What Dragon Environmental Technology does

Drache Umwelttechnik GmbH, doing business as Drache and headquartered in Diez, Germany, is a specialty manufacturer of ceramic foam filters, refractory materials, and engineered filtration systems serving aluminum, steel, and iron foundries worldwide. Founded in 1984 by Frank Drache, the company sells under the Cerapor® umbrella brand with three proprietary ceramic filter product lines: Ceralu® (Al2O3) for aluminum continuous casting and die casting, Cerazirk® (ZrO2) for steel, superalloy, and iron casting up to 1700°C, and Cerasic® NG (silicon carbide) for cast iron, copper alloys, and aluminum smelting. The portfolio also includes house-brand refractory materials (Drache Fused Silica, DBN boron nitride coating, DKS calcium silicate) and complete filtration engineering systems such as Filterboxen, Flowheater electric preheaters, Drache Entgaser degassers, Drache Filter-Kombibox integrated units, and Rinnensysteme launder systems for molten metal transport.

The company operates a direct enterprise sales model targeting aluminum, steel, and iron foundries globally, supported by wholly-owned sales subsidiaries in Gibsonville, NC (Drache USA Inc.) and Sharjah (Drache Middle East). Pricing is quote-based B2B with custom-engineered solutions tailored to customer requirements. The company is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 50001, and was recognized with the IHK Koblenz Award for Outstanding Training in 2024. In January 2026, Porvair plc acquired all shares of Drache for €20.5 million, integrating the business into its Metal Melt Quality division alongside SELEE Corporation to create a combined global team with production sites across America, EMEA, and Asia. Managing Director Dr. Alexander Mach continues in his role post-acquisition.

Name

Dragon Environmental Technology

Legal name

Drache Umwelttechnik GmbH

Website

https://drache-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Drache Umwelttechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of proprietary ceramic foam filters (Ceralu, Cerazirk, Cerasic), refractory materials, and integrated filtration systems for aluminum, steel, and iron foundries worldwide, acquired by Porvair plc in January 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ceramic Foam Filtration

NAICS

Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing (32615)

SIC

Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Melamine Foam Manufacturing (IMANAIAI)

Keywords

• Ceramic foam filters
• Metal casting filtration
• Refractory products
• Foundry filtration supplies
• Industrial ceramics manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Diez

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ceramic Foam Filters: Sale of ceramic foam filters including Ceralu Al2O3, Cerazirk ZrO2, and Cerasic NG for metal filtration in aluminum, steel, and iron foundries.
2. Filtration Equipment and Systems: Manufacturing and sale of filtration equipment including filterbox systems, degassers, filter-combibox units, and launder systems for aluminum casting operations.
3. Refractory Materials: Sale of proprietary refractory materials including Drache Fused Silica, DBN (Drache Bornitrid), and DKS (Drache Calcium Silicate) for foundry applications.
4. Aftermarket Services: Replacement and refurbishment services including renewal of deep-bed filters and degassers as part of all-inclusive service packages.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Drache Umwelttechnik GmbH manufactures and sells ceramic foam filters under the Ceralu, Cerazirk, and Cerasic product families, along with refractory materials and filtration equipment. These products are used by aluminum, steel, and iron foundries to remove inclusions and improve metal cleanliness during molten metal casting operations. The company serves industrial foundries globally with proprietary ceramic foam filtration solutions developed since its founding in 1984.

Product overview

Drache Umwelttechnik GmbH is a leading global supplier of filtration technology and foundry equipment for aluminum, steel, and iron casting. The product portfolio centers on four core ceramic foam filter brands: Ceralu® Al2O3 for aluminum casting (since 2009), Cerazirk® ZrO2 for steel and iron casting with temperatures up to 1700°C, and Cerasic® NG (silicon carbide) for cast iron and copper alloys. These filters are complemented by proprietary refractory materials including Drache Fused Silica (DFS) and Drache Fused Silica Fine, plus DBN (Boron Nitride) and DKS (Calcium Silicate) coatings. The engineering systems division provides complete equipment solutions including Filterboxen for housing filters, the Flowheater electric preheating system, Drache Entgaser for melt degassing, the Drache Filter-Kombibox combining degassing and filtration, and Rinnensysteme for molten metal transport. Supporting products include directly heated crucible furnaces, riser tubes, and aluminum titanate components. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Diez, Germany, the company operates subsidiaries in the USA and UAE, and was acquired by Porvair plc in January 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cerapor®: Brand for ceramics, foam ceramics, and filter solutions for high-temperature, metal, air, and water applications. Active since 2007.
• Ceralu®
• Cerazirk®
• Cerasic®

Products and services

• Ceralu Ceramic Foam Filters Ceramic foam filters under the Ceralu brand designed for aluminum foundry casting operations to remove inclusions and improve metal cleanliness in molten aluminum.
• Cerazirk Ceramic Foam Filters Ceramic foam filters under the Cerazirk brand designed for steel and high-temperature alloy casting applications to filter molten metal and improve casting quality.
• Cerasic Ceramic Foam Filters Ceramic foam filters under the Cerasic brand designed for iron foundry casting operations to remove inclusions from molten iron and improve casting cleanliness.
• Refractory Materials Refractory products supplied for molten metal handling and foundry operations, complementing the company's ceramic foam filter lines.
• Filtration Equipment Filtration equipment supplied to industrial foundries to support ceramic foam filter installation and operation in metal casting lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• 310 tons CO2 reduction through 100% green electricity procurement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SELEE CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SELEE Corporation is integrated alongside Drache in Porvair's Metal Melt Quality division. The combination aims to create a global team offering expanded products, technical support, and production sites across America, EMEA, and Asia. The goal is to combine American innovation, German reliability, and Chinese speed for comprehensive aluminum filtration solutions.
• ELMECH BBIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian business partner of Drache. Meeting occurred at TMS 2025 Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Las Vegas where collaboration was discussed and future projects exchanged.
• Otto & Zirner GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContractor responsible for installation of photovoltaic system on Hall 1, completed May 17, 2023. System has 306.28 kWp capacity with 806 PV modules.
• Noll GmbHminorOthersMetalworking company that lent a boat for summer party event at Camping-Resort Limburg. Boat was in-house development used during employee event.
• Kazakh Invest National CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYerzhan Yelekeyev, Chairman of Management Board at Kazakh Invest, visited Drache in April 2024 along with Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov to discuss market opportunities and cooperation. Follow-up discussions planned for Kazakhstan Investment Day 2025.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SELEE Corporation: US-based manufacturer of ceramic foam filters for aluminum and other molten metal filtration, now sister company to Drache within Porvair's Metal Melt Quality division. Directly comparable product portfolio (ceramic foam filters for foundry applications) and customer base, making it the closest comparable in terms of product offering and target market.
• LANIK: Czech-based manufacturer of ceramic foam filters (primarily alumina and silicon carbide) for foundry applications, serving aluminum, iron, and steel foundries globally. Direct competitor in the same product category with comparable technology and customer base, though smaller scale than Drache.
• Insertec: Spanish manufacturer of ceramic foam filters for foundry applications, serving aluminum, iron, and steel casting operations across Europe and beyond. Direct competitor in the same product category with comparable filter technology and target customer base.

Emerging players

• Kerafol: German manufacturer of technical ceramic components including filter applications for industrial use. Overlaps with Drache in ceramic materials expertise for high-temperature industrial applications, though smaller and less focused specifically on foundry filtration.

Broad incumbents

• Vesuvius (Foseco division): Global leader in molten metal flow engineering and refractory products for the foundry and steel industries, with the Foseco brand directly competing in filtration, feeding systems, and metal treatment. Operates at significantly larger scale than Drache across multiple geographies and segments.
• Morgan Technical Ceramics: Manufacturer of advanced ceramic components including filters and refractory parts for high-temperature industrial applications including metal casting. Part of Morgan Advanced Materials, broader portfolio with overlapping foundry and molten metal filtration product lines.
• Saint-Gobain: Global manufacturer of high-performance materials including ceramic-based filtration media and refractory products serving industrial markets. Operates broadly across construction and industrial sectors, with relevant overlap in ceramic foam and high-temperature filtration applications for foundries and metal processing.
• CoorsTek: Large global manufacturer of technical ceramics serving industrial applications including molten metal filtration, refractory components, and high-temperature engineered ceramics. Much broader product portfolio than Drache but overlapping in ceramic filter media and foundry components.
• Pyrotek: Global supplier of high-temperature materials and equipment for the aluminum, steel, and foundry industries, including ceramic foam filters and molten metal handling systems. Significantly larger and broader in scope than Drache, serving overlapping customers with a wider product portfolio including carbon products and engineered ceramics.

Regional players

• Refratechnik: Germany-based manufacturer of refractory products and ceramic solutions for high-temperature industrial applications including steel, aluminum, and cement industries. Overlaps with Drache in refractory materials and foundry consumables, primarily serving European customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drache-umwelttechnik-gmbh/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/drache_umwelttechnik

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Dragon Environmental Technology