UNIKA
UNIKA is a German network of medium-sized regional companies producing calcium silicate (sand-lime) bricks and masonry building systems across seven production facilities in the Rhein-Ruhr, Rhein-Main, Berlin-Brandenburg, and Bavaria economic regions, serving construction companies, architects, and building-materials wholesalers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersRodgau, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What UNIKA does
UNIKA is a German private limited company (UNIKA GmbH) headquartered in Rodgau that operates as a coordinating entity for a network of independent medium-sized regional companies producing calcium silicate (sand-lime) bricks (Kalksandstein) and related masonry building materials. Operationally, UNIKA serves four major German economic regions — Rhein-Ruhr, Rhein-Main, Berlin-Brandenburg, and Bavaria — through seven production facilities located in Rodgau-Dudenhofen, Oranienburg-Germendorf, Haltern am See, Castrop-Rauxel, Krefeld-Rheinhafen, Wiesbaden-Amöneburg, Friedberg-Derching, and Eching-Günzenhausen. The company is led by Managing Directors Christian Bertmaring and Henry Thierschmidt, and serves construction companies, planners, architects, engineers, and building-materials wholesalers across Germany.
The core product line is UNIKA Kalksandstein, supplemented by the proprietary UNIKA ecobluu variant (launched January 2023) which delivers approximately 40% reduced CO2 emissions in production and near-CO2-neutral lifecycle accounting over a 50-year recarbonization horizon. The flagship system is the UNIKA Planelemente Bausystem — prefabricated wall elements using computer-controlled precision cutting, object-specific palletization, factory pre-sawn installation channels, and just-in-time delivery to construction sites. Supporting products include UNIKA XL Rasterelemente (large-format elements), UNIKA KS Bauplatte BP10 (slim construction plates), Kalksandstein-Stürze (lintels), and PORIT aerated concrete produced at the Rodgau facility. Manufacturing is underpinned by over 20 years of process digitalization ("Digitale DNA") across networked plants.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of brick units and prefabricated elements, supplemented by technical consulting services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; multi-year contracts are referenced via per-regional PDF price lists (Süd, West, Ost). Go-to-market is a regional direct-sales model: each region maintains dedicated sales consultants providing technical advice to architects, planners, and construction firms, complemented by building-materials wholesalers as a secondary channel. The firm operates the UNIKA Akademie training program targeting apprentices and civil-engineering/architecture students, plus active Azubi-Tag events that train 100+ participants, building long-term specification influence with future industry buyers and designers.
UNIKA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UNIKA
- Legal name
- UNIKA GmbH
- Website
- https://unika-kalksandstein.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- UNIKA is a German network of medium-sized regional companies producing calcium silicate (sand-lime) bricks and masonry building systems across seven production facilities in the Rhein-Ruhr, Rhein-Main, Berlin-Brandenburg, and Bavaria economic regions, serving construction companies, architects, and building-materials wholesalers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UNIKA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Masonry Building Materials
- NAICS
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (327)
- SIC
- Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sand-Lime / Fly-Ash Bricks & Blocks (IMADABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Calcium Silicate Bricks & Blocks (IMADABAD), Green Building & Energy-Efficient Construction (LEED, Weatherization) (EDAOAAAO)
Keywords
Where UNIKA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rodgau
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
UNIKA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Calcium Silicate Brick Sales: One-time sale of calcium silicate bricks and building materials through regional production facilities. Products include KS XL large format bricks, standard formats, and specialized products.
- UNIKA Planelemente (Prefabricated Elements): Sale of computer-cut, object-specific prefabricated wall elements delivered just-in-time to construction sites. Elements are precisely cut according to building plans, palleted for specific work stages, and include special services like pre-sawn vertical installation channels.
- UNIKA ecobluu Products: Climate-friendly calcium silicate bricks with 40% reduced CO2 footprint. Includes ecobluu XL and ecobluu Planelemente product lines targeting sustainable construction.
- Technical Consultation Services: Technical sales consulting for planners, architects, and builders including structural engineering consultation, construction physics advice, and masonry execution guidance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Price lists available per regional location |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
UNIKA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UNIKA manufactures and sells calcium silicate bricks (Kalksandstein) and related masonry building materials through a network of regional production facilities across Germany. The company offers traditional sand-lime bricks in multiple formats, the climate-friendly UNIKA ecobluu® product line with approximately 40% reduced CO2 emissions, and the UNIKA Planelemente Bausystem — prefabricated wall elements featuring computer-controlled precision cutting and just-in-time delivery to construction sites, supplemented by technical consultation services for planners, architects, and builders.
Product overview
UNIKA is a network of independent, medium-sized companies (UNIKA Süd, UNIKA West, UNIKA Ost) producing sand-lime bricks (Kalksandstein) and related masonry building products for sustainable construction. The core product line consists of traditional UNIKA Kalksandstein sand-lime bricks, supplemented by the climate-friendly UNIKA ecobluu® product line with 40% reduced CO2 emissions. The flagship offering is the UNIKA Planelemente Bausystem — a prefabricated wall element system with factory-precision cutting and just-in-time delivery. Supporting products include UNIKA XL Rasterelemente (large-format elements), UNIKA KS Bauplatte BP10 (construction plates), Kalksandstein-Stürze (lintels), and PORIT Porenbeton (aerated concrete) from the Rodgau facilities. Technical publications and planning handbooks support the product range. The UNIKA Akademie provides training services for apprentices and students in masonry construction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- UNIKA ecobluu: Innovative lime sand brick product with approximately 40% reduced CO2 footprint, representing the company's climate-friendly building materials technology.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% CO2 reduction in production
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use UNIKA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UNIKA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
UNIKA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UNIKA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heidelberg Materials AG: One of the world's largest building materials groups, headquartered in Germany, with leading positions in cement, aggregates and ready-mixed concrete. Overlaps with UNIKA's customer base in construction projects but is not a direct Kalksandstein competitor.
- Wienerberger AG: Largest European producer of clay bricks and a growing player in calcium silicate and façade systems. Operates multiple plants in Germany and competes with UNIKA in the broader German wall-building materials market, though it is far larger and more diversified across product types and geographies.
- CRH plc: International building materials group with significant European masonry and aggregates operations. Indirectly competes with UNIKA in the German construction-materials supply chain, but is a much larger, multi-product, multi-region incumbent rather than a direct Kalksandstein specialist.
- Saint-Gobain SA: Global building materials group with European masonry and insulation operations (Weber, Rigips, ISOVER). Competes with UNIKA at the building-system level in German construction projects but is far broader in scope, geography and product mix.
Direct peers
- Xella International GmbH: European market leader in masonry and insulation materials, owner of the Silka calcium silicate brick brand and the Ytong aerated concrete brand — both of which compete head-to-head with UNIKA Kalksandstein and the PORIT aerated concrete produced at UNIKA's Rodgau plant.
- Feldhaus Klinker Vertriebs-GmbH: German family-owned manufacturer of clinker facing bricks and complementary masonry products, including Kalksandstein lines. Overlaps with UNIKA in the masonry specification channel and competes for similar building-materials trade and architectural customers.
- Hagemeister GmbH & Co. KG: Family-owned German manufacturer of clinker, calcium silicate and ceramic bricks, headquartered in Nottuln. Direct competitor to UNIKA in the German masonry and Kalksandstein market, with overlapping customer base of building-materials trade and construction companies.
Regional players
- Röben Tonbaustoffe GmbH: German family-owned manufacturer of clinker bricks and clay roofing tiles, headquartered in Zetel (Lower Saxony). Competes in the German masonry specification market with UNIKA but is more weighted toward clay/clinker products in northern Germany.
Others
- KS-Plus GmbH: Central marketing and brand organization for the German Kalksandstein industry, owned collectively by Kalksandstein producers. UNIKA participates in KS-Plus activities; it is an ecosystem/marketing peer rather than a competitor.
- Bundesverband Kalksandstein e.V. Industry association for the German Kalksandstein industry (celebrating 125 years in 2025). Represents UNIKA and ~75 other producers; not a competitor but the central industry body through which standards, advocacy and marketing (e.g. KS-Plus brand) are coordinated.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UNIKA social profiles
Digital presenceUNIKA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UNIKA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
UNIKA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
UNIKA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UNIKA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UNIKA
What does UNIKA do?
UNIKA manufactures and sells calcium silicate bricks (Kalksandstein) and related masonry building materials through a network of regional production facilities across Germany. The company offers traditional sand-lime bricks in multiple formats, the climate-friendly UNIKA ecobluu® product line with approximately 40% reduced CO2 emissions, and the UNIKA Planelemente Bausystem — prefabricated wall elements featuring computer-controlled precision cutting and just-in-time delivery to construction sites, supplemented by technical consultation services for planners, architects, and builders.
Is UNIKA a public or private company?
UNIKA is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was UNIKA founded?
UNIKA was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is UNIKA based?
UNIKA is headquartered in Rodgau, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does UNIKA make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Calcium Silicate Brick Sales are the primary driver. The others are UNIKA Planelemente (Prefabricated Elements), UNIKA ecobluu Products and technical Consultation Services.
Who are UNIKA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heidelberg Materials AG, Wienerberger AG, CRH plc and Saint-Gobain SA. Direct peers are Xella International GmbH, Feldhaus Klinker Vertriebs-GmbH and Hagemeister GmbH & Co. KG. Röben Tonbaustoffe GmbH is listed as a regional player. Others are KS-Plus GmbH and Bundesverband Kalksandstein e.V..
Does UNIKA have an API?
No public API is recorded for UNIKA.
What industry is UNIKA in?
UNIKA's product category is Masonry Building Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADABAF, Sand-Lime / Fly-Ash Bricks & Blocks, with a secondary code of IMADABAD, Calcium Silicate Bricks & Blocks. Its NAICS code is 327 and its SIC code is 3290.