What DEKILN LTD. does

DEKILN LTD. (legal name: Deakin Bio-hybrid Materials Limited) is a Manchester, UK-based sustainable materials company founded in January 2021 by Dr Aled Roberts. The company has developed BioSintering, a proprietary low-temperature manufacturing process that combines recycled gypsum/plaster waste with bio-based binders to produce ceramic-like tiles cured at 60-90°C rather than kiln-fired at 850-1850°C. This process delivers 90% energy savings, 94% lower CO2 footprint, 99% reduction in particulate emissions, and tiles with over 95% recycled content and flexural strength up to 25 MPa. The company's flagship product line, Eralith tiles, targets the European ceramics industry, which emits approximately 19 million tonnes of CO2 annually from firing and drying processes.

The company's primary business model is technology licensing: it licenses BioSintering to ceramic tile manufacturers, enabling them to eliminate capital-intensive kiln infrastructure while integrating with existing production equipment. A secondary model is direct sale of Eralith tiles to architects and designers through the company's Manchester showroom, website inquiries, and distribution partnerships. The flagship commercial partnership is with Johnson Tiles (a UK tile manufacturer established in 1901), which is operating a trial manufacturing site in Stoke-on-Trent to pilot-produce and distribute Eralith tiles. Dekiln also distributes through Teamwork Global in Italy and collaborates with Materials Assemble in architecture and design.

The company is privately held and pre-commercial in scale, having raised approximately £700,000 in its first institutional seed round from Green Angel Ventures in September 2024, supplemented by non-dilutive grants from the Henry Royce Institute (Royce ICP), the Foundation Industries Network+, Innovate UK/UKRI, and a Royal Academy of Engineering Green Future Fellowship. The 7-person team operates from Manchester, with research roots at the University of Manchester and IP management handled by Frontier IP. BioSintering patents are filed/pending and the Eralith brand is registered. Distribution channels are regional (UK and Italy), and the company is currently in the pilot-to-commercialisation transition phase rather than at commercial scale.

Name

DEKILN LTD.

Legal name

Deakin Bio-hybrid Materials Limited

Website

https://dekiln.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DEKILN LTD. is a Manchester-based sustainable materials startup that licenses its proprietary low-temperature BioSintering process to ceramic tile manufacturers and sells Eralith tiles to architects and designers, eliminating kiln firing to deliver 90% energy savings and 94% lower CO2 emissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Building Materials / Low-Carbon Ceramic Tiles

NAICS

Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (32711), Gypsum Product Manufacturing (327420)

SIC

Concrete, Gypsum & Plaster Products (3270), Pottery & Related Products (3260)

akta.pro primary industry

Tile & Grout Repair (Cracks, Loose Tiles, Regrout) (HSAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Sustainable tile manufacturing
• Low-carbon ceramics
• Recycled gypsum tiles
• Kiln-free tile technology
• Bio-based construction materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Licensing BioSintering technology to tile manufacturers, enabling them to adopt the low-carbon production process with minimal capital investment and equipment modifications.
2. Eralith Tile Sales: Direct sales of Eralith sustainable tiles to architects, designers, and end customers through showrooms and partnerships.
3. Strategic Manufacturing Partnership: Johnson Tiles will manufacture and distribute Eralith tiles under the strategic partnership, with Dekiln receiving licensing fees and royalties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DEKILN develops and licenses BioSintering, a proprietary low-temperature manufacturing process that combines recycled gypsum/plaster waste with bio-based binders to produce ceramic-like Eralith tiles without kiln firing (cured at 60-90°C instead of 850-1,250°C). The company sells Eralith tiles direct to architects, designers and end customers, and licenses the BioSintering process to ceramic tile manufacturers for adoption on existing equipment.

Product overview

DEKILN LTD. offers a single unified product portfolio anchored by the Eralith® tile, produced using the proprietary BioSintering® technology. The core product is supplemented by a bio-based coating system for finish options. The Eralith tile is made from over 95% recycled plaster and gypsum waste combined with bio-based binders, cured at low temperatures (60-90°C) rather than traditional kiln firing. The company is also developing Studio Dekiln as a workshop experience using tiles as canvases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eralith Tiles Sustainable ceramic-like tiles produced using BioSintering technology with over 95% recycled content, a 94% lower CO2 footprint, and flexural strength up to 25 MPa. Available in 100x100mm and 100x200mm formats at 8mm thickness, sold to architects, designers, and end customers through showrooms and partnerships.
• BioSintering Technology Licensing Proprietary low-carbon manufacturing process combining recycled plaster with bio-based binders, curing tiles at 60-90°C instead of traditional kiln firing at 850-1,250°C, delivering 90% energy savings and 94% carbon reduction. Licensed to ceramic tile manufacturers with options for exclusivity and geographic rights.
• Bio-based Coating System for Eralith Subtle gloss finish coating system that enhances the natural beauty of Eralith tiles, with alternative synthetic coating options available for enhanced durability in demanding environments.
• Studio Dekiln Workshops Tile painting workshop offering for corporate and social events where participants paint Eralith tiles as canvases, with tiles cured and ready to take home within 20 minutes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% lower CO2 footprint compared to conventional ceramic tiles
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

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 flagship, core and minor.

• Johnson TilesflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2026Strategic partnership for pilot manufacturing site in Stoke-on-Trent. Johnson Tiles will license Dekiln's BioSintering technology and serve as manufacturer and distributor of Eralith tiles. This represents Dekiln's primary commercial scaling pathway.
• Teamwork GlobalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnering to explore low-carbon tile production opportunities using Dekiln's non-fired tile technology. Riccardo Marchio, Director, commented on the unique technology showing real promise for scale.
• Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in the SPARK project providing advanced characterisation of tile precursor materials. CPI feeds back critical data to help Dekiln refine formulations for scalable manufacturing.
• University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner where founder Dr Aled Roberts conducted research. Dekiln originated from materials research at the university, with technology roots in bio-inspired ceramics development.
• Masood Enterprise CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise support organisation that has partnered with Dekiln for business development and scaling support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fireclay Tile: US-based tile manufacturer focused on sustainable, handcrafted ceramic tiles with recycled content. Directly comparable ethos to Dekiln's Eralith tiles, targeting architects and designers seeking premium sustainable surfaces.
• Johnson Tiles: Established UK tile manufacturer (est. 1901) and Dekiln's strategic pilot partner. Operates in the same ceramic tile category, with Johnson Tiles licensing BioSintering to manufacture and distribute Eralith tiles, making it both a customer and a direct comparator in low-carbon tile production.
• Mosa Tiles: Dutch sustainable ceramic tile manufacturer known for Cradle to Cradle certification and ESG-led design. Highly comparable to Dekiln's positioning around sustainable, architect-specified ceramic tiles for high-end design projects.
• Laminam: Italian producer of large-format ceramic surfaces emphasizing sustainability and design flexibility. Comparable to Dekiln in the architectural surfaces category, with overlap on sustainable production and premium design specifications.
• Coverings (Crossville): North American ceramic tile manufacturer focused on specification-grade tiles with sustainability credentials. Comparable to Dekiln's Eralith in targeting architects and designers through sustainable, performance-validated tile offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Mohawk Industries: Global flooring and ceramic tile conglomerate (parent of Marazzi and Daltile). Represents the largest incumbent competing across tile categories; could develop competing low-carbon processes or acquire emerging players like Dekiln.
• Marazzi Group: One of the world's largest ceramic tile manufacturers, part of Mohawk Industries. Serves as a broad incumbent competing across the same tile categories Dekiln targets, with established distribution that Dekiln's licensing model must win against.
• Pamesa Ceramica: Large Spanish ceramic tile manufacturer with significant sustainability initiatives and R&D investment. A broad incumbent competing in the same end markets as Dekiln, with potential to develop or acquire competing low-carbon processes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dekiln

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 DEKILN LTD.