Innovative, unswerving and closely following customer needs are Kennametal's consistent style since its establishment. Through years of research, metallurgist Philip M. McKenna invented tungsten-titanium cemented carbide in 1938. After this alloy was used in cutting tools, it made a major breakthrough in the cutting efficiency of steel. Kennametal tools have faster cutting speeds and longer lifespans, thus promoting the development of metal processing from automobile production to aircraft and the entire mechanical industry. Using this invention, Philip founded McKenna Metals Company in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Later, the company was renamed Kennametal, and now the company has become a leading company in the field of metal processing, and its headquarters is still located in Latrobe.

McKenna Metal initially had 12 employees and had annual sales of approximately $30,000 for the first year. However, during World War II, the United States' heavy industry entered a stage of rapid development. As the company's tools are widely used in the wartime economy, Kennametal's annual sales are close to $10 million and has nearly 900 employees.

After the wartime boom, Kennametal actively sought new ways to develop toughness and wear resistance of tungsten carbide alloys. In the mid-1940s, the company pioneered the application of cemented carbide tools to the mining industry, which led to the sustainable development of mining machinery. At the same time, Kennametal also applies tungsten carbide to products that require extremely high wear resistance, such as valves, molds, drills and snow plow scrapers.

Kennametal has a $30 million technology center in its global and North American headquarters in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Its supporting facilities are located in Rogers, Alaska, Bedford, Pennsylvania, Evans, Georgia, Fürth and Essen, Germany, and Israel. Shlomi and Bangalore in India, all of this has kept Kennametal in its technological leadership position. These facilities are committed to rapidly developing products designed to meet specific customer needs.

Kennametal is well versed in materials science, has professional technology and innovative capabilities, and provides good customer service. It aims to help the world take off, promote the world forward, empower the world and help build it. Kennametal’s tools, materials and wear-resistant solutions help customers extend runtime, speed cutting and improve machining accuracy. Kennametal is born for performance, with about 8,700 employees helping customers in nearly 100 countries solve problems and improve their competitiveness every day.

If a customer has a dream, Kennametal will help him realize his dream...For more than 85 years, Kennametal has always practiced this. Customers trust Kennametal to help them solve difficult problems and accomplish difficult tasks, all relying on Kennametal's innovative capabilities. From aerospace, general processing and transportation to road construction mining and energy industries, Kennametal is always committed to predicting future development directions to provide customers with an advantage. Kennametal not only manufactures products; it also provides solutions.