WMF Fusiontec: How Germany's PTFE-Free Cookware Is Made

How WMF Fusiontec is made: 20 natural minerals fused to steel in Germany. No PTFE or PFAS, 30-year warranty.

By Matthew Joyce, Michael Joyce Ltd, official New Zealand distributor of WMF

 WMF Fusiontec Mineral Pro cookware set in Platinum

The short answer: WMF Fusiontec is cookware made by melting more than 20 natural minerals, such as quartz and feldspar, into a glass and fusing it onto an almost pure iron-steel core at 860°C. There is no PTFE (Teflon-type) non-stick layer, so nothing can flake off into food. Every piece is made and hand-inspected at WMF's factory in Riedlingen, Germany, and carries a 30-year warranty on its inner and outer surfaces.

More Kiwi cooks are asking what their pans are actually made of. Concern about "forever chemicals" (PFAS) has pushed many people away from traditional non-stick. Fusiontec answers that question differently from most cookware: instead of a polymer coating sitting on top of metal, the cooking surface is a mineral glass fused into the steel itself.

This guide covers how Fusiontec is made, what is and isn't in it, how it compares with other cookware, and how to look after it so it lasts decades.

How WMF Fusiontec is made in Riedlingen, Germany

Fusiontec is made in five stages at WMF's cookware factory in Riedlingen, which WMF describes as its competence centre for glass ceramics. The process is closer to making fine glassware than to coating a pan.

1.       Melting the minerals. More than 20 natural minerals, including quartz and feldspar, are melted together at about 1,300°C. The melt is quenched in cold water and sets into a glassy granulate, which becomes the Fusiontec surface.

2.       Shaping the core. A special steel core made of almost pure iron is deep-drawn into the shape of each pot or pan. The iron core is what makes Fusiontec work on induction.

3.       Fusing the layers. The mineral glass is applied in layers and fired onto the steel one layer at a time at 860°C. The result is a single, inseparable piece with two or three layers.

4.       Finishing the rim. The pouring rim is polished, plated and sealed with chromium to protect it from corrosion and chipping.

5.       Hand inspection. Handles are fitted and every piece gets a final quality check by hand before it leaves the factory.

WMF states that its quality management is certified to ISO 9001 and its environmental management to ISO 14001.

Why it matters: because the minerals are fused into the steel at high temperature, the surface is not a separate layer glued or sprayed on top. WMF backs this with a 30-year warranty on the inner and outer Fusiontec surfaces, which is far longer than any coated non-stick pan.

Is WMF Fusiontec PFAS-free and PTFE-free?

Yes. Fusiontec has no PTFE (the plastic polymer behind Teflon-type non-stick), and PTFE is the main source of PFAS in cookware. The cooking surface is made from fused mineral glass, not a fluoropolymer.

Here's what that means in practice:

•         No PTFE or PFAS non-stick layer. WMF lists Fusiontec frying pans as PFOA-free, and European retailers list the range as PTFE-free and PFAS-free.

•         Non-porous and hygienic. The glass-like surface doesn't absorb flavours, odours or bacteria, and is dishwasher safe.

•         Nickel-free. WMF's product specs describe the Fusiontec material as nickel-free, a plus for people with nickel sensitivity.

•         Nothing to flake off. The surface resists cuts and scratches, even from metal utensils, so there's no coating to wear through into food.

Honest note: Fusiontec is not a non-stick pan. Its very smooth surface can actually make starchy foods like rice and pasta stick more than they would in stainless steel. Preheat on medium, add a little oil or butter, and stir starchy foods. Our PFAS-free pans guide compares Fusiontec with ceramic non-stick options if easy release matters most to you.

Fusiontec vs other cookware materials

WMF designed Fusiontec to combine the best trait of each classic cookware material in one. WMF bases these claims on scientific literature and its own internal tests (2020).

Key specs at a glance: works on all cooktops including induction; oven-safe to 250°C without the lid (180°C with the glass lid on most pieces); remove the silicone handle sleeve on frying pans before oven use; made in Germany; 30-year surface warranty.

Shop the WMF Fusiontec range in New Zealand

Michael Joyce Ltd stocks Fusiontec cookware sets, frying pans, roasters and woks, with free delivery anywhere in New Zealand. Prices below are current as of 27 October 2026.

Browse the full WMF Fusiontec collection →

How to cook with and care for Fusiontec

Fusiontec is built to last 30 years, and a few simple habits keep it looking new:

•         Use low to medium heat. Fusiontec heats fast and holds heat well, so high heat is rarely needed.

•         Preheat, then add fat. Warm the pan briefly, then add a little oil or butter before the food goes in.

•         Stir starchy foods. Rice, pasta and potatoes can stick to the very smooth surface, so stir and don't let them boil dry.

•         Hand wash when you can. Fusiontec is dishwasher safe, but WMF recommends warm soapy water and a soft sponge to keep the finish at its best.

•         Soak stubborn residue. Soak first, then use a non-scratch scourer.

•         Remove the silicone sleeve from frying pan handles before putting the pan in the oven.

For more, see our guide on how to clean and look after your frying pans.