Xella
Xella is a German building-materials group specializing in autoclaved aerated concrete, calcium silicate blocks, mineral insulation and digital construction services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Xella is a Germany-based building-materials group that develops, manufactures and sells mineral-based construction and insulation products. Its principal product brands are Ytong, Hebel, Silka and Multipor. Ytong and Hebel are associated primarily with autoclaved aerated concrete, while Silka focuses on calcium silicate masonry products and Multipor on non-combustible mineral insulation boards. Through these brands, Xella serves residential, commercial and other construction markets with materials intended for structural walls, internal partitions, thermal insulation and related building applications. The company's roots lie in Haniel Bau-Industrie, a business with activities dating back to the 1940s and sand-lime brick production from 1948. Haniel Bau-Industrie expanded its aerated-concrete activities through the acquisition of Goslar Fels, Hebel and Ytong plants between 2000 and 2002. The company began developing business in China in 2002 and adopted the Xella Baustoffe name before presenting itself under the Xella name at the BAU trade fair in Munich in 2003. This period established the Xella identity as an umbrella for several established construction-materials brands rather than as a single-product label. Xella subsequently expanded its international manufacturing and sales footprint, particularly in Eastern Europe, China and Russia. New Ytong plants were opened in Romania and China in 2009 and 2010, alongside a lime plant in Russia. The group also maintained research and development facilities in Brandenburg, Germany, where work covered product and process research, process engineering, application research and building physics. These capabilities support the company's focus on lightweight construction, energy performance, production efficiency and practical building-system applications. Ownership changed materially in 2008, when Haniel sold Xella to PAI Partners and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. Lone Star later acquired a majority stake through the Luxembourg-based holding company Xella International Holdings; the transaction was announced in 2016 and completed in 2017. A proposed initial public offering was withdrawn in 2015 because of unfavorable market conditions. Xella also explored consolidation in the aerated-concrete sector: its attempted acquisition of a majority stake in Danish producer H+H International was prohibited by Germany's Federal Cartel Office in 2012 because of concerns about competition in regional German markets. Xella acquired Spanish insulation manufacturer Ursa in 2017 and sold it to Etex in early 2022. Beyond physical products, Xella offers blue.sprint, a digital service designed to simplify construction planning through a digital twin and open building-information modeling based on the IFC standard. The service is intended to improve material planning, reduce waste and support more efficient shell construction. Sustainability is a central element of Xella's stated strategy, particularly through mineral-based, non-combustible and energy-efficient construction and insulation solutions. The group operates in more than 20 countries and has 56 plants. In 2024, it reported sales of approximately €985.4 million and employed about 4,351 people. In October 2025, Holcim Group agreed to acquire Xella for €1.85 billion, subject to the relevant transaction conditions and approvals.
History
Xella developed from Haniel Bau-Industrie, whose business history reached back to the 1940s and whose production activities included sand-lime bricks from 1948. The later Xella group was assembled through a combination of established mineral-building-materials operations and international expansion. Between 2000 and 2002, Haniel Bau-Industrie acquired Goslar Fels, Hebel and Ytong plants, strengthening its position in aerated-concrete products. In 2002, the company began operations in China and changed its name to Xella Baustoffe. It presented itself under the Xella name at the BAU trade fair in Munich in 2003. The group reorganized parts of its portfolio during the early 2000s. It divested its stake in Norddeutsche Naturstein GmbH and sold the fastening-technology company Halfen in 2006. It also closed a number of autoclaved-aerated-concrete plants, particularly former Hebel facilities, resulting in the loss of several hundred jobs. Since 2003, Xella has operated research and development activities in Brandenburg at sites in Emstal near Lehnin and Brück near Bad Belzig. Research has covered application research and building physics, process engineering, and product and process development. Xella expanded further in Eastern Europe, China and Russia during 2007 and 2008. New Ytong plants opened in Romania and China in 2009 and 2010, while a lime plant was established in Russia. In 2008, Haniel sold Xella to PAI Partners and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. The group moved into a new corporate headquarters in Duisburg-Huckingen in April 2011. The building was named Axel Eriksson House in May 2012 in recognition of the Swedish architect and researcher associated with the invention of aerated concrete in 1923. Xella pursued sector consolidation in Germany and neighboring markets. In March 2012, its proposed acquisition of a majority stake in Danish producer H+H International was blocked by Germany's Federal Cartel Office. The authority was concerned that the deal could create a dominant position in regional North German and West German markets for aerated- and lightweight-concrete blocks. Xella later considered a public listing, but the possible IPO was canceled in October 2015 because market conditions were unfavorable. Ownership shifted again when Lone Star acquired a majority stake in Xella, a transaction announced in December 2016 and completed in 2017 through Xella International Holdings. In August 2017, Xella announced the acquisition of Spanish insulation manufacturer Ursa. Ursa was subsequently sold to Etex in early 2022. The core group continued to develop its Ytong, Hebel, Silka and Multipor brands, while adding digital construction capabilities through blue.sprint. This service uses digital-twin concepts and open BIM workflows based on the IFC standard to support material planning and more efficient shell construction. Xella's present business combines manufacturing, brand management, technical research and digital construction support. The group states that it operates in more than 20 countries with 56 plants. Its strategic themes include mineral-based construction, non-combustible insulation, energy performance, resource conservation and healthier living environments. In 2024, the group generated approximately €985.4 million in sales and employed around 4,351 people. In October 2025, Holcim agreed to acquire Xella for €1.85 billion.
- 2025
Holcim agrees to acquire Xella
[1]Holcim agreed to acquire Xella for €1.85 billion.
- 2022
Ursa sold to Etex
[1]Xella sold its Spanish insulation subsidiary Ursa to Etex.
- 2017
Lone Star ownership
[1]Lone Star acquired a majority stake in Xella through Xella International Holdings.
- 2015
Planned IPO canceled
[1]Xella withdrew a possible initial public offering because of unfavorable market conditions.
- 2012
H+H acquisition prohibited
[1]Germany's Federal Cartel Office blocked Xella's proposed majority acquisition of H+H International on competition grounds.
- 2011
New Duisburg headquarters
[1]Xella moved into a new corporate headquarters in Duisburg-Huckingen.
- 2008
Sale by Haniel to PAI Partners and Goldman Sachs
[1]Haniel sold Xella to PAI Partners and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.
- 2003
Xella identity presented publicly
[1]The company presented itself under the Xella name at the BAU trade fair in Munich and established dedicated research and development activities in Brandenburg.
- 2002
China entry and Xella Baustoffe name
[1]The company took its first steps in China and adopted the Xella Baustoffe name.
- 2000
Acquisition of Goslar Fels begins
[1]Haniel Bau-Industrie began acquiring Goslar Fels, Hebel and Ytong plants, building a broader aerated-concrete platform.
Products and positioning
Xella positions itself as an international specialist in mineral-based building and insulation systems, combining established masonry brands with technical research, non-combustible insulation solutions and digital tools for more resource-efficient construction.
Autoclaved aerated concrete
Ytong
Ytong is Xella's principal autoclaved-aerated-concrete brand. Its products are used for masonry walls and related construction systems, combining low density with thermal-insulation and fire-performance characteristics. The brand forms part of Xella's international aerated-concrete platform and is supported by the group's process, product and application research.
Autoclaved aerated concrete
Hebel
Hebel is an autoclaved-aerated-concrete brand within the Xella portfolio. It covers lightweight masonry and building-system applications. Several former Hebel plants were closed during Xella's restructuring, but the brand remains identified by the group as one of its core product brands.
Calcium silicate masonry
Silka
Silka represents Xella's calcium silicate block and masonry offering. These mineral-based products are used in wall construction and partitioning, complementing the lighter aerated-concrete systems sold under Ytong and Hebel. The brand supports Xella's broader focus on durable mineral construction materials.
Mineral insulation
Multipor
Multipor is Xella's mineral insulation brand. It is associated with non-combustible mineral insulation boards for building-envelope and interior applications. The product line supports Xella's positioning around energy-efficient, fire-safe and mineral-based construction and renovation.
Digital construction service
blue.sprint
blue.sprint is Xella's digital service for construction-process planning. It uses a digital twin to represent a building virtually and supports open BIM workflows based on the IFC standard. Xella describes the service as a way to plan materials more efficiently, conserve resources and potentially reduce shell-construction costs and time.
Brand decisions
2025
Holcim acquisition agreementM&ABackground
Xella was owned by Lone Star through Xella International Holdings.
Action taken
Holcim Group agreed to acquire Xella for €1.85 billion.
Aftermath
The agreement represented a proposed change in ownership; completion and any applicable regulatory conditions are not established in the supplied material.
Agreed acquisition value. €1.85 billion (October 2025)
2022
Sale of Ursa to EtexM&ABackground
Xella had owned Ursa since announcing its acquisition in 2017.
Action taken
Xella sold the Spanish insulation manufacturer to Etex in early 2022.
Aftermath
The transaction transferred Ursa to Etex and reduced Xella's direct ownership of the insulation business.
2017
Acquisition of UrsaM&ABackground
Xella sought to expand its insulation activities alongside its established masonry and aerated-concrete brands.
Action taken
Xella announced the acquisition of Spanish insulation manufacturer Ursa.
Aftermath
Xella later sold Ursa to Etex in early 2022.
2015
Cancellation of possible initial public offeringStrategyBackground
Xella had considered a public listing while owned by private-equity investors.
Action taken
The company canceled the possible IPO in October 2015, attributing the decision to unfavorable market conditions.
Aftermath
Xella remained privately held and was later sold to Lone Star.
2012
Attempted acquisition of H+H InternationalM&ABackground
Xella sought to acquire a majority stake in Danish building-materials producer H+H International. The proposed transaction affected overlapping regional markets for aerated- and lightweight-concrete blocks in Germany.
Action taken
Germany's Federal Cartel Office prohibited the proposed acquisition because it expected the transaction to create a dominant position in North German and West German regional markets.
Aftermath
Xella did not acquire a majority stake in H+H International, and the planned consolidation did not proceed.
Recent events
- 2025
Holcim agrees to acquire Xella[1]
M&A
Holcim Group agreed to acquire Xella for €1.85 billion, marking a proposed change of ownership for the German building-materials group.
- 2024
Xella reports 2024 sales of approximately €985.4 million[1]
Other
Xella reported sales of approximately €985.4 million in 2024 and had about 4,351 employees.
- 2022
Xella sells Ursa to Etex[1]
M&A
Xella sold Spanish insulation manufacturer Ursa to Etex in early 2022, exiting ownership of the insulation business.
- 2017
Lone Star acquires Xella[1]
M&A
Lone Star acquired a majority stake in Xella through the Luxembourg-based holding company Xella International Holdings.
- 2015
Xella withdraws planned initial public offering[1]
Other
Xella canceled a possible IPO, citing unfavorable market conditions.
- 2012
German Federal Cartel Office blocks proposed H+H acquisition[1]
Regulation · M&A
Germany's Federal Cartel Office prohibited Xella's proposed acquisition of a majority stake in H+H International because it considered that the transaction could create a dominant position in regional aerated- and lightweight-concrete markets.
Sources1 sources
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