Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories

What Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories does

Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories (operating as Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories) is a division of Saint-Gobain S.A., the French-listed industrial materials conglomerate (Euronext Paris: SGO) tracing its origins to 1665. The division manufactures high-performance technical ceramics and refractory components engineered for extreme-temperature industrial applications up to 1,800°C, serving metals and metallurgy, advanced manufacturing, industrial heat processing, energy and process industries, water and filtration, transportation, and defense markets. Its core materials portfolio includes proprietary silicon carbide (Hexoloy, Crystar, Silit, Advancer, N-Durance), alumina (Alundum), boron carbide (Norbide), silicon nitride (Noralide), zirconia (Zirnorite), and magnesium oxide (Magnorite) formulations, sold under 20+ registered trademarks.

The company's product portfolio spans kiln furniture systems (Lo-Mass Ultra), ceramic saggers for lithium-ion battery cathode active material production (PowerCeram), total burner solutions integrating HeatCor recuperators, PyroCor flame tubes, NOxBuster emissions reduction, SpyroCor inserts, and Amasic-3D additively manufactured burner nozzles, plus refractory monolithics, armor ceramics, and Crystar filtration membranes. It operates 11 industrial sites across 10 countries with commercial and technical presence on all six continents, supported by R&D centers in Northborough, MA and Cavaillon, France, generating documented customer outcomes including 5-20% energy consumption reductions, up to 85% LHV efficiency, and >33% productivity improvements in specific applications.

The division generates revenue through direct enterprise field sales of engineered ceramic components (hardware sales) and customized engineering/technical services, with quote-based pricing as pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution combines direct sales to industrial manufacturers with OEM embedded channels through heat exchanger OEMs and thermocouple OEMs globally. The business is wholly owned within Saint-Gobain S.A.'s Innovative Materials segment, with no independent public listing, separate revenue disclosure, or outside equity holders.

Name

Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories

Legal name

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories (a division of Saint-Gobain Ceramics)

Website

https://ceramicsrefractories.saint-gobain.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories is a division of Saint-Gobain S.A. that manufactures high-performance technical ceramics and refractory components for industrial manufacturers in metals, battery materials, aerospace, energy, and defense markets, operating 11 industrial sites across 10 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Ceramics & Refractories

NAICS

Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing (327120), Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing (3271), Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing (32712), All Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (32799)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment (IMAHAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aluminum Smelter/Refinery Technology, Equipment & Refractories (IMAKACAL), Engineering Thermoplastics (PA, POM, PC, PBT/PET, PEEK) (IMAEANAD), Materials, Metallurgy & Heat Treatment (Manufacturing-focused) (EDAOAGAI)

Keywords

• Industrial ceramics manufacturing
• Refractory solutions
• Kiln furniture systems
• Burner components
• High-performance ceramics

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices25 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technical Ceramics and Refractory Products: Sale of engineered ceramic components, kiln furniture, rollers, saggers, radiant tubes, and specialty ceramic products for industrial high-temperature applications
2. Engineering and Technical Services: Customized ceramic solutions engineering, application engineering support, and technical consulting for industrial process optimization
3. Total Burner Solutions: Complete combustion system solutions including radiant tubes, recuperators, flame tubes, and burner components with associated installation and optimization services

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories manufactures and sells engineered high-performance ceramics and refractory products for industrial high-temperature applications, including kiln furniture, saggers, rollers, radiant tubes, recuperators, burner components, wear-resistant parts, ceramic armor, filtration membranes, and nuclear reactor components. The division supplies materials based on silicon carbide, alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride, boron carbide, and mullite through 11 industrial sites across 10 countries, with custom engineering and application support for steelmaking, aluminum, foundry, energy, automotive, electronics, water treatment, and defense customers.

Product overview

Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics & Refractories offers a comprehensive portfolio of engineered ceramic solutions and refractory products organized into distinct categories: Engineered Ceramic Solutions (kiln systems, specialty ceramics, total burner solutions, wear resistant technologies, armor, and filtration) and Refractory Solutions (for steelmaking, ironmaking, foundry, aluminum, copper, waste to energy, petrochemistry, hydrogen, and zinc industries). Key material brands include Hexoloy® (sintered silicon carbide), Crystar® (recrystallized silicon carbide), Silit® SK (siliconized silicon carbide), Advancer®, N-Durance®, Alundum® (fused alumina), and Zirnorite® (zirconia). Burner technology products include HeatCor™ recuperators, PyroCor™ flame tubes, NOxBuster®, SpyroCor® inserts, and Amasic-3D® additive manufactured burners. The company operates 11 industrial sites with 8 SEPR plants across 10 countries, with headquarters at Tour Saint-Gobain in Courbevoie, France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lo-Mass Ultra: Advanced kiln furniture system designed to optimize firing of technical ceramics, substrates, and porcelain while ensuring sustainability and efficiency.
• PowerCeram
• Hexoloy
• Crystar
• Silit
• Advancer
• N-Durance
• Alundum
• Norbide
• Noralide
• NOROX
• Crystar FT
• Zirnorite
• Duraform
• HeatCor
• SpyroCor
• PyroCor
• NOxBuster
• Magnorite

Products and services

• Lo-Mass Ultra Kiln Furniture Systems Engineered kiln furniture system with ultra-thin 4mm slabs and stacking supports that optimizes firing of technical ceramics, substrates, porcelain, and SOFC/SOEC applications while delivering >33% productivity improvement and >25% longer ceramic lifespan.
• PowerCeram Ceramic Saggers Next-generation ceramic saggers made from advanced silicon carbide with enhanced thermal shock and chemical corrosion resistance, designed for lithium-ion battery cathode active material (CAM) production.
• Hexoloy Sintered Silicon Carbide

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-20% energy consumption reduction achievable with total burner solutions in aluminum and steel finishing applications
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Resco Products: US-headquartered manufacturer of refractory products serving steel, aluminum, foundry, and industrial markets. Comparable in monolithics, plastics, and precast shapes for iron, steel, and non-ferrous metal production.
• Vesuvius plc: Global leader in flow control, advanced refractories, and digital sensors for the steel and foundry industries. Comparable in monolithic refractories, tundish linings, and high-temperature consumables for primary metals.
• CoorsTek: Privately held leading technical ceramics manufacturer with broad SiC, alumina, and zirconia product portfolios serving semiconductor, medical, defense, and industrial customers. Directly comparable on engineered ceramic shapes, kiln components, and high-purity material supply.
• HarbisonWalker International: Major North American refractory manufacturer serving steel, aluminum, glass, cement, and petrochemical end markets. Comparable customer base and product portfolio in shaped and monolithic refractories, particularly across US metals customers.
• Morgan Advanced Materials: Global manufacturer of technical ceramics and advanced carbon materials serving aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial markets. Closest direct peer based on overlapping silicon carbide, alumina, and nitride-bonded ceramic portfolios sold into kiln furniture, wear, and high-temperature applications.
• RHI Magnesita: World's largest refractory supplier focused on steel, cement, glass, and non-ferrous metals. Direct competitor in monolithic and shaped refractories, with comparable product breadth for EAF, blast furnace, and aluminum applications.
• Kyocera (Industrial & Automotive Components Group): Diversified Japanese ceramics manufacturer with substantial industrial ceramics business serving semiconductor, automotive, and energy markets. Comparable on fine ceramics components, cutting tools, and high-temperature industrial applications.
• NGK Insulators: Japanese manufacturer of ceramics for power, electronics, and industrial applications including honeycomb substrates and high-performance insulators. Comparable in industrial process equipment ceramics and SiC materials.
• Schunk Group (Schunk Technical Ceramics): German-based technical ceramics specialist with strong positions in silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and oxide ceramics for industrial, electronics, and high-temperature applications. Closely comparable on engineered components and material technology.

Broad incumbents

• Imerys: Global specialty minerals producer supplying refractory raw materials, aluminates, and performance minerals. Comparable as an upstream/adjacent supplier serving many of the same refractory and ceramic customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-lB3bz-rQA00wRaox2OKDA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saint-gobain-performance-ceramics-refractories

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories