UNIKA

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.

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

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

• Calcium silicate bricks
• Masonry building materials
• Prefabricated wall elements
• Construction materials manufacturing
• Sustainable building products

Headquarters

HQ city

Rodgau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 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. 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.
2. 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.
3. UNIKA ecobluu Products: Climate-friendly calcium silicate bricks with 40% reduced CO2 footprint. Includes ecobluu XL and ecobluu Planelemente product lines targeting sustainable construction.
4. Technical Consultation Services: Technical sales consulting for planners, architects, and builders including structural engineering consultation, construction physics advice, and masonry execution guidance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad 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

• Xx.com/unikagmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unika-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries6 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 UNIKA