History

Born from the merger between Plibrico International and Lafarge Refractories in 2005, Calderys is a key player in the refractory market. With over 100 years of experience behind Calderys refractory solutions, the company continues to push innovation and product performance.

• 1908
  Lafarge, worldwide leader in the Cement industry, invents and patents aluminous cement with refractory qualities suitable for a wide range of applications
• 1914
  In the US, William A.L. Schaefer develops the first monolithic refractory and creates the Pliable Firebrick Company, which is also known as Plibrico
• 1931
  Plibrico registers in London and begins European expansion
• 1937
  Plibrico opens for business in Sweden with the launch of Plibrico Scandinavia AB
• 1938
  Lafarge creates subsidiary wholly devoted to the marketing of refractories.
• In 1951
  The subsidiary is officially named Sécar (Société d’étude et de conseil pour appareillage réfractaire—Refractory equipment studies and consultancy)
• 1952
  Plibrico establishes itself in the Netherlands with the founding of Plibrico Netherlands
• 1955
  Launch of Plibrico’s first European production site in Neuwied, Germany
• 1958
  Plibrico enters the Austrian market. The Austrian subsidiary is later renamed Plibrico G.m.b.H..
• 1970-1980
  Continuing its expansion on the refractories market, Lafarge acquires shares in two of its competitors, Prost and Schlumberger, by taking over its subsidiary CEC. Both companies grow and are reorganized under Lafarge
• 1980
  Creation of Lafarge Réfractaires
• 1990-1992
  Set-up of Lafarge Réfractaires’ first Asian production facility in Taiwan
• 1996
  Imerys acquires Plibrico International
• 1997
  Lafarge Monolithique opens business in Japan and Scandinavia, where it acquires Svenska Höganas AB. The companies merge under the name of Lafarge Svenska Höganas AB.
• 1998
  Plibrico acquires the Valle family’s refractories production plant in South Africa. Lafarge Monolithiques buys Basalt-Feuerfest GmbH (Germany)
• 2001
  Lafarge Refractories enters the Australian market with the purchase of Hanlon Refractory
• 2005
  Plibrico International & Lafarge Refractories merge to become Calderys. Calderys acquires QA Refractories (South Africa)
• 2007
  Calderys acquires ACE Refractories, the leading Indian monolithic manufacturer. The company is renamed ACE Calderys. Calderys opens its first plant in China in Zhangijiagang.
• 2008
  Acquisition of Svenska Silikaverken AB, a monolithic company active in Sweden Norway and Finland. CALDERYS streamlines and renames its product portfolio.The New CALDE TM brand is launched alongside the already established international trademarks SILICA MIX and ALKON® Calderys acquires the South African B&B company, specialized in monolithic castable installation.