About Us
Why Choose TechForm?
Since 1995, TechForm has set the standard for excellence in casting platinum group metals. Originally founded as a specialist in high-temperature base metals and superalloys for the medical and aerospace industries, TechForm transitioned early on to serve the fine jewelry sector. Today, we are recognized as a premier casting partner for many of the most respected jewelry brands in the U.S. Our expertise lies in platinum and gold alloy casting, supported by a proprietary casting system and advanced post-cast thermal processing. This combination delivers exceptional precision, durability, and surface quality – attributes that make TechForm the trusted choice for designers and manufacturers who demand the very best.
We produce jewelry from customer-supplied designs, including engagement rings, wedding bands, pendants, earrings, and bracelets. Whether it’s a one-of-a-kind custom piece or a high-volume production run, TechForm delivers consistent quality and reliability. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, TechForm is led by President Sarah Loveland, who continues the legacy of innovation established by her parents, the company’s founders. Our leadership team brings decades of experience and a deep commitment to craftsmanship and customer service.
Founder Teresa Frye remains an influential voice in the jewelry industry, contributing technical research and thought leadership through global publications and conferences. Her work has appeared in Johnson Matthey Technology Review, MJSA Journal, JCK Magazine, and at events such as the Santa Fe Symposium and Jewelry Technology Forum. From the beginning, TechForm has operated with rigorous quality standards inspired by our aerospace roots. We maintain ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 compliant systems and achieved RJC certification in 2025, ensuring documented processes and environmental responsibility at every stage.
We also prioritize ethical sourcing. All alloys are procured exclusively from trusted suppliers such as Umicore Precious Metals, Stuller, United Precious Metals, Hoover & Strong, and Johnson Matthey, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and sustainability.
Continual Research
As a front-runner in platinum casting research, TechForm continues to explore platinum and casting-related technologies but our scope has recently broadened to include gold alloys. Our 2020 publication looked at the wear resistance of platinum versus gold alloys. This research supported the anecdotal knowledge of bench jewelers who have always touted the superior durability of platinum for jewelry. More recently, TechForm has been conducting detailed metallugical studies on gold alloys to match the level of knowledge and mechanical data we have for our platinum castings. Regardless of alloy, our study on the differences among 3D-printed pattern materials and technologies brings important comparisions to address market concerns of surface texture.
As technology advances, TechForm has stayed at the forefront of research to develop the casting process further and educate the industry on best practices for cast jewelry. All of this research is available for further reading here on our website or by reaching out. We would love to discuss your challenges and work together to develop solutions.
Our Expert Team
The Future at TechForm
The same spirit of research and development still drives TechForm over 30 years later. With Teresa’s daughter, Sarah, at the helm alongside long time TechForm veterans Kevin and Joel, TechForm continues to push the envelope and be at the forefront of precious metals casting. Embracing the early adoption of promising technologies, keeping one eye firmly on the future, and bringing a human touch to customer service is in the fabric of who we are.
Sarah Loveland
President
As the daughter of TechForm’s co-founders, Teresa and Helmut Frye, Sarah has been closely connected to the company since its founding and has worked in every department, from wax to casting, to janitorial, before pursuing college and adventure.
After a successful career in entrepreneurship and e-commerce, she returned to TechForm in 2014. Since then, she has played a central role in guiding the company’s strategic growth, expanding its sales operations, and strengthening its administrative infrastructure. Her leadership reflects a deep respect for TechForm’s legacy and a clear vision for its continued innovation.
Outside of her professional role, Sarah enjoys her family, gardening on a massive scale, and playing with goats on her farm just east of Portland, Oregon.
Kevin Mueller
VP of Operations
Kevin joined TechForm in 1997 during its pivotal transition from casting medical instrumentation to specializing in platinum alloys. Since then, Kevin has played a primary role in developing the advanced casting techniques that distinguish TechForm within the industry. With experience across every department, he now oversees company-wide operations, leads engineering for special projects, and drives ongoing research into process improvements.
As co-author of multiple technical publications with TechForm founder Teresa Frye, his research contributions include jewelry alloy wear resistance, photo-polymer resin casting, and hot isostatic pressing of platinum alloys.
On the outside, Kevin enjoys his family, collecting vintage jazz on vinyl, and endless home remodeling and carpentry.
Joel Meltzer
Director of Manufacturing
With a background in fine arts and a BFA in metalsmithing from the Oregon College of Art and Craft, Joel brings a creative and technical depth to the casting process. He joined TechForm in 2006 and has since gained hands-on experience across every stage of the company’s manufacturing operations.
Today, he leads facilities, equipment, and the CAD/CAM department, where he engineers sprue systems for optimal casting results and stays at the forefront of evolving print technologies. Joel’s broad knowledge of jewelry design, digital fabrication, and production workflows makes him an invaluable resource for solving complex casting and printing challenges.
Outside of TechForm, Joel enjoys long walks on the beach, expanding his impressive comic book collection, and savoring a well-made burrito.
Silas Morgan
Director of Business Development
Silas brings a distinctive blend of strategic finance, geoscience, and luxury market expertise to the company. With an academic foundation in geology, Silas offers a nuanced understanding of the natural materials that form the backbone of the jewelry industry. His professional background spans high-value wine auctions, private client services, and financial modeling for manufacturing and innovation sectors.
Since joining TechForm in 2025, he has drawn on this diverse experience to cultivate strategic partnerships, drive growth initiatives, and support the company’s mission of delivering unparalleled casting solutions to the fine jewelry world.
Outside of TechForm, Silas enjoys biking, hiking, and tending to his vineyard on the edge of the Columbia River Gorge.
Teresa Frye
Founder
Teresa Frye is the founder of TechForm Advanced Casting Technology. In the early 90s, her firm introduced jewelry manufacturing to the high-temperature casting methods used by the aerospace industry. A leading expert on jewelry casting and a prolific researcher, Teresa has published technical papers and articles worldwide and speaks frequently at industry conferences in the United States and Europe. Her pioneering research on hot isostatic pressing, a novel densification process for platinum alloys, led to a process now being embraced by jewelry manufacturers internationally.
Today, TechForm provides platinum castings to a broad national customer base, including many top jewelry brands. Her publications have appeared in Platinum Metals Review, The Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology, MJSA Journal, and JCK Magazine, among others. She also has presented at the Jewelry Technology Forum in Vicenza, Italy, MJSA Expo New York, IAC New York, JCK Las Vegas, and the annual Santa Fe Symposium.
To further the sharing of technical information, in 2008, she founded the Portland Jewelry Symposium, an annual educational conference that specifically served the needs of manufacturing retailers. PJS ran for 12 years, hosting dozens of speakers and hundreds of jewelers, retailers, designers, and manufacturers.
Outside of TechForm, where she spends much more time these days, Teresa enjoys gardening, travel, and forestry, where she is active in wildfire mitigation efforts.