What KICk does

KICk operates as a brand identity within Quarzwerke GmbH, an independent family-owned German industrial minerals group with over 140 years of heritage in extraction, processing, and refinement of industrial minerals. Its operating division, Amberger Kaolinwerke, specializes in the production of kaolin, feldspar, and quartz sand, with production sites located in Hirschau/Schnaittenbach, Caminau, Kemmlitz (Germany), and Gluhivzi (an Eastern European site). The group's headquarters sits in Frechen, Germany, and the overall organization employs between 251 and 500 staff.

The company's product portfolio spans four core industrial minerals — kaolin (white, platelet-shaped mineral processed as granules or milled material), feldspar (primarily low-iron potassium feldspars), quartz sand, and High Performance Fillers — together with a specialty line of Solar Reflective Granules. Processing capabilities combine raw extraction (open-pit mining at Caminau) with downstream milling, refinement, and the development of new product extensions, including functional fillers targeted at high-performance applications. The underlying technology is conventional industrial mineral processing rather than a software, biotech, or proprietary process platform.

KICk serves B2B industrial customers through a sales-led go-to-market model, distributing via direct relationships with large manufacturers and regional industrial mineral distributors. Served verticals are broad and include E-Mobility, Electrical & Electronics (E&E), Construction & Building Chemistry, Glass & Ceramics, Foundry, Paints & Lacquers, Paper, Polymer Applications, Abrasives & Polishing, and DIY/Retail Building Products. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated on a contract basis typical of bulk industrial mineral transactions. Revenue derives from one-time sales of mineral materials rather than licensing, subscription, or recurring software streams.

Name

KICk

Legal name

Quarzwerke GmbH

Website

https://akw-kaolin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

KICk is the brand identity of Amberger Kaolinwerke, the industrial minerals division of family-owned Quarzwerke GmbH, producing and refining kaolin, feldspar, quartz sand, and specialty mineral fillers for B2B customers in European construction, automotive, electronics, ceramics, and glass industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Minerals

NAICS

Kaolin, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining (212323), Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992), Sand, Gravel, Clay, and Ceramic and Refractory Minerals Mining and Quarrying (21232), Industrial Sand Mining (212322)

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

Kaolin & Ball Clay (IMAEAFAB), Industrial Minerals Trading (Phosphate, Potash, Sulfur, Borates, Barite, Talc) (IMAKAJAF), Concentrate & Product Handling (Agglomeration, Pelletizing, Briquetting, Drying) (IMAKALAG), Mineral/Particulate Thickeners (Silicates, Clays, Calcium Carbonate as texturizers) (AFAJAMAJ)

Keywords

• Industrial mineral processing
• Kaolin production
• Feldspar extraction
• Quartz sand supply
• Specialty mineral fillers

Headquarters

HQ city

Hirschau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Minerals Sales: Revenue from extraction, processing, and sale of industrial minerals including kaolin, feldspar, and quartz to B2B customers in various industrial sectors

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KICk (Amberger Kaolinwerke) extracts, processes, and refines industrial minerals including kaolin, feldspar, and quartz sand at production sites in Hirschau/Schnaittenbach, Caminau, Kemmlitz, and Gluhivzi. The company supplies these minerals as granules, milled products, and specialty high-performance fillers to industrial B2B customers in ceramics, glass, construction chemicals, paper, paints and coatings, foundry, E-Mobility, electrical & electronics, and related industrial markets.

Product overview

Amberger Kaolinwerke operates as a specialty industrial minerals company within the Quarzwerke Gruppe, an independent family-owned enterprise with over 140 years of experience. The company offers a focused portfolio of four core mineral products—Kaolin, Feldspat (Feldspar), Quarzsand (Quartz Sand), and High Performance Fillers—along with Solar Reflective Granules. These industrial minerals are extracted at company locations in Hirschau/Schnaittenbach, Caminau, Kemmlitz, and Gluhivzi, then processed and refined for diverse industrial markets including ceramics, glass, construction chemistry, paper, paints and coatings, foundry, E-Mobility, E&E, and healthcare. The product range spans from raw extracted minerals to developed product extensions and new processing methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kaolin A white, platelet-shaped mineral extracted from various deposits, supplied as granules or ground/milled material. Used in industrial applications including paper, ceramics, construction chemicals, paints, and coatings.
• Feldspat (Feldspar) Feldspar minerals found in nearly all European deposits. Primarily low-iron potassium feldspars are processed and supplied for use in ceramics, glass, and other industrial applications.
• Quarzsand (Quartz Sand) Quartz sand extracted and processed for industrial use, including construction, glass manufacturing, foundry, and abrasives applications.
• High Performance Fillers Specialty mineral fillers designed for high-performance applications across various industrial markets including E-Mobility, E&E, construction, and paints and coatings.
• Solar Reflective Granules Specialty mineral granules designed for solar reflective applications, supplied as part of the specialty product portfolio.

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Imerys: Global leader in mineral-based specialty solutions including kaolin, feldspar, and performance fillers serving ceramics, paper, paints, and industrial customers. Directly comparable as a vertically integrated industrial minerals producer targeting many of the same end markets as Amberger Kaolinwerke.
• Mineral Technologies Inc. Global minerals-based specialty solutions provider with operations in performance materials and refractory products. Comparable as a vertically integrated industrial minerals processor serving paper, construction, and specialty industrial applications.
• LKAB Minerals: European industrial minerals producer supplying specialty minerals including feldspar, mica, and olivine to construction, ceramics, foundry, and other industrial customers. Comparable as a European-based mineral processor serving overlapping industrial verticals.
• Thiele Kaolin Company: Family-owned kaolin miner and processor serving paper, paint, rubber, and industrial markets. Closely comparable in terms of kaolin specialization, family-owned structure, and similar B2B industrial customer base.
• KaMin LLC: US-headquartered producer of kaolin-based products for paper, paint, rubber, and specialty industrial applications. Comparable product portfolio focus on kaolin processing and similar industrial customer base in performance fillers and functional minerals.

Broad incumbents

• SCR-Sibelco: Global leader in silica and industrial minerals including quartz sand, feldspar, and specialty mineral solutions. Comparable as a large-scale producer of the same core minerals (quartz, feldspar) across similar industrial end markets, though with broader geographic reach.
• Quarzwerke Gruppe (parent): Parent group of Amberger Kaolinwerke, the same family-owned enterprise operating additional mineral processing and specialty mineral divisions. Most directly comparable for benchmarking as the immediate organizational context within which AKW operates.
• Omya AG: Swiss global producer of calcium carbonate and specialty mineral fillers for paper, plastics, paints, and construction. Comparable as a major specialty industrial minerals producer with functional filler product lines serving overlapping end markets in construction, paints, and polymers.
• BASF SE: Global chemical incumbent with significant industrial minerals and performance materials exposure, including products for paints, construction chemicals, plastics, and E&E applications. Comparable as a large incumbent supplying many of the same downstream industrial customers.

Regional players

• Caldic (formerly Caldic-Dietermann): European specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor serving industrial customers in coatings, polymers, construction, and personal care. Comparable as a regional European B2B channel serving overlapping industrial end markets with mineral-derived ingredients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 KICk