Calderys
Calderys is a Paris-headquartered global provider of refractory materials and other high-temperature industrial solutions.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Calderys is a privately held industrial materials company focused on refractory solutions for operations exposed to extreme heat, thermal shock, abrasion, corrosion, and demanding chemical conditions. Its portfolio includes monolithic and shaped refractories, casting fluxes, and molding-related solutions used by heavy industries such as steel, foundries, cement, nonferrous metals, glass, petrochemicals, and other process industries. The company is headquartered in Paris, France, and has developed an international manufacturing and service footprint. The business was formed in 2005 when Imerys combined two refractory operations: Plibrico and Lafarge Réfractaires. Plibrico traced its origins to William A. L. Schaefer's development of an early monolithic refractory in 1914 and the creation of the Pliable Firebrick Company. The company subsequently expanded in Europe during the middle decades of the twentieth century and was acquired by Imetal, the group that later became Imerys, in 1996. Lafarge had also built a substantial refractory activity during the twentieth century. It became France's leading refractory manufacturer during the 1970s and formally established Lafarge Réfractaires in 1980 after acquiring the Belgian Groupe Coppée. Lafarge Réfractaires was placed within Materis in 2001 and was acquired by Imerys in 2004. Following the 2005 merger, Imerys used Calderys as a platform for international expansion. Add-on transactions and integrations included ACE Refractories in India in 2007, Svenska Silikaverken AB and Valöns in Sweden in 2008, PT Indoporlen in Indonesia in 2013, S&B in 2015, and Kerneos in 2017. These moves broadened Calderys' geographic reach, product capabilities, and exposure to industrial end markets. A major ownership transition occurred in 2023, when Imerys sold Calderys to a United States private investment firm for a reported €930 million. Calderys became an independent company after the transaction. The same investment group also acquired HarbisonWalker International, a major American refractory business, and combined its operations with Calderys. HWI subsequently became the Calderys brand for the Americas region, while the combined organization undertook rebranding and operational unification. As described in available reference material, Calderys operates approximately 50 production sites in 30 countries as of 2025. Its business combines engineered refractory products with technical support, installation-related expertise, maintenance assistance, and solutions tailored to specific furnace, kiln, ladle, burner, lining, and casting applications. The company is led by Michel Cornelissen, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Calderys, including the HWI operations, since February 2023. Calderys' current identity therefore reflects both the legacy of European refractory manufacturing and the integration of a large North American refractory platform.
History
Calderys was created in 2005 through the combination of two refractory businesses owned or acquired by Imerys: Plibrico and Lafarge Réfractaires. The company's industrial lineage reaches back to the early twentieth century. In 1914, William A. L. Schaefer developed an early monolithic refractory and established the Pliable Firebrick Company, later known as Plibrico. Monolithic refractories could be installed in plastic or castable form rather than relying exclusively on preformed bricks, making them useful for a wide range of industrial furnace and lining applications. Plibrico expanded its presence across Europe from approximately 1930 to 1960 and was acquired by Imetal in 1996. Imetal subsequently became part of the corporate history of Imerys. Lafarge developed refractory capabilities separately. During the twentieth century, the Lafarge group expanded its involvement in high-temperature industrial materials, and by the 1970s it had become France's leading refractory manufacturer. In 1980, Lafarge formally created Lafarge Réfractaires after acquiring Groupe Coppée, a Belgian refractory company. Lafarge later reorganized its building-materials activities through Materis, created in 2001, with Lafarge Réfractaires included in the divested division. Imerys acquired Lafarge Réfractaires from Materis in 2004 for a reported €130 million. The 2005 merger of Plibrico and Lafarge Réfractaires established Calderys as an Imerys refractory platform. Under Imerys, Calderys expanded beyond its inherited European base through acquisitions and business integrations. It acquired ACE Refractories in India in 2007, Svenska Silikaverken AB and Valöns in Sweden in 2008, PT Indoporlen in Indonesia in 2013, S&B in 2015, and Kerneos in 2017. These transactions supported the company's international growth and added manufacturing, product, and market capabilities. Calderys' activities center on materials and services for high-temperature industrial processes. Its products include refractory materials, casting fluxes, and molding solutions. The end markets associated with its activities include steel, foundries, cement, nonferrous metals, glass, and other industries requiring protection of industrial equipment from heat, wear, chemical attack, and thermal cycling. The business is headquartered in Paris and operates a multinational production and distribution network. In 2023, Imerys sold Calderys to a United States private investment firm for a reported €930 million. The transaction transformed Calderys from an Imerys business into a standalone company. The buyer also acquired HarbisonWalker International, a major American refractory operation, and combined it with Calderys. HWI became the Calderys brand for the Americas, while the combined organization pursued a unified identity and operating structure. Michel Cornelissen became President and Chief Executive Officer of Calderys, including HWI, in February 2023. Reference material describes Calderys as operating about 50 production sites in 30 countries in 2025. Its modern business model combines refractory manufacturing with application engineering and technical support. The company serves customers whose productivity and asset life depend on the performance of furnace, kiln, reactor, ladle, burner, and other high-temperature linings. Calderys is therefore best understood as an industrial business-to-business solutions brand rather than a consumer product brand.
- 2025
Reported global operating footprint
[1]Reference material describes Calderys as operating approximately 50 production sites in 30 countries.
- 2023
Calderys becomes independent from Imerys
[1]Imerys sold Calderys to a United States private investment firm. Calderys became a standalone company.
- 2023
Integration with HarbisonWalker International
[1]Calderys' operations were combined with HarbisonWalker International, which became the Calderys brand for the Americas.
- 2017
Kerneos acquisition
[1]Imerys acquired Kerneos, further broadening the industrial materials capabilities associated with Calderys.
- 2015
S&B acquisition
[1]Calderys acquired S&B, adding to its refractory and industrial materials portfolio.
- 2013
Expansion into Indonesia
[1]Calderys acquired PT Indoporlen in Indonesia as part of its geographic expansion.
- 2008
Swedish acquisitions
[1]The company acquired Svenska Silikaverken AB and Valöns in Sweden.
- 2007
Expansion into India through ACE Refractories
[1]Calderys expanded its international footprint through the acquisition of ACE Refractories in India.
- 2005
Calderys established
[1]Imerys merged Plibrico and Lafarge Réfractaires to create Calderys.
- 2004
Imerys acquires Lafarge Réfractaires
[1]Imerys acquired Lafarge Réfractaires from Materis in a transaction reported at €130 million.
Products and positioning
A global, application-focused refractory solutions provider serving industries that operate furnaces, kilns, reactors, ladles, and other high-temperature equipment. Calderys positions itself around engineered materials, process expertise, international manufacturing coverage, and technical support rather than consumer-facing products.
Refractory materials
Monolithic refractories
Monolithic refractories are installed in castable, plastic, ramming, or related unshaped forms rather than as individually laid bricks. Calderys uses this family of materials to provide heat-resistant linings and repairs for furnaces, kilns, ladles, reactors, and other process equipment. Formulations can be selected for resistance to high temperature, abrasion, chemical attack, thermal cycling, or specific process conditions.
Refractory materials
Shaped refractories
Shaped refractories include preformed components used to construct or protect high-temperature equipment. Depending on the application, such components can support furnace roofs, walls, hearths, burners, runners, ladles, and other engineered zones. They are designed around dimensional stability, heat resistance, wear performance, and compatibility with the industrial process.
Metallurgical process materials
Casting fluxes
Casting fluxes are process materials used in metal casting and related metallurgical operations. They can support control of slag, surface protection, cleanliness, heat transfer, and casting performance. Calderys includes casting fluxes within its broader portfolio of high-temperature solutions for steel, foundry, and other metal-processing customers.
Foundry materials
Molding solutions
Molding solutions support the preparation and production of metal castings. They are intended for foundry environments where mold performance, dimensional accuracy, thermal behavior, and resistance to contact with molten metal affect finished-product quality. The available reference material identifies molding solutions as one of Calderys' principal activity areas.
Industrial services
Refractory technical services
Calderys' business includes application-oriented support associated with refractory systems. Such work may involve material selection, lining design, installation guidance, maintenance, repair, and process-specific engineering. The service component is important because refractory performance depends not only on the material but also on design, installation quality, operating conditions, and maintenance practice.
Brand decisions
2023
Divest Calderys from ImerysM&ABackground
Imerys decided to sell Calderys as part of a change in ownership and portfolio structure.
Action taken
Imerys sold Calderys to a United States private investment firm for a reported €930 million.
Aftermath
Calderys became a standalone company and was combined with HarbisonWalker International under the new ownership.
Reported transaction value. €930 million (2023 transaction)
2023
Combine Calderys with HarbisonWalker InternationalM&ABackground
The new owner also acquired HarbisonWalker International, creating an opportunity to combine a European-centered refractory business with a major North American operation.
Action taken
Calderys and HWI combined their operations, with HWI becoming the Calderys brand for the Americas and both organizations undergoing rebranding for greater unity.
Aftermath
The combination expanded Calderys' presence in the Americas and created a more integrated global refractory organization.
2005
Create a unified refractory platform from Plibrico and Lafarge RéfractairesStrategyBackground
Imerys controlled both Plibrico and Lafarge Réfractaires and sought to consolidate their refractory activities.
Action taken
Imerys merged the two businesses and established the Calderys brand.
Aftermath
The merger created an international refractory platform that Imerys subsequently expanded through acquisitions in several countries and adjacent industrial materials markets.
Recent events
- 2023
Imerys sells Calderys to a United States private investment firm[1]
M&A
Imerys divested Calderys in a transaction reported at €930 million. Calderys became a standalone company under new private ownership.
- 2023
Calderys combines operations with HarbisonWalker International[1]
M&A
Following the ownership change, Calderys' operations were combined with HarbisonWalker International. HWI became Calderys' brand for the Americas region and the businesses were rebranded for unification.
Sources2 sources
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