Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e. V.

What Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e. V. does

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e.V. (FGF) is a German registered non-profit research association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1970 and headquartered in Höhr-Grenzhausen, Rhineland-Palatinate. The organization conducts pre-competitive research for approximately 30 German refractory manufacturers, with a focus on developing and applying in-situ testing procedures for refractory materials under real operating conditions, including high temperatures, aggressive gases, slags, and contact with melts. Its member roster includes major industry players such as RHI Magnesita, Almatis, Calderys, Vesuvius, and Saint-Gobain.

FGF's core technological capabilities center on proprietary in-situ testing methods, most notably High Temperature Raman Imaging for mineralogical and structural analysis up to 1,500°C, high-temperature thermal shock testing in controlled atmospheres up to 1,750°C, CO-resistance testing under C-H-O atmospheres, and the MMH-TG-EX analysis for safe investigation of refractory castables. The organization maintains an archive of 100+ scientific publications spanning 25 years and executes 20+ active and completed research projects across topics including spinel sol-gel bonded castables, C-H-O atmosphere effects, calcium aluminate cement hydration, NSiC materials, and microwave drying.

FGF's revenue model combines member dues from ~30 refractory manufacturers, third-party-funded research grants (via partners such as AIF and the Zuse-Gemeinschaft), contract research and consulting, fee-based testing services (including a new Interlaboratory Studies offering at €1,600+VAT per laboratory), and jointly delivered training seminars via partner ECREF at the European Refractories Centre. As of January 2026, the organization operates under a dual-leadership structure with Dr. Christian Dannert leading scientific research and Dr. Kerstin Hauke leading Business Development.

Name

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e. V.

Legal name

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e.V.

Website

https://fg-feuerfest.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e.V. (FGF) is a German non-profit research association founded in 1970 that conducts pre-competitive, in-situ high-temperature testing and materials research for approximately 30 German refractory manufacturers and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Höhr-Grenzhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Third-party Funded Research Projects: FGF conducts pre-competitive research for German refractory manufacturers in third-party funded research projects (drittmittelgeförderte Forschungsvorhaben). Research spans from fundamental materials science to applied industrial applications, funded by public research programs.
2. Consulting and Contract Research: Direct cooperation with refractory manufacturers to develop new products, services, and procedures. FGF provides consulting and conducts commissioned research tailored to specific industry needs.
3. Testing Services and Interlaboratory Studies (ILS): FGF offers its innovative testing procedures to refractory manufacturers. New service: Interlaboratory Studies (ILS) for Cold Crushing Strength (CCS) testing at 1,600 € plus VAT per laboratory. Additional testing services include High Temperature Raman Imaging for industrial applications.
4. Seminars and Training: Practice-oriented seminars and continuing education for the refractory industry, conducted jointly with partner organization ECREF at the European Refractories Centre in Höhr-Grenzhausen. Topics include AI in the refractory industry, regulatory compliance, and technical training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e. V. (FGF) conducts pre-competitive research for all German refractory manufacturers, developing new in-situ investigation procedures that allow refractory materials to be studied under real operating conditions including high temperatures, aggressive gases, slags, and contact with melts. In direct cooperation with refractory manufacturers, the organization also delivers consulting, contract research, and access to its proprietary testing procedures (such as High Temperature Raman Imaging, thermal shock testing up to 1,750°C, CO-resistance testing, and MMH-TG-EX analysis), supplemented by Interlaboratory Studies (ILS), the collaborative Reviewpaper on antioxidants, and joint training seminars with ECREF.

Product overview

Forschungsgemeinschaft Feuerfest e. V. (FGF) operates as a research association offering a portfolio of research projects and specialized testing/consulting services for the German refractory industry. The core offerings include: (1) pre-competitive Forschungsprojekte funded by third-party grants, focusing on new testing methods for refractories; (2) Dienstleistungen und Consulting encompassing contract research, testing services, and training; (3) specialized services such as Interlaboratory Studies (ILS), High Temperature Raman Imaging, and MMH-TG-EX analysis. The FGF is led by a dual leadership structure with Dr. Christian Dannert (scientific) and Dr. Kerstin Hauke (Business Development), and collaborates with partners including DFFI, DIFK, ECREF, AIF, and Zuse-Gemeinschaft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings of up to 25% through optimized electric energy consumption via oxygen injection based on continuous exhaust gas analysis in electric arc furnaces
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DFFI (Verbandsplattform Deutsche Feuerfest-Industrie e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFFI is the German Refractory Industry Association. FGF collaborates with DFFI as a local partner, maintaining close ties with the German refractory industry through this association.
• DIFK (Deutsche Ingenieur- und Feuerfest-Keramik)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIFK is a local partner of FGF, contributing to the collaborative research network in the German refractory and engineering ceramics sector.
• ECREF (European Centre for Refractories)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECREF is a European partner with which FGF collaborates on seminars and training programs. Joint seminars are conducted at the European Refractories Centre in Höhr-Grenzhausen. ECREF was mentioned at the 11th Steel meets Refractory dialogue.
• Allianz für Industrie und Forschung e. V. (AIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIF is a national partner of FGF, supporting the organization's mission to promote industrial research and innovation in the German refractory sector through funding programs.
• Deutsche Industrieforschungsgemeinschaft Konrad Zuse e. V. (Zuse-Gemeinschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZuse-Gemeinschaft is a national partner representing German industrial research associations. FGF collaborates under this umbrella for shared advocacy and research coordination.
• HVG (Handelsvereinigung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHG participated as a research institute partner in FGF Project 79996 on high-resolution spectroscopy of glasses, glass melts, and ceramic materials using laser-induced plasmas.
• BFI (Beratungs- und Forschungsinstitut)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFI was a research partner in the electric arc furnace energy efficiency project, contributing to research on oxygen injection and process optimization.
• Helmut-Schmidt-Universität HamburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelmut-Schmidt-Universität Hamburg was a research partner in the electric arc furnace project, focusing on process modeling and optimization.
• IMERYScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFGF participates in the EU project REFFRACTEUR together with IMERYS to combine FGF's proven testing methods with IMERYS expertise for studying microstructure and thermal shock resistance in alumina-spinel castables.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vesuvius plc: Global refractory and engineered ceramics group with significant in-house R&D. A member company of FGF and a major consumer of refractory testing services, providing a direct industry benchmark.
• RHI Magnesita: World's largest refractory manufacturer with multiple R&D centers in-house. FGF's board includes RHI Magnesita representatives (Stefan Dreimann, Stefan Postrach) and multiple RHI Magnesita entities are FGF members, illustrating the buyer/partner relationship.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS): German applied research institute with extensive high-temperature ceramics and refractory testing capabilities. Broader scope than FGF but directly comparable on scientific staffing and testing infrastructure for industrial materials.
• Imerys (Refractory, Abrasives, Construction): Imerys is an EU REFFRACTEUR partner and a major mineral-based specialty materials supplier to the refractory industry. Comparable as a vertically integrated specialty materials player with research capabilities overlapping FGF's scope.
• Saint-Gobain (Refractory/Ceramics division): Saint-Gobain IndustrieKeramik Rödental GmbH is an FGF member. Saint-Gobain operates a large global refractory/ceramics R&D footprint and is a key German refractory manufacturer.
• HarbisonWalker International (HWI): North America's largest refractory producer with substantial in-house R&D and testing infrastructure. Comparable as a globally operating refractory manufacturer with own materials science organization serving steel and other end markets.
• Almatis GmbH: Major supplier of alumina raw materials for the refractory industry and an FGF member. Comparable as a specialty materials supplier with technical service capabilities serving the same end customers.
• Calderys (formerly Onex Refractories): Global refractory manufacturer with a German subsidiary (Calderys Deutschland GmbH) that is an FGF member. Comparable as a second-tier global refractory player with own R&D and member-funded research linkages.

Direct peers

• European Centre for Refractories (ECREF): ECREF is the European-level counterpart and a direct partner of FGF, co-located in Höhr-Grenzhausen and co-delivering seminars and training for the refractory industry. Both are non-profit industry research/training bodies serving the same refractory value chain.
• Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM): German federal institute for materials research and testing, including high-temperature and refractory characterization. Comparable in mission (materials testing for industry) and scientific rigor, though broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fg-feuerfest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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