Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersWorcester, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Worcester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices25 records
Markets served
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- 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
- Engineering and Technical Services: Customized ceramic solutions engineering, application engineering support, and technical consulting for industrial process optimization
- 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
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators16 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories social profiles
Digital presenceSaint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&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
What does Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories do?
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.
Is Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories a public or private company?
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories founded?
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories was founded in -1. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories based?
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories is headquartered in Worcester, United States, in the North America region.
How does Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technical Ceramics and Refractory Products are the primary driver. The others are engineering and Technical Services and total Burner Solutions.
Who are Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Resco Products, Vesuvius plc, CoorsTek, HarbisonWalker International, Morgan Advanced Materials, RHI Magnesita, Kyocera (Industrial & Automotive Components Group), NGK Insulators and Schunk Group (Schunk Technical Ceramics). Imerys is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories have an API?
No public API is recorded for Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories.
What industry is Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories in?
Saint-Gobain High-Performance Refractories's product category is Industrial Ceramics & Refractories. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAEAE, Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment, with a secondary code of IMAKACAL, Aluminum Smelter/Refinery Technology, Equipment & Refractories. Its NAICS code is 327120 and its SIC code is 2890.