What Orbix does

Orbix is a Belgian sustainable materials and process technology company that transforms industrial residual streams (primarily steel slag, bottom ashes, and refractory bricks) and CO₂ emissions into CO₂-negative construction materials. Founded in 1994 as TRC (Trading and Recycling Company) and rebranded in 2016, the company operates from its Genk headquarters with production sites in Farciennes and quarry operations in Sprimont, plus additional Carrières subsidiaries, giving it more than ten locations across Belgium and over 360,000 tons of annual logistics throughput via inland waterways.

The company's commercial core is its patented Carbstone® carbonation technology, which binds CO₂ into steel slag to produce cement-free, CO₂-negative building materials. This is supported by a portfolio of branded material products — Carbinox® (carbonating powder), Stinox® (aggregate for concrete and asphalt), Gravinox® (carbonating sand), Fillinox® (filler with BENOR/COPRO/KOMO certifications), metal briquettes for steel-mill cooling scrap, and SprimontBlue® natural limestone — plus geopolymer and metal-recovery technology platforms. Major named deployments include the Pirrouet® facade brick (commercialized with Vandersanden at 20-35 million bricks annual capacity), the Dammam Stadium project (Masterbloc, Al Kifah, Aramco), and the CO2NCREAT and CO2bloc consortia for direct flue-gas CO₂ capture.

The business model is B2B direct sales of certified industrial construction materials, quote-based pricing, served by 400+ customers primarily in the construction and steel/manufacturing verticals. Revenue is supplemented by recurring EU and regional grant funding for R&D projects. GTM relies on direct enterprise sales, strategic co-development partnerships with construction-materials players (Vandersanden, Masterbloc/Gubbels), and credibility anchored by ISO 9001/14001/45001 certifications plus product-level BENOR/COPRO/KOMO/CE2+ certifications. Multi-site processing of stainless steel slags and carbonation activities generates the certified, traceable material flow that underpins customer contracts.

Name

Orbix

Legal name

Orbix NV

Website

https://orbix.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Orbix is a Belgian sustainable materials company that uses patented carbonation technology to transform steel industry by-products and CO₂ emissions into CO₂-negative construction materials, serving 400+ construction and industrial customers across Belgium and increasingly in international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Construction Materials

NAICS

Other Concrete Product Manufacturing (327390), Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992), Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing (3273), Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (327)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Concrete Products, Except Block & Brick (3272), Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon‑Based Carbon Materials (graphite, carbon black, CNTs, graphene from CO₂/CO) (EUABAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aggregate Processing & Value-Added Products (Washing, Screening, Asphalt/Concrete Aggregates) (IMAKAHAH), Manufactured/Engineered Stone & Agglomerates (Quartz, Terrazzo, Sintered Stone) (IMAKAHAG), Limestone Quarrying (Industrial & Construction Grade) (IMAKAHAC), Resin Handling & Vat/Recoater Components (Vats, Films, Blades, Pumps) (IMAAAIAD)

Keywords

• Sustainable construction materials
• Carbon-negative building products
• Industrial by-product valorization
• Metal recovery from waste
• Circular economy materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Genk

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sustainable Building Materials Sales: Sale of CO₂-negative construction materials including Carbstone®, aggregates, fillers, and metal products to industrial and construction customers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Orbix manufactures and sells CO2-negative construction materials by transforming industrial residual streams (primarily steel slags) and CO2 emissions into cement-free building materials using its patented Carbstone® carbonation technology. Its product portfolio includes carbonating powders, stone aggregates, fillers, carbonating sand, metal briquettes, and natural stone (limestone, sandstone), sold to construction companies, building-material manufacturers, and steel/industrial producers.

Product overview

Orbix operates as a technology and materials company offering a portfolio of sustainable construction solutions built around its proprietary Carbstone® carbonation technology. The core Carbstone® technology transforms industrial waste streams and CO₂ into cement-free, CO₂-negative building materials. Supporting this core technology are material products including Carbinox® (carbonating powder), Stinox® (aggregate), Gravinox® (carbonating sand), Fillinox® (filler), and Metal Briquettes—all derived from steel industry by-products. Natural materials include SprimontBlue® limestone, limestone aggregate, and sandstone. Orbix also offers Geopolymer technology as a cement alternative, Metal Recovery technology for waste valorization, and complementary services in product development consulting and logistics. The company serves the construction and steel industries with solutions targeting CO₂ reduction and circular economy principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carbstone: Patented carbonation technology that transforms CO2 and industrial waste streams into CO2-negative building materials, replacing cement in construction applications.
• Carbinox
• Stinox
• Fillinox
• Gravinox
• SprimontBlue
• Pirrouet
• CO2ncrEAT

Products and services

• Carbstone® Patented technology that transforms CO2 and industrial waste streams (such as steel slags) into cement-free, CO2-negative construction materials through carbonation, replacing traditional cement in building products. Sold as a technology/licensed process to construction and building-material manufacturers.
• Carbinox® Fine carbonating powder, an essential raw material for Carbstone® technology, produced from secondary raw materials from the steel industry, used in carbonation processes for CO2-negative building materials.
• Stinox® High-quality stone aggregate designed for concrete and asphalt applications, with high durability and wear resistance for road infrastructure and construction projects.
• Gravinox® Carbonating sand fraction that actively binds CO2, ideal for concrete products, sand-cement applications, and carbonation processes, supporting circular construction.
• Fillinox® Filler for concrete, asphalt, mortar, and plastics, made from by-products of stainless steel production, with BENOR, COPRO, and KOMO certifications.
• Stinox® Crushed Sand High-quality sustainable sand fraction for concrete, asphalt, and civil engineering applications, produced from processed mineral fractions with excellent compaction properties.
• Stinox® Mixed Sand Advanced blend of high-quality crushed sand and Gravinox® optimized for carbonation processes in the construction and concrete industries.
• Metal Briquettes Briquettes manufactured from the smallest metal fractions from the steel industry using a patented CO2 carbonation technique, enabling efficient reuse as cooling scrap in steel production.
• SprimontBlue® High-quality, frost-resistant Belgian blue limestone quarried near Sprimont, featuring fossil remains and variations from light gray to black with blue shades, suitable for indoor and outdoor applications.
• Limestone Aggregate Fine limestone extracted from upper and intermediate rock layers, suitable as aggregate, backfill stone, or crushed sand, compliant with CE, BENOR, and KOMO standards (including CE2+ and NL-BSB).
• Sandstone Natural sandstone products known for beautiful color variations, primarily used as building and dimension stone.
• Geopolymers Innovative environmentally friendly materials offering a sustainable alternative to traditional cement, transforming industrial by-products into strong, acid-resistant construction materials with lower CO2 footprint.
• Metal Recovery Technology Innovative technology that recovers valuable metals from industrial waste streams such as steel slags, refractory bricks, and bottom ashes, with capability to recover even the smallest metal particles. Sold as a process technology for steel and industrial manufacturers.
• Product Development Services Consulting services from idea to prototype, including sustainable raw materials (Carbinox®, geopolymers), process optimization, and market introduction support for sustainable construction materials. Targeted at industrial and construction customers seeking sustainable product development.
• Logistics Services Door-to-door transport combining road and inland waterway shipping, with storage facilities at Farciennes (10,000 m² covered, 5,000 m² outdoor) and transshipment at 4 strategic quays (Genk, Jemeppe, Farciennes, Mont-sur-Marchienne). Serves construction and industrial customers needing bulk-material logistics.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO₂-negative construction materials production
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Masterbloc/GubbelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for Carbstone Technology application in sustainable construction blocks production
• LhoistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCO2ncrEAT project collaboration for CO₂ utilization in lime-based construction materials
• PrefercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCO2ncrEAT project collaboration for industrial CO₂ emission utilization
• FluxyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCO2ncrEAT project collaboration for CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure
• VandersandencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPirrouet® product development and commercialization partnership for sustainable brick production
• Living TomorrowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable building materials supply for innovation campus projects
• Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing R&D partnerships for technology development in carbonation and geopolymer production
• Government BodiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainability initiatives and environmental compliance programs

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Solidia Technologies: US-based developer of CO₂-cured concrete products using a mineralisation process analogous to Orbix's Carbstone®. Both produce CO₂-sequestering cement-free concrete and target the same regulatory and sustainability-driven buyer segments.
• CarbonCure Technologies: Canadian company that injects captured CO₂ into ready-mix concrete to permanently mineralise it. Direct comparable: both monetise CO₂ utilisation in cementitious construction products and sell into the building materials value chain.
• Carbon Upcycling Technologies: Canadian company that uses CO₂ to manufacture supplementary cementitious materials and fillers from industrial waste. Closely comparable to Orbix's Carbinox® and Fillinox® lines, addressing the same cement-replacement market.

Broad incumbents

• Wienerberger: Europe's largest brick manufacturer, directly comparable to Vandersanden's Pirrouet® brick business, which is itself powered by Orbix's Carbstone® technology. Competes for the same low-carbon facade-brick specification wins.
• Holcim: Global cement and aggregates leader with a dedicated low-carbon product portfolio (ECOPact, ECOPlanet) and CO₂-mineralising concrete technologies. Overlaps with Orbix on aggregates and CO₂-sequestering cementitious products at massive scale.
• CRH plc: Global building materials group with strong aggregates, concrete and cement positions in Europe. Competes with Orbix on aggregate supply and is exposed to the same carbon-regulation tailwinds.
• Lhoist: Belgian-Family-owned global lime producer and Orbix partner in the CO2ncrEAT project. Operates adjacent lime-based construction chemistry with comparable circular-economy positioning in the same Belgian/European market.
• Heidelberg Materials: One of the world's largest cement and aggregates producers, actively commercialising carbon-capture and low-CO₂ concrete products (e.g., evoBuild). Comparable as an incumbent competing for the same low-carbon construction materials customer.

Emerging players

• CarbonOrO: Belgian startup developing CO₂-to-construction-products mineralisation technology with academic roots at VITO/UCLouvain. Comparable European competitor pursuing the same CO₂-mineralised building materials niche.
• Brimstone (formerly CarbonCure-ready competitor — carbon-negative Portland cement): US-based carbon-negative Portland cement startup producing calcium silicate cement from industrial waste. Addresses the same cement-substitution opportunity as Orbix's Carbstone® but via a different chemistry pathway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInnl.linkedin.com/company/orbixbelgium

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Orbix