Gimpex – Imerys

What Gimpex – Imerys does

Gimpex – Imerys India Private Limited is a 50/50 joint venture established on 31 July 2014 between Indian diversified minerals group Gimpex Ltd (founded 1974 by the Goenka family) and French mineral specialties multinational Imerys. The company mines and processes bentonite (montmorillonite clay with >70% active content) from deposits in northwest Gujarat, India, and applies sodium activation technology transferred from Imerys' 80+ year European operations centered on Milos Island, Greece. Its product portfolio comprises eight specialty bentonite brands — GIMBOND (iron ore pelletization), GIMDRILL (oil well drilling), IKOBOND DI (foundry), GIMSULF (fertilizer), GIMFILL (animal feed), Hydrogim (paper), ALTONIT HG (specialty aluminium hydrosilicate), and the IBECO civil engineering series (HT-Xi, 150i, 180i) — each conforming to international standards such as API 13A, ASTM, ISO, and OCMA.

The company generates revenue through direct B2B sales of processed bentonite products to industrial enterprise customers across iron ore pelletization, oil well drilling, foundry, civil engineering, fertilizer, animal feed, and paper verticals, supplemented by a distributor and dealer network for regional and mid-market coverage. Pricing is negotiated per product grade, volume, and specification rather than publicly disclosed. Distribution leverages Imerys' global network spanning approximately 50 countries with 234 industrial locations, enabling exports from India to Brazil, Australia, the Middle East, and South-East Asia. The company operates from a registered office in Bhuj and a manufacturing facility in Moti Bhadai, Mandvi Taluka, Gujarat, and has been recognized as a Government of India Star Trade House for export performance.

The company follows a distinctive "market-to-mine" approach — determining downstream market requirements first and developing products and mining plans accordingly — and emphasizes automated plant design described as a first in the bentonite industry. Strategic positioning rests on combining Indian raw material access with European processing expertise, staff exchange programs with Imerys, and customizable product specifications across multiple packaging formats (valve bags, PP/HDPE bags, paper bags, jumbo bags, corrugated boxes). The company is privately held with no public revenue, funding, or valuation disclosures.

Name

Gimpex – Imerys

Legal name

Gimpex – Imerys India Private Limited

Website

https://gimpex-imerys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gimpex – Imerys is a 50/50 India–France joint venture that mines and processes bentonite (montmorillonite clay) in Gujarat, India, producing eight specialty bentonite brands for industrial customers across iron ore pelletization, oil drilling, foundry, civil engineering, fertilizer, animal feed, and paper sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Minerals / Specialty Bentonite

NAICS

Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying (21232), Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992), Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (21239)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290), Wholesale-Metals & Minerals (No Petroleum) (5050)

akta.pro primary industry

Kaolin & Industrial Clay Mining (Bentonite, Ball Clay, Fuller’s Earth) (IMAKAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bentonite & Other Smectite Clays (IMAEAFAE), Concentrate & Product Handling (Agglomeration, Pelletizing, Briquetting, Drying) (IMAKALAG), Industrial Minerals Trading (Phosphate, Potash, Sulfur, Borates, Barite, Talc) (IMAKAJAF)

Keywords

• Bentonite mineral processing
• Industrial minerals supplier
• Iron ore pelletization binder
• Drilling mud bentonite
• Foundry casting bentonite

Headquarters

HQ city

Bhuj

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bentonite and Industrial Mineral Product Sales: Gimpex – Imerys generates revenue through the sale of bentonite-based mineral products across multiple industrial applications including iron ore pelletization, drilling, foundry, civil engineering, fertilizer, animal feed, and paper industries. The company operates across the full value chain from mines to markets, selling processed and sodium-activated bentonite products to industrial customers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gimpex – Imerys mines, processes, and supplies sodium-activated and calcium-based bentonite products (containing >70% montmorillonite clay) for industrial applications including iron ore pelletization, oil well and civil engineering drilling, foundry casting, fertilizer binding, animal feed additives, and paper/pulp processing. The company operates across the full value chain from mines to markets, selling branded specialty bentonite products such as GIMBOND®, IKOBOND™ DI, GIMDRILL, GIMSULF®, GIMFILL®, HYDROGIM®, and the IBECO civil engineering line.

Product overview

Gimpex – Imerys is a joint venture mineral processing company specializing in bentonite-based products for industrial applications. The product portfolio includes specialty bentonites organized by application segments: GIMDRILL and IBECO products (HT-Xi, 150i, 180i) for drilling and civil engineering; GIMBOND® for iron ore pelletization; GIMSULF® for fertilizer applications; GIMFILL® for animal feed and agricultural uses; Hydrogim® Paper Bentonite for paper industry retention systems; ALTONIT HG as a specialty product; and IKOBOND™ DI for foundry applications. All products are sodium or calcium-activated bentonites containing over 70% montmorillonite clay content, mined and processed in Gujarat, India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GIMFILL®: Natural calcium-based bentonite for animal feed applications, used as binding, anti-caking and flowing agent properties in pellet process and conservation.
• GIMSULF®
• GIMBOND®
• GIMDRILL
• IKOBOND™ DI
• IBECO
• ALTONIT HG
• Hydrogim®

Products and services

• GIMBOND® – Iron Ore Pelletization Bentonite Natural high swelling sodium-based bentonite used as a green and dry ore binder in iron ore and metal ore pelletization. Contains >70% active montmorillonite clay; conforms to ASTM specifications with high shear and compressive strength, thermal durability, and minimum silica addition. Available as GIMBOND® IOP Lumps and GIMBOND® IOP Powder.
• IKOBOND™ DI – Foundry Bentonite Natural high swelling sodium-based bentonite for modern foundry setups including high pressure molding lines (Flask/Flaskless) and deep drawn castings. Features high purity, high thermal durability, low specific burnout ratio, instantaneous gelling capability, excellent wet tensile and shakeout properties.
• GIMDRILL – Drilling Bentonite High-quality sodium-activated bentonite for drilling and civil engineering applications, especially oil well drilling. Conforms to API/OCMA specifications, with low filter loss, high viscosity, high gel strength, fast rheological development, and creation of thin filtrate cake with low permeability.
• GIMSULF® – Fertilizer Grade Bentonite Natural high swelling sodium-based bentonite used as a sulphur pastilles binding and dispersing agent for micro-nutrients in granular and liquid fertilizer products (GIMSULF® 200-FF, GIMSULF® 300 FD). Provides controlled sulphur release into soil.
• GIMFILL® – Animal Feed Bentonite Natural non-swelling calcium-based bentonite containing >70% active montmorillonite. Used as binding, anti-caking and flowing agent in cattle and poultry feed pellets, and as a mycotoxin (aflatoxin B1) adsorbent (enterosorbent). Variants: GIMFILL® ANAMONT and GIMFILL® AGRI.
• HYDROGIM® Paper Bentonite High-quality bentonite with >70% montmorillonite used as a retention aid and dewatering additive in pulp and paper production. Provides retention of fines, sticky and pitch control, improved machine runnability, decreased drainage time, and reduced wastewater solids and COD.
• IBECO HT-Xi – Civil Engineering Bentonite High-quality sodium-activated bentonite for civil engineering applications including underground works with high groundwater pressure. Provides high cuttings suspension capability and fast rheological property development for slurry shield tunnelling.
• IBECO 150i – Civil Engineering Bentonite High-quality sodium-activated bentonite for horizontal directional drilling and civil engineering applications requiring high rheological properties. Provides 150bbl barrel yield with low filtrate losses.
• IBECO 180i – Civil Engineering Bentonite High-quality sodium-activated bentonite providing double API barrel yield (180bbl) with very low filtrate losses (10ml). Designed for horizontal directional drilling and vertical drilling applications.
• ALTONIT HG – Speciality Bentonite Aluminium hydrosilicate specialty bentonite with minimum 70% montmorillonite, minimum 75% brightness L, controlled moisture (10±2%), pH 10±1, and minimum swelling index of 20 ml/2h. Used for special industrial applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products contain >70% active montmorillonite clay content
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ImeryscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImerys, the world leader in mineral-based specialties for industry, partnered with Gimpex in a joint venture established on 31st July 2014. Imerys acquired S&B Greece (Gimpex's initial partner) and became equal co-owner with Gimpex Ltd. Imerys provides advanced European technical support, process technology, and access to global markets. The partnership combines local Indian bentonite deposits with Imerys' 80+ years of bentonite expertise from their Milos, Greece operations.
• Gimpex Ltd / Gimpex Minerals Private LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGimpex Minerals Private Limited (incorporated 4th July 1974, founded by the Goenka family, led by Mr Sameer Goenka) is the Indian partner in the joint venture. The company brought nearly five decades of industry experience in diversified minerals including barites, limestone, marble, coal and more. Gimpex was classified as a Star Trading House by the Indian government, validating its export success.
• S&B GreeceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerS&B Greece was the original European partner in the joint venture established in 2014. S&B was subsequently acquired by Imerys, which then assumed the partnership position directly. S&B brought European bentonite expertise and served as the bridge to Imerys' technology.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Minerals Technologies Inc. Global specialty minerals company with bentonite-based products (through its CETCO subsidiary) serving drilling, foundry, and environmental applications. Comparable product breadth across industrial bentonite end-uses and similar distribution reach.
• Halliburton (Bentonite Performance Minerals): Through its Baroid division, Halliburton is a major global supplier of bentonite-based drilling fluids and complementary minerals — overlapping with Gimpex-Imerys' GIMDRILL/IBECO drilling bentonite lines, but with a much broader oilfield services footprint.
• Clariant (Oil & Mining Services): Global specialty chemicals supplier to oilfield and mining industries, including bentonite-based drilling fluid products. Adjacent competitor in drilling bentonite and a broader portfolio player in oilfield services chemistry.
• Imerys S.A. Gimpex-Imerys' 50/50 JV partner and the world leader in mineral-based specialties, including its own bentonite operations on Milos, Greece. Overlapping bentonite product portfolio and global reach; Imerys operates as both a parent/partner and a broader-market incumbent.

Direct peers

• Ashapura Group: India's largest bentonite and multi-mineral producer with mining operations in Gujarat and Kutch — directly overlaps Gimpex-Imerys' core bentonite mining, processing, and domestic Indian customer base across foundry, iron ore, drilling, and animal feed segments.
• Wyo-Ben Inc. US bentonite producer (Montana-based) supplying drilling fluids, foundry bond, and specialty industrial markets. Direct comparable in sodium-activated bentonite for drilling and foundry applications.
• S&B Industrial Minerals (now part of Imerys): Historical S&B Greece entity that operated bentonite on Milos and was the original European partner in Gimpex-Imerys. After Imerys' acquisition of S&B, it became part of the JV parent — a direct precedent/peer in bentonite mining and activation technology.
• Black Hills Bentonite: Wyoming-based bentonite miner and processor serving oilfield drilling, foundry, iron ore pelletizing, and civil engineering — directly overlapping Gimpex-Imerys' GIMDRILL, IKOBOND, and GIMBOND product categories.
• Cetco (Minerals Technologies): Specialty bentonite and mineral products subsidiary of Minerals Technologies Inc., serving environmental, drilling, and industrial markets. Closely comparable to Gimpex-Imerys' civil engineering (IBECO), drilling (GIMDRILL), and specialty bentonite offerings.

Regional players

• Tolsa Group: Spanish specialty minerals company producing bentonite and sepiolite for industrial, agricultural, and consumer applications. Comparable product portfolio (foundry, agricultural, civil engineering bentonite) though primarily serving European markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Gimpex – Imerys