History
Our road to become the world's largest family-run refractory company.
In order to meet the individual needs of our customers reliably and at all times, we continuously invest in all company divisions – from research & development through the latest production methods and equipment, logistics, up to worldwide sales and service – always focussed, efficient, and with a clear view into the future.
1950: Founding of the "Steinwerke Feuerfest Karl Albert" companyEngineer Karl Albert founds the Steinwerke Feuerfest Karl Albert company in Vogelbeck near Northeim (Lower Saxony / Germany) and produces the first refractory bricks made of slag from the iron & steel industry.
1950
1952: Move to Göttingen / GermanyProduction is moved to the present location in Göttingen, Germany.
1952
1964: Company renamedThe company is renamed as Refratechnik.
1964
1966: Founding of Intermat in Trino / ItalyFounding of Intermat in Trino (Piedmont, Italy), now known as Refratechnik Italia. This where rice husk ash is produced, which was previously used as raw material for our own bricks. Today, rice husk ash is sold as an auxiliary material to the steelmaking industry.
1966
1973: New factory in Kraichtal / GermanyPurchase of the Gochsheim plant (Kraichtal) / Germany, in order to meet the cement industry's increasing demand for refractory bricks.
1973
1977: New factory in Gornal / SpainThe Refratechnik Group's third plant is purchased in Gornal near Barcelona, and Refratechnik Ibérica S.A. is founded in Spain. Today, the Gornal plant produces bricks based on aluminium oxide as well as refractory bricks.
1977
1979: Founding of Baymag Inc. / CanadaPurchase of a large magnesite deposit in Western Canada, and founding of Baymag Inc. in Calgary. Start of magnesium oxide (MgO)production.
1979
1987: Inauguration of R&D center in Göttingen / GermanyInauguration of a new research and development center in Göttingen, Germany.
1987
1995: Founding of Refratechnik Holding GmbHIn order to deal with the Group's strong growth, and the need for a clear organizational structure, Refratechnik Holding is founded in Munich, Germany, and the group companies are integrated in today's Holding structure. This ensures that the Group remains controllable, also in times of dynamic global growth.
1995
1995: The first representative's offices are openedOpening of the first representative's office in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, and a sales office in Budapest, Hungary.
1995
1997: Founding of Refratechnik Steel GmbH and Refratechnik Casting GmbHRefratechnik Steel GmbH in Düsseldorf, and Refratechnik Casting GmbH in Ismaning (both Germany, and the latter now a subsidiary of Refratechnik Steel) to serve customers in the iron & steel and the non-ferrous metals industries specifically.
1997
1999: Founding of sales organizations in the USA and MexicoFounding of the sales company Refratechnik Mexico, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico D.F., Mexico.
Founding of the sales company Refratechnik North America Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
1999
2001: New factory in Bendorf / GermanyRefratechnik Steel GmbH's new plant is commissioned in Bendorf, Germany, which produces high-grade refractory concretes.
2001
2003: New factory in Dashiqiao / ChinaCommissioning of the Yingkou Refratechnik Refractories plant in Dashiqiao, China, in which fused basic bricks are produced for the cement industry.
2003
2004: Founding of a sales organization in ChinaRefratechnik Trading is founded in Dalian, China to serve customers in China.
2004
2006: Inauguration of R&D center in Bendorf / GermanyInauguration of a new research and development center in Bendorf, Germany.
2006
2007: Founding of Refratechnik Asia Ltd. in Hong KongRefratechnik Asia Ltd. is founded in Hong Kong, and administration and sales for South East Asia are transferred from Dalian to Hong Kong.
2007
2007: New factory in Zibo / ChinaThe Zibo Refratechnik Refractories plant in Zibo, China goes on line, and produces fused basic bricks for the cement industry.
2007
2011: New factory in Dülmen / GermanyThe new Refratechnik Steel plant in Dülmen, Germany is commissioned, which produces high-quality prefabricated components.
2011
2013: Takeover of Burton / GermanyTakeover of Burton GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Melle, Germany, and renaming the company as Refratechnik Ceramics GmbH and Refratechnik Hungaria Kft. In this way, the ceramics industry, refuse incineration, and the primary aluminium industry are opened up as additional business sectors for the Refractory division.
2013
2014: Opening of a Liaison Office in Visakhapatnam / IndiaRefratechnik Steel GmbH's Liaison Office is opened in Visakhapatnam, India.
2014: Opening of the Representation Office in Dubai / UAERefratechnik Steel GmbH's Representation Office is opened in Dubai, UAE.
2014
2016: Founding of RTMX Servicios SAS in Bogotá / ColombiaThe subsidiary of Refratechnik in Colombia, RTMX Servicios SAS, was founded in 2016 with the objective of offering installation services and technical advice on refractories for the cement and lime industry.
2016
2017: Founding of Refratechnik (India) Private LimitedRefratechnik (India) Private Limited in Vizakhapatnam – previously our Liaison Office in India – was founded in 2017 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Refratechnik Steel GmbH.
2017
2019: New factory in Haicheng/ChinaRefratechnik Haicheng is part of the Refratechnik Group which is specialized in production of high-grade caustic calcined magnesia (CCM) and dead burned magnesia (DBM).
2019
2020: Takeover of QMAG Ltd. Takeover of QMAG Ltd. in the state of Queensland, Australia. QMAG (Queensland Magnesia) is a fully integrated world leading producer of high-quality magnesia products, servicing global markets with a combined production of high-grade electrofused (FM), dead burned (DBM), and caustic calcined (CCM) magnesium oxide products.
2020
2021: Production joint venture with Horn & Co.Start of the production joint venture with Horn & Co. Minerals & Products Management GmbH in Siegen, Germany. Previously part of the Horn Group, the factory for producing magnesia carbon bricks in Hünsborn, Germany, will be operated and expanded as "Refratechnik Horn Produktions GmbH" in future. With the recycling specialist Horn, Refratechnik Steel – majority share holder in the joint venture – has found an ideal partner for the production of MACARBON® bricks for the steelmaking industry.
2021
2023: New state-of-the-art plant in Vizakhapatnam, India.An ultra-modern factory increases the Refratechnik Group's production capacities in Visakhapatnam/India: Starting 2023, an annual output of 40.000 tons of refractory products will be available to supply customers.
2023
2024: Refratechnik México acquires Refrasol, Chile.With the signing of the contract, the strategic partner Refrasol becomes a member of the global Refratechnik Group under the new name Refratechnik Chile.