International Thermal Refractories

What International Thermal Refractories does

International Thermal Refractaries (ITR) is a Lisbon-headquartered refractory services contractor founded in 2015 to serve industrial clients requiring installation, maintenance, and supervision of refractory linings in high-temperature equipment. The company delivers field-based refractory services across six industrial verticals: Iron and Steel, Glass, Chemical and Petrochemical, Non-Ferrous, Cement, and Energy and Environment. Its service portfolio spans the full refractory lifecycle — planned yearly shutdowns, continuous on-site maintenance, emergency hot repairs using rotor shooter equipment, and a broad set of installation techniques (bricklaying, gunning, shotcrete, casting, pumping, ramming, anchor welding, fiber lining, demolition) — supported by documentation packages (Installation Procedures, QA/QC, H&S). Crews are described as experienced, with 20+ years in the refractory trade, trained in occupational safety and certified to ISO 9001 (since 2017) and SCC (since 2016).

The business model is project-based professional services: ITR provides certified personnel, proprietary equipment, and supervision directly to client plants worldwide, with custom-quoted pricing. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting industrial plant operators, with the company claiming worldwide presence and closeness to clients. The company has no public pricing, no named customer logos, and no disclosed revenue. Distribution is entirely direct, with no channel partners aside from a research collaboration with Instituto Superior Técnico.

Following a strategic alliance with Gouda Refractories Group that began January 1, 2024, ITR was fully acquired by Gouda on July 17, 2025; Gouda itself had been absorbed by Shinagawa Refractories Co. Ltd. in October 2024. ITR therefore now operates within a multinational refractory services network spanning the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and Portugal. Headcount is cited as up to 50 prior to acquisition and over 40 professionals post-announcement; leadership comprises General Manager João Neves and HSEQ Manager André Oliveira.

Name

International Thermal Refractories

Legal name

International Thermal Refractories, Unipessoal Lda.

Website

https://itr.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Thermal Refractories is a Lisbon-headquartered refractory services contractor founded in 2015 that installs, maintains, and supervises refractory linings for industrial clients across Iron and Steel, Glass, Chemical and Petrochemical, Non-Ferrous, Cement, and Energy sectors worldwide. Acquired by Gouda Refractories Group in July 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Maintenance Services: Yearly shutdown planning and construction, full maintenance repairs with continuous presence at customer plants, emergency shutdown projects, demolition and lasting repairs
2. Installation Services: Providing certified and skilled manpower, tools and equipment for all types of refractory work including bricklaying, gunning, shotcrete, casting, pumping, ramming, welding of anchors, fiber lining, and demolishing
3. Supervision Services: Experienced supervision to monitor installed quality, overcome installation problems, and ensure correct installation of refractory products with specific installation techniques

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

International Thermal Refractories (ITR) provides specialized refractory lining installation, repair, and maintenance services for industrial plants worldwide. The company supplies certified and skilled manpower, tools, and equipment for refractory work including bricklaying, gunning, shotcrete, casting, pumping, ramming, welding of anchors, fiber lining, suspended roofs, and hot repairs via rotor shooter. It serves industries such as iron and steel, glass, chemical and petrochemical, non-ferrous, cement, and energy and environment, supported by supervision, QA/QC documentation, and emergency shutdown response.

Product overview

International Thermal Refractories (ITR) is a specialized refractory services company offering a unified portfolio of installation, maintenance, and supervision services for industrial refractory lining applications. The core product offerings include Suspended Roofs (specialized refractory products for furnace lining), the Shotcrete Method (pneumatic projection technique), and Hot Repair with Rotor Shooter (emergency repair service). These are complemented by comprehensive installation services (bricklaying, gunning, casting, pumping, ramming, welding of anchors, fiber lining, demolishing), maintenance services (shutdown planning, full repairs, emergency shutdowns), and supervision services. The company operates across multiple industries including Iron and Steel, Glass, Chemical and Petrochemical, Non Ferrous, Cement, and Energy and Environment sectors. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, ITR was acquired by Gouda Refractories Group in July 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refractory Installation Services

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gouda Refractories GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2025Gouda Refractories Group officially acquired International Thermal Refractories, Unipessoal Lda. as of July 17, 2025. This acquisition is a logical next step in their successful strategic alliance which began January 1, 2024. Gouda Refractories Group, founded in 1901 and part of Shinagawa Refractories Co. Ltd. since October 2024, is an internationally operating group consisting of four refractory service and installation companies in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Sweden. The acquisition strengthens global capabilities and expands expertise in refractory lining and maintenance.
• Instituto Superior TécnicominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2016ITR is supporting a three-year research project called FireComposite (funded by Fundação da Ciência e Tecnologia) being developed at Instituto Superior Técnico – Universidade de Lisboa. The project aims at understanding fire behaviour of concrete structures reinforced with FRP bars. ITR is advising the research and providing insulation materials needed to perform fire resistance tests.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Resco Products: Resco Products manufactures monolithic and brick refractories and provides on-site installation services to heavy industry; a direct peer to ITR in serving steel, cement, and non-ferrous customers with combined supply-and-install offerings.
• INTOCAST AG: INTOCAST is a European manufacturer of refractory products and provider of on-site refractory installation and maintenance services to steel, cement, and foundry customers — directly comparable to ITR in service model and continental European footprint.
• Calderys: Calderys (an Imerys group company) is a global provider of monolithic and shaped refractory products and on-site installation services to steel, cement, and glass producers, directly comparable to ITR's service offering and end-market focus.
• HarbisonWalker International: HarbisonWalker International is a North American refractory products and services provider with installation and maintenance offerings for steel, cement, glass, and aluminium end markets — directly comparable to ITR in service scope and customer verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Morgan Advanced Materials: Morgan Advanced Materials supplies high-performance refractory and ceramic products used in high-temperature industrial processes, and offers related installation and maintenance services; comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in industrial furnace linings.
• Vesuvius plc: Vesuvius is a global refractory and foundry consumables group serving steel and non-ferrous metals customers with both products and on-site services; comparable as a broad incumbent whose installation/maintenance offering competes with ITR in shared end markets.
• Shinagawa Refractories Co. Ltd. Shinagawa Refractories is the ultimate parent of Gouda and one of the largest refractory manufacturers and installers globally; it is a relevant incumbent comparable for ITR given the integrated manufacturing-plus-installation business model serving the same heavy-industry customers.
• RHI Magnesita: RHI Magnesita is the world's largest refractory supplier, combining refractory manufacturing with on-site installation and maintenance services to steel, cement, and non-ferrous metals customers — a broad incumbent whose service model overlaps with ITR's installation/maintenance scope.
• Gouda Refractories Group: Gouda Refractories Group is the direct acquirer of ITR and operates four sister refractory service and installation companies in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Sweden, sharing the same installation, maintenance, and supervision service model across iron & steel, cement, and energy end markets.

Emerging players

• Kerui Group: Kerui Group is a Chinese manufacturer and installer of monolithic refractories targeting overseas industrial customers, particularly in emerging markets; comparable as an emerging player in the same refractory installation space, though focused on different geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-thermal-refractories-unipessoal-lda-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 International Thermal Refractories