Magma Group

What Magma Group does

Magma Group (legal entity Jemmtec Limited) is a UK-headquartered specialist manufacturer of high-performance refractory ceramics and vacuum-formed fibre insulation products operating in extreme high-temperature industrial environments up to 1900°C. Founded in 2010 via a management buyout of Dyson Precision Ceramics in Dewsbury, the company traces its technical lineage to the 1940s and operates four UK manufacturing sites (Dewsbury, Bolton, Wallasey, plus a relocated Intermet operation) and a Vietnamese plant in Hai Phong opened in 2012. Its product portfolio spans dense-fired refractory shapes (crucibles from 50g to 3T capacity, distribution boxes, tundishes, launders, nozzles, saggers, muffles, burner blocks, linings), vacuum-formed fibre shapes and boards (VecoForm, VecoBoard), and a complementary range of refractory cements, mastics, and ceramic composite pyrometer sheaths (Metamic). Products are produced through multiple proprietary forming methods including freeze casting, thixotropic casting, chemical casting, hydraulic and isostatic pressing, and slip casting, covering material families such as Fused Silica, Silicon Carbide, Mullite, Alumina, Zirconia, Magnesia, and Chrome-Alumina.

The company serves five primary industrial verticals: Superalloys (Vacuum Induction Melting consumables for aerospace and power generation), Advanced Ceramics (kiln furniture and saggers for technical and bio-ceramics sintering), Foundry (ferrous and non-ferrous molten metal handling), Heat Treatment (muffles, setters, and insulation for sealed quench and atmosphere furnaces), and Glass (float, container, and art/studio glass melting). Following its 2021 acquisition by Unicat Catalyst LLC (a White Deer private equity portfolio company), Magma merged with UNICAT Catalyst Technologies to form a vertically integrated platform offering catalyst products (Sulphur Removal, Shift, Methanation, PSA Adsorbents) alongside ceramics for refinery, syngas, chemical, steel, agriculture, and green energy customers. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales supported by in-house design engineers, OEM partnerships with major vacuum furnace builders, and a global distributor network; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications across UK and Vietnam facilities.

Magma generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of custom-engineered refractory and fibre shapes, plus complementary consumables (cements, mastics, coatings), with catalyst hardware sales added post-UNICAT merger. The business model is industrial B2B with no disclosed subscription, SaaS, or recurring software component; growth has been driven by a serial acquisition strategy (Morgan Thermal Ceramics in 2016, Eco Technical Ceramics in 2017, Intermet Refractories in 2023) and PE capital from White Deer/Unicat deployed into plant, machinery, and a US sales build-out led by Sales Director Callum Arthur and US Sales Manager Roger Patrick.

Name

Magma Group

Legal name

Jemmtec Limited

Website

https://magmagroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Magma Group is a UK-headquartered specialist manufacturer of high-performance refractory ceramics and vacuum-formed fibre insulation products serving aerospace superalloy melting, foundry, heat treatment, advanced ceramics, and glass industrial customers from manufacturing facilities in the UK and Vietnam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Refractory Ceramics

NAICS

Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing (3271), Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing (32712)

SIC

Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)

akta.pro primary industry

Silica, Alumina & Metal Oxide Adsorbents/Desiccants (IMAEAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Catalyst Supports & Carriers (Alumina/Ceramics/Monoliths) (IMAEAIAL)

Keywords

• Refractory ceramics manufacturing
• High temperature insulation
• Vacuum formed fibre shapes
• Industrial furnace components
• Molten metal flow control

Headquarters

HQ city

Dewsbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Refractory Ceramic Products: Manufacture and sale of high-performance refractory ceramic products including crucibles, distribution boxes, tundishes, launders, nozzles, muffles, saggers, and specialist shapes for demanding industrial applications
2. Fibre Shapes and Insulation Products: Vacuum formed fibre shapes and boards for high-temperature insulation applications up to 1700°C, sold as standard products or bespoke custom-molded components
3. Catalyst Technology (Post-Acquisition): Following acquisition of UNICAT, the combined business offers vertically-integrated manufacturing of catalyst products including Sulphur Removal, Shift Catalysts, Methanation Catalyst, and PSA Adsorbents for refinery, syngas, chemical, steel, agriculture, and green energy industries

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Magma Group is a specialist manufacturer of precision-made high-performance refractory ceramic products and vacuum-formed fibre shapes for extreme high-temperature industrial environments (up to 1900°C). The company manufactures crucibles, distribution boxes, tundishes, launders, nozzles, saggers, muffles, Metamic pyrometer sheaths, and VecoForm/VecoBoard insulation products serving the Superalloys, Advanced Ceramics, Foundry, Heat Treatment, and Glass industries. Following the 2021 acquisition of UNICAT, it also offers vertically-integrated catalyst technology including Sulphur Removal, Shift, Methanation catalysts, and PSA adsorbents.

Product overview

Magma Group is a specialist manufacturer of precision-made refractory ceramics and thermal insulation products for demanding industrial applications. The company offers a diverse portfolio of products organized across five core industry verticals: Superalloys (vacuum induction melting crucibles, distribution boxes, tundishes, nozzles, metamics, and fibre pouring aids for aerospace and power generation), Foundry (crucibles, well blocks, nozzles, launders, ladle liners, burner blocks for ferrous and non-ferrous metals), Heat Treatment (silicon carbide muffles, saggers, trays, tiles, vacuum formed boards and shapes), Advanced Ceramics (kiln furniture for sintering technical and bio ceramics), and Glass (forehearth assemblies, orifice components, and melting crucibles). The product range includes both dense-fired refractory shapes manufactured through various forming methods (chemical casting, freeze casting, hydraulic/ isostatic pressing, slip casting) and vacuum-formed fibre insulation products (VecoBoard and VecoForm branded products). The portfolio is complemented by adhesives, mastics, and refractory powders for installation and maintenance. With manufacturing facilities in the UK and Vietnam, Magma supplies products globally to industries including aerospace, glass, foundry, iron and steel, and heat treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VecoForm: Vacuum formed insulating shapes and boards for high temperature applications up to 1700°C.
• VecoBoard
• VecoFix
• VecoPlas
• VecoCoat
• VecoGlas

Products and services

• Fibre Pouring Aids & Crucibles Insulating pouring aids and one-shot fibre crucibles for superalloy casting, including hot tops for casting bars and cover trays for heat retention, used in Vacuum Induction Melting (VIM) of Nickel-Based, Cobalt-Based and Iron-Nickel-Based superalloys for aerospace, power generation, and chemical/petrochemical sectors.
• Nozzles Ceramic nozzles for controlling, directing, and regulating molten metal flow in casting and pouring operations, designed to withstand temperatures up to 1700°C, used in superalloy and foundry operations.
• Samplers / Dip Samplers Molten metal samplers for quality control, extracting representative samples for testing chemical composition, temperature, metal cleanliness, and impurities during metal processing.
• Metamic Pyrometer Sheaths Protective ceramic composite tubes (Metamic brand) for shielding temperature sensors when measuring molten metal temperatures in vacuum environments, capable of operating up to 1900°C and reusable up to 40+ times.
• Distribution Boxes, Tundishes & Launders Critical refractory components for consistent molten metal distribution, temperature control, and quality from furnace to processing lines or molds in metal casting operations.
• Crucibles Bespoke refractory crucibles for clean melts in sizes from 50g to 3T capacity, using clay-bonded, chemical-bonded, freeze casting, and pressing methods with materials including Alumina, Fused Silica, Silicon Carbide, Mullite, and Zirconia for metal melting and glass applications.
• Saggers, Trays & Tiles Ceramic refractory products for holding, protecting, and supporting materials during high-temperature heat treatment processes from 1000°C to 1900°C, used in advanced ceramics manufacturing and sintering operations.
• Vacuum Formed Boards (VecoBoard) High-temperature lightweight insulation boards for heat treatment furnaces, operating at temperatures up to 1700°C with thickness up to 150mm, providing thermal insulation for furnace interiors.
• Vacuum Formed Shapes (VecoForm) Custom-fit insulating shapes for complex furnace areas providing thermal insulation, mechanical protection, and resistance to thermal shock up to 1700°C, including Bio-soluble fibres for applications up to 1500°C and Polycrystalline fibres for up to 1700°C.
• Calcination Products Calcination saggars and calciner tubes for holding and protecting materials during high-temperature processing with controlled residence time and thermal uniformity, including calcination of pigments and raw materials.
• Well Blocks, Nozzles, Ladles High-purity, high-density refractory components with thermal shock resistance and corrosion/erosion resistance for clean, controlled pouring of ferrous and non-ferrous metals including iron, steel, aluminium, copper, platinum, and titanium.
• Launders, Liners, Risers Fused silica and silicon carbide refractory products for aluminium and copper production, resistant to metal wetting and corrosion, used in foundry and metal processing operations.
• Burner Blocks Vecoform refractory housings for protecting burners inside furnace walls and roofs, operating at temperatures up to 1700°C, used in foundry, glass, and heat treatment furnace applications.
• Muffles & Segmental SiC Muffles High-quality silicon carbide muffles for controlled atmosphere heat treatment including carburising, carbonitriding, and case hardening, with excellent thermal conductivity and abrasion resistance. Segmental versions offer modular construction for greater flexibility and easier maintenance.
• Forehearth Superstructure & Expendables Precision cast refractories for container glass and float glass industries including orifice rings, plungers, feeder tubes, spout bowls, and roof tiles for forehearth assemblies.
• Orifice Ring Preforms, Luting Gaskets & Spout Covers VecoFlex and VecoBoard products for controlling glass flow rate, maintaining temperature uniformity, and protecting molten glass from contamination in glass production operations.
• Glass Melting Crucibles Glass melting crucibles in sizes from 1 to 82 litres for art and studio glass sector including blowing, casting, and colour working applications.
• Adhesives, Mastics & Powders Refractory cements, mastics, and powders including VecoFix cement (1200-1600°C grades), VecoPlas mastics, VecoCoat coating cements for surface abrasion resistance, and VecoGlas sodium silicate adhesives for high-temperature installation and maintenance.
• UNICAT Catalyst Products Vertically-integrated catalyst products including Sulphur Removal, Shift Catalysts, Methanation Catalyst, and PSA Adsorbents for refinery, syngas, chemical, steel, agriculture, and green energy industries, manufactured globally with multiple facilities in the US, Europe, and Asia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-15% more Hydrogen production achieved by customers using Magma's new custom-shaped SMP catalyst

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UNICAT Catalyst TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollowing acquisition, Magma Group and UNICAT Catalyst Technologies merged to offer vertically-integrated global manufacturing and distribution of innovative catalyst and ceramics products for refinery, syngas, chemical, steel, agriculture, and green energy industries. UNICAT brings Sulphur Removal, Shift Catalysts, Methanation Catalyst, and PSA Adsorbents.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Resco Products: US-based refractory manufacturer producing monolithic refractories, bricks, and precast shapes for steel, aluminum, foundry, glass, and cement industries. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer base to Magma's foundry and heat treatment offerings.
• CoorsTek: US-based global manufacturer of advanced technical ceramics serving aerospace, automotive, medical, and industrial markets. Overlapping product portfolio in alumina and silicon carbide ceramics serving heat treatment and high-temperature applications.
• Imerys: French mineral specialties company with significant refractory and high-temperature solutions business. Overlapping product portfolio in mineral-based specialty products serving foundry, steel, glass, and high-temperature industrial applications.
• Morgan Advanced Materials: UK-listed global leader in advanced ceramics and refractory products serving aerospace, foundry, and heat treatment markets. Magma acquired Morgan's Thermal Ceramics production facility in Wirral in 2016, evidencing direct product overlap and similar customer base.
• HarbisonWalker International: US-based refractory manufacturer serving steel, aluminum, glass, cement, and other industrial markets. Directly comparable product range of monolithics, bricks, and preformed shapes competing with Magma in foundry and high-temperature applications.
• Pyrotek: US-based global manufacturer of refractory products and engineered materials serving aluminum, steel, glass, and foundry industries. Direct competitor in molten metal handling, filtration, and high-temperature insulation products.
• CeramTec: German advanced ceramics manufacturer producing technical ceramics for industrial, automotive, electronics, and medical applications. Comparable in advanced ceramic products (alumina, zirconia) serving similar industrial markets.
• Almatis: Global leader in alumina specialties for refractories, ceramics, and polishing applications. Supplies tabular alumina and specialty alumina products to refractory manufacturers including Magma, and competes in specialty alumina-based refractory markets.

Broad incumbents

• RHI Magnesita: Austrian-Brazilian global refractory leader serving steel, cement, glass, and non-ferrous metals. Significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Magma, but overlapping customer base in foundry and steel industries.
• Saint-Gobain: French multinational with refractory ceramics and high-performance materials divisions serving industrial markets including glass, foundry, and aerospace. Much broader portfolio, but overlapping high-temperature refractory product categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Magma Group