Quarzwerke

What Quarzwerke does

Quarzwerke GmbH is an independent, family-owned German industrial minerals company founded in 1884 in Frechen, Germany, and controlled by the Lindemann-Berk family. The company extracts, processes, and refines industrial minerals — primarily quartz sand, kaolin, and feldspar — and converts them into approximately 700 quality mineral grades via washing, classification, flotation, magnetic separation, bleaching, drying, and milling, supplemented by surface-treatment capabilities (silanization and related functional coatings) developed since 1966. Vertically integrated R&D is operated through dedicated technical study centers for plastics, glass, foundries, coatings/adhesives, and CQ applications engineering, enabling customer-specific formulations.

The group operates 39 production sites in 11 countries (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia, Italy, Turkey) with approximately 3,600 employees, supplying diverse industrial end-markets: foundry, glass (container/flat/specialty/photovoltaic), paper, ceramics, construction chemistry, paints and coatings, polymers, and — a smaller but growing focus — e-mobility, electronics, and health applications. Its High Performance Fillers (HPF) division markets a portfolio of branded specialty fillers (MICROSPAR, TREMIN, SILBOND, SIKRON, MILLISIL, SILMIKRON, SILATHERM, HYDRAFIL, TREMICA, TREFIL, TREMINEX, SEPASIL, ACRYSMART) for polymer, coating, adhesive, and electronic applications. Recent moves include the 2013 acquisition of Bulgaria's Kaolin EAD and a sustainability pivot — including the 2022 floating PV system at Haltern am See that earned the German Solar Prize, and a 2025 EcoVadis Gold rating placing the group in the top 5% globally.

Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales of extracted and processed minerals on quote-based, multi-year supply contracts negotiated with industrial customers across multiple sectors; pricing reflects material type, purity, particle size, treatment, and volume. Distribution is conducted through specialized sales teams per product division, regional sales offices (Germany, Italy, Korea), and trade-show channels (Ceramitec, Plastpol). The group owns roughly 140 years of operational history, multi-decade reserve tenure (e.g., 80+ million tonnes of kaolin at Nowogrodziec), and an extensive subsidiary structure built through decades of bolt-on acquisitions in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.

Name

Quarzwerke

Legal name

Quarzwerke GmbH

Website

https://quarzwerke.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Quarzwerke is an independent, family-owned German industrial minerals company that mines, processes, and refines quartz sand, kaolin, feldspar, and a portfolio of branded high-performance mineral fillers across 39 production facilities in 11 countries, serving foundry, glass, paper, ceramics, construction, paints and coatings, and emerging e-mobility customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Minerals

NAICS

Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying (21232), Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining (212323), Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Sand (Silica Sand for Foundry, Glass & Industrial Uses) (IMAKAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kaolin & Industrial Clay Mining (Bentonite, Ball Clay, Fuller’s Earth) (IMAKAGAJ), Feldspar & Nepheline Syenite Mining (IMAKAGAI), Kaolin & Ball Clay (IMAEAFAB), Feldspar & Nepheline Syenite (IMAEAFAM)

Keywords

• Industrial minerals processing
• Quartz sand production
• Kaolin mining
• Mineral fillers manufacturing
• Feldspar processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Frechen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices32 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial mineral product sales: Sale of extracted and processed industrial minerals including quartz sand, kaolin, feldspar, and specialty mineral products. Revenue generated from direct product sales to industrial customers in various sectors.
2. High Performance Fillers: Sale of engineered mineral fillers and additives for polymers, paints, coatings, adhesives, and other industrial applications under the HPF The Mineral Engineers brand

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Quarzwerke extracts, processes, and refines industrial minerals—primarily quartz sand, kaolin, and feldspar—at 39 production sites across 11 countries and sells them as raw materials and as engineered high-performance mineral fillers to industrial manufacturers. Through its HPF The Mineral Engineers division, the company develops surface-treated and functionalized specialty fillers (silanized cristobalite, wollastonite, fused silica, thermally conductive fillers, flame retardants, etc.) for polymer, paint, coating, adhesive, e-mobility, and healthcare applications.

Product overview

Quarzwerke is an independent family company with over 140 years of experience in the extraction, processing, and refining of industrial minerals. The company operates four core product lines: Quarzsand (quartz sand), Kaolin, Feldspat (feldspar), and High Performance Fillers. The High Performance Fillers division (HPF The Mineral Engineers) develops and produces approximately 700 quality mineral products including specialized fillers like SILATHERM (thermally conductive fillers), MICROSPAR (feldspar for dental applications), TREMIN Wollastonit (reinforcing fillers), Cristobalite, Fused Silica, White Silica, and ACRYSMART (smart glazing additives). The Amberger Kaolinwerke subsidiary focuses on kaolin and feldspar for paper, ceramics, and industrial applications. Products serve diverse industries including glass, foundry, paper, ceramics, construction chemistry, automotive, and paints & coatings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MICROSPAR®: Brand name for high-performance fillers based on finely ground feldspar meals, used in polyolefin films, dental applications, and industrial uses
• TREMIN®
• MILLISIL®
• SIKRON®
• SILBOND®
• SILMIKRON®
• SILATHERM®
• COLORITQUARZ
• HYDRAFIL®
• SEPASIL®
• TREMICA®
• TREFIL®
• TREMINEX®
• ACRYSMART®
• SIKRON®
• SILBOND®
• AMOSIL®
• AKW Ukrainian Kaolin Company (UKC)

Products and services

• Quarzsand (Quartz Sand) Industrial quartz sand extracted and processed for use in glass manufacturing, foundries, construction, and filtration applications. Valued for hardness, chemical inertness, and high melting point.
• Kaolin White, lamellar kaolin mineral supplied as granulate or milled product for paper, ceramics, paints, coatings, and specialty industrial segments. Produced at Hirschau-Schnaittenbach, Caminau, and Gluhivzi.
• Feldspat (Feldspar) Feldspar minerals, particularly low-iron potassium feldspars, supplied for glass manufacturing, ceramics, and use as fillers.
• Filler Kaolin for Paper Filler kaolin produced by Amberger Kaolinwerke for the paper industry. Pronounced lamellar structure delivers very high smoothness and reduced printing ink penetration, primarily used in gravure printing papers.
• Coating Kaolin for Paper Coating kaolin for high-gloss paper grades with high aspect ratio, delivering excellent fibre coverage at low coating weight. Used in ULWC and LWC gravure printing and precoat applications.
• SILATHERM Thermally conductive mineral filler that improves the thermal conductivity of plastics and adhesives for use in Electric & Electronics, E-Mobility, thermal interface materials (TIM), and gap-filler applications.
• MICROSPAR High-performance fillers based on finely ground feldspar meals offering good chemical resistance, purity, and high transparency. MICROSPAR 1351 grade is developed specifically for dental applications.
• TREMIN Wollastonite Wollastonite fillers with reinforcing properties, available in blocky (TREMIN 283, L/D 3:1, LAR) and acicular (TREMIN 939, L/D 8:1, HAR) particle forms. Used in technical plastics, fluoroelastomers, friction linings, and anti-corrosion coatings.
• Cristobalite (SIKRON / SILBOND) High-temperature modification of quartz produced synthetically at 1,500°C. Available as SIKRON (uncoated) and SILBOND (silanized) grades for exterior paints, dental composites, engineered stone, and silicone sealants.
• Fused Silica (Quarzgut) Synthetic amorphous silica produced via electric arcing at 2,000°C, featuring extremely low thermal coefficient of expansion (0.5×10⁻⁶/K), excellent elasticity, and thermal shock resistance. Sold under the AMOSIL, SILBOND, and SILMIKRON trade names.
• Quartz / Silica Flour Quartz flour and fine powders with specified particle sizes down to 1 µm, available with optional silane surface modification. Sold under the MILLISIL, SIKRON, SILBOND, and SILMIKRON trade names for external paints, construction, electrical, and ceramics applications.
• White Silica (Weisser Quarz) Part-cristobalized quartz combining quartz core stability with cristobalite whiteness. Features round grain shape, density 2.60 g/cm³, and whiteness (colour value Y > 60) for emulsion-bound plasters, road-marking paints, and engineered stone.
• SEPASIL White Fused Alumina Synthetic white fused alumina with over 99% aluminium oxide content, Mohs hardness 9, and density 3.95 g/cm³. Used in highly abrasion-resistant wood coatings, laminates, and cast resin insulators.
• TREMICA / TREFIL Mica Lamellar mica fillers (muscovite and phlogopite) with high aspect ratio (1:30) for technical thermoplastics, emulsion-bound paints, anti-corrosion coatings, and high-temperature coatings.
• Nepheline Syenite (TREMINEX) Naturally occurring rock containing no crystalline quartz, with Mohs hardness 6 and high whiteness (colour value Y > 90). TREMINEX grades are surface-treated variants used in porcelain, ceramics, clear coat systems, and plastic films.
• TREFIL Anhydrite Finely milled natural anhydrite with tabular structure, Mohs hardness 3.5, density 3.0 g/cm³, and high whiteness (colour value Y > 89). Used in industrial coatings, construction chemicals, and clear coat systems.
• HYDRAFIL Aluminium Hydroxide Mineral flame retardant made from bauxite via the Bayer process. Halogen-free, acts as smoke gas suppressant with dehydration at 200°C. Used in cables, textile applications, solid surface composites, and epoxy casting resins.
• ACRYSMART Smart glazing additive for acrylic glass that modulates light transmittance based on ambient temperature, switching from transparent (OFF) to milky white (ON) for automatic shading.
• COLORITQUARZ (Colored Silica) Pyrite-free, round-grained silica sand coated with a two-component synthetic resin system, available in 7 standard granularities and 700+ colors. Used in solid surfaces, industrial flooring, colored plasters, and aquariums.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 5% globally in Ecovadis sustainability assessment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• HenkelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1930Long-standing partnership with Henkel dating back to 1930. A partnership with history demonstrating decades of commercial relationship between the two companies.
• Lawrence IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor for HPF The Mineral Engineers products. Lawrence Industries publishes educational content about surface-treated fillers on their blog.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SCR-Sibelco: Belgian-headquartered global leader in industrial minerals including silica sand, feldspar, and nepheline syenite. Mentioned in Quarzwerke's history as having shares in the parent and shared ownership of Western European subsidiaries, making it the closest direct peer and a known counterparty.
• U.S. Silica Holdings: Major North American silica sand producer serving foundry, glass, oil & gas, and industrial end-markets. Comparable in industrial sand mining, processing, and customer base; differs primarily in geography and exposure to frac sand.
• LKAB Minerals: Swedish industrial minerals producer (olivine, mica, feldspar, magnetite) serving foundry, construction, and coatings markets. Comparable European industrial minerals peer with overlapping foundry and construction chemistry exposure.
• Thiele Kaolin Company: U.S.-based kaolin miner and processor serving paper, paints, plastics, and rubber end-markets. Directly comparable to Quarzwerke's Amberger Kaolinwerke subsidiary in terms of kaolin processing and paper-industry focus.
• Omya International: Swiss global producer of calcium carbonate and specialty mineral fillers for paper, coatings, plastics, and adhesives. Comparable as a specialty mineral filler supplier competing for similar industrial customers, especially in paints and polymers.
• KaMin Performance Minerals: Privately held kaolin producer for paper, coatings, and specialty applications. Directly overlaps with Amberger Kaolinwerke's paper-kaolin business and competes in coating-kaolin grades used in gravure and LWC papers.
• Mineral Technologies Inc. NYSE-listed specialty minerals company with a Performance Materials segment producing fillers and additives for paper, paints, plastics, and construction. Comparable in filler technology and end-market breadth.
• Imerys: Paris-listed global specialty minerals producer with major positions in kaolin, feldspar, and high-performance mineral additives for ceramics, paper, paints, and polymers. Directly comparable in product portfolio, customer mix, and HPF-style specialty offering.

Regional players

• Euroquarz GmbH: German producer of quartz sands, quartz flours, and filter sands for industrial applications. Regional peer with overlapping silica sand product lines and German customer base, though smaller in scale.

Broad incumbents

• BASF SE: German global chemicals major with extensive industrial minerals and pigments/fillers business serving paints, plastics, construction, and automotive. A broader incumbent whose specialty additives division competes with HPF offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quarzwerke