ESD-SIC

What ESD-SIC does

ESD-SIC bv is a Netherlands-based chemical manufacturer founded in 1973 and headquartered in Farmsum near Delfzijl, producing crystalline, metallurgical, and refractory silicon carbide (SiC) at a single facility with up to 65,000 tonnes of annual capacity. The company manufactures SiC via the Acheson Process — reacting sand (SiO₂) with petroleum coke in electrical resistance furnaces at approximately 2,500°C — and operates one of only two proprietary desulphurisation plants in the world, alongside an on-site power plant that recovers approximately 20% of furnace energy from process gas and a closed-loop water purification system. Its product portfolio spans three SiC grades (E-SIC crystalline for abrasives/ceramics, E-SIC metallurgical variants including premium TOPSIC® at ≥90% purity for iron and steel applications, and E-REFSIC refractory grades at 90–95% purity for blast furnaces and high-temperature applications), plus an E-Sulphur by-product recovered from desulphurisation.

ESD-SIC serves industrial B2B customers — iron foundries, steel mills, refractory manufacturers, aluminium producers, and technical ceramics producers — through a direct sales model with quote-based pricing and global just-in-time distribution via logistics partners, offering bulk, Big bag, and paper bag packaging. The company positions itself as the world's most environmentally friendly SiC producer, holding the most progressive designation under the EU IPPC/Best Available Techniques framework and a multi-ISO certification stack (9001, 14001, 45001, 50001, 26000). It is an independent subsidiary of German company REF-Processing GmbH since 2009, with approximately 100 employees and a flat organisational structure led by CEO Gerhard Krause. The business model is straightforward industrial commodity sales with no disclosed digital channels, no public revenue figures, and no external funding or M&A activity since the 2009 acquisition.

Name

ESD-SIC

Legal name

ESD-SIC B.V.

Website

https://esd-sic.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ESD-SIC is a Netherlands-based silicon carbide manufacturer founded in 1973, producing up to 65,000 tonnes annually of crystalline, metallurgical, and refractory SiC grades for foundries, steel mills, refractory manufacturers, and ceramics producers worldwide via direct B2B sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Silicon Carbide Manufacturing

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)

SIC

Electronic Components, Nec (3679)

akta.pro primary industry

Compound Semiconductor Wafers & Substrates (SiC/GaN/GaAs/InP/Sapphire) (HDAHAGAB)

Keywords

• Silicon carbide manufacturing
• Metallurgical silicon carbide
• Refractory silicon carbide
• Crystalline silicon carbide
• Industrial abrasives production

Headquarters

HQ city

Delfzijl

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Silicon Carbide Products: ESD-SIC generates revenue primarily from manufacturing and selling high-quality silicon carbide products. The company produces various grades including crystalline SiC (E-SIC 98), metallurgical SiC (E-SiC 37, E-SIC 85, E-SIC 88, TOPSIC), and refractory SiC (E-REFSIC 90-95%). Products are sold in bulk, Big bags, or paper bags.
2. E-Sulphur By-product: Recovered sulphur from the desulphurisation process is sold as a sustainable raw material. Monthly production of approximately 200 tonnes of high purity sulphur slurry (~98%) supplied for various industrial applications including agriculture, rubber manufacturing, and industrial gas production.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ESD-SIC manufactures and sells silicon carbide (SiC) products including crystalline, metallurgical, and refractory grades, plus recovered E-Sulphur as a by-product. The company operates one of the world's largest SiC factories, producing up to 65,000 tonnes per year via the Acheson Process in electrical resistance furnaces, and supplies industrial customers in foundries, steel mills, refractory manufacturing, and technical ceramics globally.

Product overview

ESD-SIC is a silicon carbide (SiC) manufacturer producing up to 65,000 tonnes annually. The product portfolio comprises three main categories: Crystalline SiC (98% purity in green and dark grades for abrasives, refractories, and technical ceramics); Metallurgical SiC including E-SiC 37, E-SIC 85, E-SIC 88, and premium TOPSIC® (90%+ purity for iron and steel applications as silicon/carbon sources); and Refractory SiC (E-REFSIC 90 for high-temperature applications). A valuable by-product, E-Sulphur, is recovered through the company's proprietary desulphurisation process. Products are sold worldwide in various grain fractions and packaging options (bulk, big bags, paper bags).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crystalline SiC (E-SIC 98) High-purity crystalline silicon carbide (~98% SiC) produced in electrical resistance furnaces using the Acheson Process, available in green and dark grades. Offers extreme hardness, high thermal shock resistance, excellent high-temperature properties, low thermal expansion, high corrosion resistance, and semiconductor properties. Used by manufacturers of abrasives, refractories, and technical ceramics.
• E-SiC 37 Metallurgical grade silicon carbide with typical 37% SiC content, supplied in standard size 0-15mm. Used as a source of silicon and carbon for iron and steel applications, providing lower impurities versus other Si sources and improving cast iron nucleation.
• E-SIC 85
• E-SIC 88
• TOPSIC
• E-REFSIC 90
• E-Sulphur

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% electricity savings equivalent to consumption of 24,000 households through power plant
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Pacific Rundum: Japanese silicon carbide producer serving Asian metallurgical and refractory markets. Comparable product grades (crystalline and metallurgical SiC) but primarily serves Asia rather than competing head-to-head with ESD-SIC in Europe.
• Carborundum Universal: Indian manufacturer (Murugappa Group) producing silicon carbide grains, powders, and refractory products. Comparable product portfolio targeting metallurgical and refractory customers but primarily serves South Asian markets.
• Navarro SiC: Spanish silicon carbide manufacturer producing metallurgical and abrasive SiC grades. Comparable product mix to ESD-SIC but primarily serves Iberian and Latin American markets.

Direct peers

• Fiven: Norwegian SiC producer (carved out of Saint-Gobain) focused on metallurgical and refractory grades with global reach. Closest European direct competitor to ESD-SIC with overlapping product portfolio and customer base.
• Washington Mills: North American specialty SiC and fused mineral producer with comparable metallurgical, refractory, and abrasive grade offerings. Directly competes with ESD-SIC in industrial SiC markets globally.

Broad incumbents

• CoorsTek: US-based technical ceramics manufacturer that consumes and processes silicon carbide for industrial and advanced applications. Overlaps with ESD-SIC in SiC-based refractory and ceramic products but operates as a much larger diversified ceramics platform.
• Saint-Gobain: Global materials conglomerate with historical silicon carbide operations (now divested as Fiven). As a broad incumbent, overlaps with ESD-SIC in abrasive and refractory SiC applications but within a much larger diversified portfolio.

Emerging players

• Wolfspeed: US-based pure-play semiconductor-grade silicon carbide company (SiC wafers, power devices for EVs and 5G). Adjacent material (SiC) but ESD-SIC operates in industrial grades while Wolfspeed targets high-margin semiconductor applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 ESD-SIC