What Steinzeug-Keramo does

Steinzeug-Keramo is a European manufacturer of vitrified clay pipe systems used in municipal wastewater and sewer infrastructure. Founded in 1957 in Hasselt, Belgium as Keramo NV, the company entered a joint venture with Wienerberger Group in 1991, was fully acquired in 2010, and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary under Wienerberger Infra GmbH, with management led by Johan Van Der Biest and Tom Deckers. It runs two production sites — Bad Schmiedeberg (Germany) and Hasselt (Belgium) — and distributes across 23 European countries via direct enterprise sales and regional dealer networks, supported by nine localized country websites and active corporate social channels.

The company's core product is vitrified clay pipe systems (branded "The One") manufactured from natural raw materials — clay, chamotte, and water — with a documented lifespan of more than 150 years. The portfolio is organized into four solution categories: Open Trench (new installation via traditional excavation), Trenchless (no-dig jacking pipes), Rehabilitation (manhole and sewer renovation), and Accessories (fittings and consumables such as joint lubricant), with a specialized product (KeraMat) offered in selected markets. Independent Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) studies underpin the sustainability and total-cost-of-ownership proposition.

Steinzeug-Keramo generates revenue through direct hardware sales of these pipe systems and accessories to two primary buyer groups: municipalities and public utilities responsible for wastewater networks, and construction companies/contractors executing sewer installation and rehabilitation projects. The go-to-market is sales-led B2B, with technical consulting provided by a dedicated service and support team; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through direct sales engagement. Products carry CE Declarations of Performance across 16+ European jurisdictions and conform to PN EN 295, supporting tender eligibility for public infrastructure projects.

Name

Steinzeug-Keramo

Legal name

Wienerberger Infra GmbH

Website

https://steinzeug-keramo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Steinzeug-Keramo is a European manufacturer of vitrified clay pipe systems for wastewater and sewer infrastructure, serving municipalities and construction companies across 23 countries from plants in Germany and Belgium as a subsidiary of Wienerberger AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clay Pipe Manufacturing / Wastewater Infrastructure

NAICS

Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (32711), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110)

SIC

Structural Clay Products (3250), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Storage & Conveyance Structures (Reservoirs, Tanks, Culverts, Tunnels) (IMAFAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Manholes, Laterals & Service Connections (Installation/Rehab) (EUANACAI)

Keywords

• Vitrified clay pipes
• Wastewater infrastructure
• Sewer pipe systems
• Trenchless pipe installation
• Manhole rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Frechen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wastewater Infrastructure Products: Sale of vitrified clay pipes, manhole systems, and accessories for sewer infrastructure. Products are sold to municipalities, construction companies, and infrastructure projects for both new installations and rehabilitation projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Steinzeug-Keramo manufactures vitrified clay pipes (branded "The One") and supplies complete sewer/wastewater infrastructure solutions, including open trench installation systems, trenchless jacking pipe systems, and rehabilitation solutions for existing sewer networks and manholes. The products are produced at facilities in Bad Schmiedeberg (Germany) and Hasselt (Belgium) from natural raw materials (clay, chamotte, and water) and are sold to municipalities, public utilities, and construction companies across 23 countries.

Product overview

Steinzeug-Keramo offers a comprehensive portfolio of vitrified clay pipe systems and wastewater infrastructure solutions. Their core product is 'The One' – a premium vitrified clay pipe manufactured from natural materials (clay, chamotte, and water) with over 150 years proven lifespan. The portfolio is organized into four solution categories: Open Trench (new installation via traditional excavation), Trenchless (no-dig installation including jacking pipes), Rehabilitation (renovation of existing systems including manholes), and Accessories (fittings and components). Products are manufactured in Bad Schmiedeberg, Germany and Hasselt, Belgium, with distribution across 23 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The One Vitrified Clay Pipes High-performance vitrified clay pipes used as the core sewer and wastewater infrastructure product, suitable for both open trench and trenchless installation methods; sold to municipalities, utilities, and construction contractors.
• Open Trench Solutions Traditional excavation-based installation systems for vitrified clay pipe networks in new sewer projects where open construction is feasible; aimed at municipal and contractor buyers.
• Trenchless Solutions (Jacking Pipes) No-dig, trenchless installation systems using jacking pipes that allow underground pipe installation with minimal surface disruption; designed for contractors and municipalities in built-up or constrained sites.
• Rehabilitation Solutions Systems for renovating existing sewer networks and manholes, extending the operational life of aging wastewater infrastructure; offered to municipal asset managers and rehabilitation contractors.
• Accessories Supplementary fittings and components (including specialized joint lubricant per installation guidelines) used together with vitrified clay pipe systems during sewer installation.
• KeraMat Specialized vitrified clay mat product for specialized drainage applications, available on a made-to-order basis through Steinzeug-Keramo's Polish entity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Proven lifespan exceeding 150 years for vitrified clay pipes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Wienerberger AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteinzeug-Keramo is a subsidiary of Wienerberger AG, the world's largest brick manufacturer. Wienerberger acquired full ownership in 2010, consolidating various European vitrified clay pipe operations under the Steinzeug-Keramo brand. The company operates as part of Wienerberger Infra GmbH, benefiting from the group's global infrastructure expertise and resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Geberit: Swiss plumbing and sanitary technology leader supplying pipe systems, drainage, and installation technology for buildings and infrastructure. Comparable in wastewater/drainage pipe solutions to commercial and municipal customers across Europe.
• Pipelife: Sister company under Wienerberger AG, manufacturing plastic (PVC, PE, PP) pipe systems for water supply, sewer, drainage, and cable protection. Directly comparable as it sells competing pipe materials to overlapping municipal and contractor customers across Europe.
• Poloplast: Austrian manufacturer of plastic pipe systems (PP, PE) for water, gas, and sewer applications with strong DACH-region presence. Direct competitor in Central European municipal sewer pipe tenders.
• Hobas: Manufacturer of centrifugally cast fiberglass-reinforced polymer mortar (CCFRPM) pipes for sewer, stormwater, and potable water applications. Comparable as a non-traditional-material pipe supplier competing in the same municipal gravity sewer market.
• ACO Group: German manufacturer of drainage and wastewater management systems including surface drainage, trench channels, and sewer infrastructure. Comparable as it provides end-to-end wastewater/drainage solutions to municipal and construction customers.
• Rehau: German polymer-based solutions provider with infrastructure pipe systems for water supply, sewer, and district heating. Comparable as an alternative-material pipe supplier targeting European municipal infrastructure projects.
• Uponor: Finnish provider of piping systems for water supply, sewer, and infrastructure. Competes in European municipal and contractor markets with plastic-based pipe solutions for sewer and stormwater conveyance.
• Wavin: Dutch-based manufacturer of plastic pipe systems and fittings for water management, sewer, and stormwater. Direct competitor in sewer pipe solutions targeting the same European municipal and construction customers with alternative materials.

Broad incumbents

• Wienerberger AG: Parent company and the world's largest brick manufacturer, also operating in pipes (Pipelife), pavers, and roofing. Comparable as a broad infrastructure building-materials incumbent whose Infra division houses Steinzeug-Keramo.
• Saint-Gobain PAM: Division of Saint-Gobain supplying ductile iron pipe systems and fittings for water and sewer networks. Comparable as an established infrastructure materials incumbent targeting the same European utility and municipal customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/steinzeugkeramo
• Facebookfacebook.com/steinzeugkeramo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steinzeug-keramo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Steinzeug-Keramo