structured and organized, purchasing gave her what she was really craving: human connection.
“Finance people are more or less alone in their office,” she explains. “In purchasing, I meet many people per day. I go to business trips, conferences. And I like to talk.”
Understanding the Chemistry of Tungsten
Learning the technical side wasn’t easy. Tatiana had to quickly get up to speed on tungsten oxide (W03), conversion rates, impurities like arsenic and molybdenum, and the intricate chemistry that makes tungsten purchasing so complex. It’s not just about pounds or kilograms—it’s about understanding what’s in those materials and how to convert those measurements into accurate valuations.
Her financial background proved invaluable. “Financial people are the most structured people,” she says. “We like that everything is in the right place. There’s no chance for any chaos. Yeah, it helps.”
That structured mindset, combined with her previous experience purchasing timber, gave her the foundation she needed to succeed in an industry where precision matters and relationships are everything.
Why Tungsten Matters: Beyond Industrial Applications
One of the most compelling parts of the conversation is when Tatiana shares what excites her most about tungsten—and it’s not what you might expect. While many in the industry focus on cutting tools, defense applications, or industrial uses, Tatiana’s passion lies in tungsten’s medical applications.
“I like that it’s used in medical applications,” she shares. “I’m a little bit hypochondriac, so I like to go to doctors. Tungsten is a significant part of all these drilling machines and operational stuff. I’m happy that it also contributes to developing medicine further.”
Cliff shares a story about finding a small tungsten container in a scrap drum—probably the size of a drinking glass but weighing about 25 pounds. After researching it, they discovered it was used to safely transport dangerous cancer treatment medicines. These are the kinds of peaceful, life-saving applications that often get overlooked when people think about heavy metals and industrial materials.
“We also have to emphasize tungsten is also something peaceful and something that helps people, like medicine,” Tatiana adds. It’s a reminder that while tungsten plays a role in defense and industrial manufacturing, it’s also quietly saving lives in hospitals around the world.
Building Global Partnerships in Tungsten Recycling
Tatiana’s role at Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG places her at the heart of Europe’s tungsten recycling network. She works with suppliers across multiple countries, managing complex procurement operations that require technical knowledge, cultural awareness, and the ability to build trust across borders.
Her success in this role demonstrates what Tungco has always believed: that tungsten recycling is about more than just processing material. It’s about building lasting relationships with suppliers, understanding their needs, and creating partnerships that benefit everyone involved.
As Cliff notes in the conversation, “You play a very critical role, not only for Tungco, but for the tungsten industry at large.”
Life Beyond Tungsten: Pablo and Turning 45
The conversation also reveals the personal side of life in the tungsten industry. Tatiana recently celebrated her 45th birthday with a big party that required extensive planning—and careful management of Pablo, her brown Labrador who she calls “my kids.”
These personal touches remind us that behind every successful business partnership, there are real people with dogs, birthday parties, and lives outside the office. It’s this human element that makes Tungco’s approach to business different—and why relationships in this industry matter so much.
Why This Episode Matters
Episode 103 offers valuable insights for anyone in the tungsten industry or considering a career transition. Tatiana’s journey shows that:
– Career transitions are possible, even between very different roles like finance and purchasing
– Your unique background brings value—Tatiana’s financial training and teaching experience both contribute to her success
– Relationships matter more than transactions in the tungsten recycling business
– Understanding the peaceful applications of tungsten can be just as important as knowing the industrial ones
– Success in purchasing requires both technical knowledge and genuine human connection
Whether you’re a tungsten professional, someone considering the industry, or simply curious about the people behind the materials that power our world, this conversation offers an authentic look at what it takes to excel in global tungsten purchasing.
Listen to Episode 103
Ready to hear the full conversation? Listen to Episode 103 of Cliff’s Notes featuring Tatiana Hainzl, Expert Strategic Raw Materials Purchasing at Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG, and discover more about the journey from finance to the frontlines of tungsten purchasing.
Subscribe to Cliff’s Notes on your favorite podcast platform to never miss conversations with the people shaping the tungsten industry.
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About Tungco
Tungco specializes in tungsten carbide reclamation and raw feed supply to tungsten carbide suppliers and consumers worldwide. As a global leader in tungsten recycling, we believe in doing things the right way, not the easy way. We’re relationship builders who play the long game—metal movers with soul. Founded in 1969 by Steve Nance and led today by CEO Cliff Nance, Tungco operates globally with facilities across North America and Europe.
Learn more at www.tungco.com
