Saint-Gobain SEFPRO
Saint-Gobain SEFPRO is a Saint-Gobain group business supplying refractory materials, components, recycling services and technical solutions for glass furnaces.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Saint-Gobain SEFPRO is the specialist refractory business of the Saint-Gobain group serving the global glass industry. Its name derives from the group’s historical identity as a producer of sintered and electrofused products. The business develops, manufactures and supports refractory materials used in the construction, lining, maintenance and repair of industrial glass furnaces. Its customers operate in container glass, flat glass, specialty glass, tableware, fiberglass, insulation fiber and reinforcement-fiber markets. The business originated in the cooperation between Corning Glass Works and Saint-Gobain, two major glass manufacturers. Corning’s laboratory developed electrofused refractory technology during the 1920s, and production began at Corhart Refractories in the United States in 1927. In 1929, Corning and Saint-Gobain established L’Electro-Réfractaire in Modane, France. The company’s early Corhart Standard product was followed in 1942 by Corhart ZAC, an alumina-zirconia-silica material designed to withstand severe glass-furnace conditions. The Modane factory was destroyed during the Second World War, leading to the establishment of a replacement site at Le Pontet in 1947. Le Pontet later became the headquarters of the worldwide SEFPRO organization. SEFPRO’s product portfolio includes fused-cast alumina-zirconia-silica refractories, high-zirconia materials, alumina products, sintered refractories, chromic-oxide and zircon materials, unshaped refractories, furnace expendables and specialized cruciform components. These products are selected according to furnace zone and glass application, including glass-contact areas, superstructures, furnace end-zones and other locations exposed to corrosion, thermal cycling and mechanical stress. The business also supplies recycling services through Valoref, which processes used refractories from glass-furnace repairs into secondary raw materials. The organization combines manufacturing plants, sales offices and research and development facilities across four continents. Its network includes operations in France, Italy, the United States, China, Japan, India and Brazil. The Le Pontet site remains a major production and technology center, while facilities such as SEPR Beijing, Saint-Gobain TM in Japan, SEPR India, Corhart Refractories in the United States, Savoie Réfractaires and the Vinhedo plant extend the group’s regional manufacturing capacity. The reference material describes a workforce of more than 2,200 people across the global organization. Innovation has been a central part of the business since the establishment of a research center beside the Le Pontet factory in 1952. Later facilities and partnerships expanded the company’s capabilities in advanced ceramics, digital process optimization and glass-furnace engineering. In 2024, SEFPRO began construction of a new electrofusion production line at Le Pontet designed to use up to 20% hydrogen and reduce annealing energy consumption by approximately 65% compared with traditional processes. In 2025, it completed the acquisition of Czech company Glass Service, a.s., adding furnace-control systems and simulation software to its portfolio. These initiatives show a strategic shift beyond refractory production toward lower-carbon manufacturing and data-enabled glass-furnace operation.
History
Saint-Gobain SEFPRO traces its origins to the development of electrofused refractories in the United States during the 1920s. Corning Glass Works developed the underlying technology in its laboratory, and production began in 1927 at Corhart Refractories, a Corning subsidiary. Because refractory materials are exposed to molten glass, high temperatures and corrosive furnace environments, the technology became important to the expansion of industrial glassmaking. In 1929, Corning and Saint-Gobain created L’Electro-Réfractaire in Modane, France. Its principal early product was Corhart Standard. By 1940, annual output had reached approximately 2,000 tons. In 1942, the company introduced Corhart ZAC, a more durable alumina-zirconia-silica material made with high-purity zircon, alumina and silica. The AZS family became a foundation of the company’s fused-cast refractory business. The Modane factory was destroyed by wartime bombing during the Second World War. In 1947, production moved to Le Pontet in the Vaucluse region of southern France. The location offered access to high-purity bauxite, alumina from Gardanne, silica sand from the Mont Ventoux area, transport links through Marseille and the Rhône corridor, and hydroelectric power. The Le Pontet site subsequently became the organization’s headquarters and one of its principal manufacturing and research locations. A research and development center was established beside the Le Pontet factory in 1952. From the 1960s onward, the business expanded its technical portfolio and obtained multiple patents. Corporate consolidation followed in 1973, when L’Electro-Réfractaire merged with Société Générale de Produits Réfractaires, or SGPR, based in Vénissieux. The combined company adopted the name Société Européenne des Produits Réfractaires, generally abbreviated as SEPR. The organization expanded through acquisitions, new plants and joint ventures. Refradige Italia joined the group in 1971 and later became SEPR Italia. Corhart Refractories in the United States was acquired in 1987. The group entered China’s refractory market through the acquisition of a production joint venture in 1991, later establishing a new plant in the Changping area of Beijing in 2001. Savoie Réfractaires and its sintered-material capabilities joined the organization in the 1990s, as did operations in Brazil. Additional development included SEPR India, Saint-Gobain TM in Japan and Linyi Saint-Gobain Refractories in China. The SEPR name was ultimately replaced by Saint-Gobain SEFPRO in 2001, linking the refractory business more directly to its parent group. Its global network now combines electrofused and sintered refractory manufacturing, research centers, application support and recycling. Major sites serve different glass-furnace applications and geographic markets, including container, flat, specialty, tableware, insulation-fiber and reinforcement-fiber glass. In the 2020s, SEFPRO broadened its strategic emphasis. A 2022 Chinese joint venture supported high-performance fused-cast refractories. In 2024, the company began building a hydrogen-capable electrofusion line at Le Pontet as part of an effort to reduce the carbon intensity of refractory production. In 2025, SEFPRO completed the acquisition of Glass Service, a Czech provider of glass-furnace control and simulation systems. The acquisition extended the business from refractory supply into digital process optimization and sustainability-oriented furnace management.
- 2025
Glass Service acquisition completed
[1]SEFPRO completes the acquisition of Glass Service, a Czech company focused on glass-furnace control systems and simulation software.
- 2024
Hydrogen-capable electrofusion line begins construction
[1]SEFPRO starts construction of a new-generation production line at Le Pontet designed to operate with up to 20% hydrogen.
- 2022
Chinese fused-cast refractory joint venture announced
[1]SEFPRO announces a joint venture with Anhui Sino-Refractory Technology to expand high-performance fused-cast refractory capabilities in China.
- 2001
The business becomes Saint-Gobain SEFPRO
[1]The SEPR organization adopts the Saint-Gobain SEFPRO identity as part of its integration into the Saint-Gobain group.
- 1991
SEPR enters China
[1]The group acquires an interest in a Chinese fused-cast refractory production joint venture, marking Saint-Gobain’s first expansion into China’s refractory market.
- 1987
Corhart Refractories is acquired
[1]SEPR expands its North American manufacturing footprint through the acquisition of Corhart Refractories, including plants in West Virginia and Kentucky.
- 1973
SEPR is formed
[1]L’Electro-Réfractaire merges with Société Générale de Produits Réfractaires to form Société Européenne des Produits Réfractaires.
- 1952
Le Pontet research center is established
[1]A research and development center opens beside the Le Pontet factory, reinforcing the company’s focus on refractory innovation.
- 1947
Production moves to Le Pontet
[1]After the Modane factory is destroyed during the war, the business establishes a new production site at Le Pontet, which later becomes its headquarters.
- 1942
Corhart ZAC is introduced
[1]The company introduces a more durable alumina-zirconia-silica refractory made from high-purity raw materials.
Products and positioning
A global specialist in refractory materials and related technologies for glass-furnace operators, combining fused-cast and sintered products, application engineering, recycling and increasingly digital furnace optimization.
Fused-cast refractory · 1929
Corhart Standard
One of the earliest principal products of the Corning–Saint-Gobain refractory venture, Corhart Standard established the company’s role in supplying electrofused materials for demanding glass-furnace applications.
Alumina-zirconia-silica refractory · 1942
Corhart ZAC
Introduced in 1942, Corhart ZAC used zircon, alumina and silica to provide greater resistance to the severe thermal and chemical conditions found in industrial glass furnaces. It represents an early development of the AZS refractory family.
Glass-furnace refractory
Fused-cast AZS refractories
Fused-cast alumina-zirconia-silica products are used in glass-contact zones, superstructures and furnace end-zones. They are engineered to resist molten-glass corrosion, thermal cycling and mechanical stress across container, flat and specialty glass operations.
Glass-furnace refractory
High-zirconia refractories
High-zirconia products are designed for applications requiring strong resistance to glass corrosion and contamination. The Le Pontet operation produces standard and electrically resistive high-zirconia ranges for demanding glass-furnace environments.
Sintered ceramic refractory
Sintered refractories
SEFPRO’s sintered materials are manufactured for glass-industry applications including container glass, insulation fiber and other furnace areas. Production is supported by facilities in France and India and includes alumina, zircon and chromic-oxide-based solutions.
Unshaped refractory
Unshaped refractories
Unshaped refractory materials are supplied for installation, repair and maintenance work in industrial glass furnaces. They complement shaped and fused-cast components by enabling site-specific construction and repair solutions.
Glass-furnace component
Cruciform components
Cruciform refractory components are a specialized SEFPRO offering produced at the Le Pontet site. The reference material identifies the facility as the unique producer worldwide of these components, which are used in specialized glass-furnace applications.
Refractory recycling · 2000
Valoref recycling services
Valoref recovers used refractories from glass-furnace repairs and processes them into secondary raw materials for the refractory industry. The activity supports material circularity and reduces reliance on virgin raw materials.
Industrial software and process technology · 2025
Glass-furnace control and simulation solutions
Following the acquisition of Glass Service, SEFPRO’s portfolio includes advanced control systems and simulation software for glass furnaces. These tools extend the company’s offering from refractory hardware toward process optimization, operational control and sustainability improvement.
Brand decisions
2025
Add digital glass-furnace optimization capabilitiesM&ABackground
SEFPRO aimed to broaden its refractory-centered portfolio with digital tools for furnace control, simulation and process optimization.
Action taken
After receiving regulatory approvals, SEFPRO completed the acquisition of Czech company Glass Service, a.s.
Aftermath
The transaction strengthened SEFPRO’s offering in digital process optimization and sustainability-oriented glass-furnace management.
2024
Invest in lower-carbon electrofusion manufacturingStrategyBackground
Refractory manufacturing is energy intensive, and SEFPRO identified hydrogen use and lower annealing energy consumption as part of its decarbonization roadmap.
Action taken
SEFPRO began construction of a new-generation electrofusion production line at Le Pontet, designed to operate with up to 20% hydrogen.
Aftermath
The line was designed to reduce annealing energy consumption by approximately 65% compared with traditional processes, with operations planned for the second half of 2024.
2022
Expand Chinese fused-cast refractory capabilitiesM&ABackground
SEFPRO sought to strengthen its position in China and expand access to high-performance fused-cast refractory production.
Action taken
The company announced a joint venture with Anhui Sino-Refractory Technology Co., Ltd.
Aftermath
The initiative was intended to enhance SEFPRO’s high-performance fused-cast refractory offering in the Chinese market.
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