What Covia does

Covia Holdings LLC is a privately held industrial minerals company headquartered in Independence, Ohio, formed in 2018 through the merger of Unimin and Fairmount Santrol. The company mines and processes high-purity silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, ball clay, kaolin, calcium carbonate, and cristobalite, and applies capabilities including micronization, resin-coating, thermal processing (rotary kiln), and custom blending. Its 48 production facilities and three corporate laboratories are spread across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Denmark, and the business is owned in part by private equity sponsors Lindsay Goldberg and Anchorage Capital, with Bruno Biasiotta serving as President & CEO since March 2024 and Shawn Williams as Executive Chairman.

Covia serves more than 2,100 industrial customers and distributors across nine primary end-markets: glass (architectural, automotive, container, fiberglass), ceramics, coatings, building products and construction materials, water and environmental filtration, sports and recreation, metals and foundry, polymers, and engineered stone. Its product portfolio is anchored by branded lines such as GLASSIL® and PURESIL® for glass, HIFILL® N and MINEX® for coatings and polymers, CERASIL® and MAXUM® for ceramics, INCAST® and TECHNISAND® Trucoat for foundry (including INCAST 3D™ for 3D printing), LUMINEX™ for engineered stone, and BESTSAND™ EQ, AQUAQUARTZ®, ACCEL®, and Crayola Play Sand for sports, recreation, and consumer channels.

The business operates a direct field-sales model for industrial customers complemented by one of the industry's most comprehensive distribution networks — including access to nearly all major Class One railroads, a broad terminal network, and last-mile solutions. Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time transactional sales of mineral and material products with net-30 terms, augmented by service revenue from the Black Lab Custom Toll Blending division. Consumer products reach retail through partnerships with Lowe's and ACE, and the company markets itself via an Insights blog, active Facebook and LinkedIn presence, and an annual Corporate Responsibility Report (18 consecutive years).

Name

Covia

Legal name

Covia Holdings LLC

Website

https://fairmountsantrol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Covia is a private industrial minerals company supplying high-purity silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, kaolin, and processed mineral blends to over 2,100 customers across glass, ceramics, coatings, construction, water, sports, foundry, polymers, and engineered stone markets via 48 facilities in four countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Mineral Products

NAICS

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

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Sand (Silica Sand for Foundry, Glass & Industrial Uses) (IMAKAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Silica (Quartz, Fumed, Precipitated) (IMAEAFAD), Feldspar & Nepheline Syenite (IMAEAFAM), Kaolin & Ball Clay (IMAEAFAB), Feldspar & Nepheline Syenite Mining (IMAKAGAI)

Keywords

• Industrial mineral products
• Silica sand processing
• Functional mineral fillers
• Foundry casting materials
• Custom mineral blending

Headquarters

HQ city

Independence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mineral and Material Product Sales: Covia generates revenue through the sale of diversified mineral and material products including high-purity silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, clay, kaolin, resin-coated and coated materials to industrial customers. Products are sold via direct sales, distribution network, and retail channels. Revenue is transactional, typically with net-30 payment terms.
2. Custom Toll Blending Services: Black Lab Custom Toll Blending division provides outsourced blending services for manufacturers, creating additional revenue stream through service-based engagement with customers.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Covia mines and processes high-purity silica sand and complementary minerals, including nepheline syenite, feldspar, clay, and kaolin, into branded materials for glass, ceramics, coatings, construction, foundry, polymers, water treatment, engineered stone, and recreation applications. It also provides custom toll blending for manufacturers that outsource mineral and material blending.

Product overview

Covia is a diversified mineral and material solutions provider serving industrial markets including glass, ceramics, coatings, polymers, metals and foundry, construction, water filtration, sports and recreation, and engineered stone. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of branded mineral products organized across multiple market segments. Core products include high-purity silica sands (GLASSIL®, PURESIL®, SILEX®), nepheline syenite-based functional minerals (HIFILL® N, MINEX®), specialty silica products (CRISTOBALEX™, CERASIL®), foundry sands (INCAST®, TECHNISAND®), and recreational sands (BESTSAND™ EQ equestrian sand, AQUAQUARTZ® pool filter sand, ACCEL® polymeric sand, CRAYOLA® play sand). The company also provides toll blending services through Black Lab Custom Toll Blending and advanced materials like LUMINEX™ ultrawhite filler for engineered stone. Mineral inputs include silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, clay, kaolin, and processed mineral products. Distribution is supported through a comprehensive network of production facilities and logistics capabilities across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BESTSAND™ EQ: Premium equestrian sand product line for arenas and tracks, providing optimal traction and minimal dust for horse safety and performance.
• LUMINEX™
• FILTERSIL®
• BESTSAND™
• CRAYOLA® Play Sand
• ACCEL®
• AQUAQUARTZ®
• HIFILL® N
• MINEX®
• GLASSIL®
• INCAST®
• PURESIL®
• CERASIL®
• CRISTOBALEX™

Products and services

• GLASSIL® High-Purity Glass Sand High-purity silica sand designed for flat-glass production, delivering stable chemistry for consistency in glass batches and used in architectural glass, automotive glass, container glass, tableware, and fiberglass applications.
• MINEX® ST Surface-Treated Functional Filler Surface-treated functional filler that can cross-link into epoxy and polyurethane systems to raise solids and improve chemical and weather resistance in floor coatings while lowering formula costs.
• ACCEL® Dust-Preventing Polymeric Sand Dust-preventing paver sand with a polymer formula that provides rubber-like flexibility, prevents stress cracks, forms a strong and flexible joint bond, and suppresses dust for paver installations.
• AQUAQUARTZ® Pool Filter Sand Premium No. 20 grade silica sand for swimming-pool filtration of dust, algae, suntan lotion, oil, leaves, and insects.
• HIFILL® N Functional Mineral Nepheline syenite functional mineral providing a balance of physical, optical, and mechanical properties for color stability, durability, and UV, scratch, and mar resistance in plastics and elastomers.
• BESTSAND™ EQ Equestrian Sand Premium subangular silica sand for equestrian arenas and tracks, balancing firmness and cushioning while providing optimal traction and minimal dust; the product has been used by equestrian facilities for more than 15 years.
• FILTERSIL® Filtration Sand and Gravel High-purity monocrystalline industrial quartz sand engineered for mixed-media and pressure filters used in potable-water, industrial process-water, and wastewater treatment.
• CRAYOLA® Play Sand Safe, non-toxic colored play sand available in blue, green, purple, and pink, with an environmentally friendly water-based acrylic coating, virtually dust-free performance, and color that will not fade or bleed.
• LUMINEX™ Ultrawhite Filler Silica-based ultrawhite filler containing a high level of cristobalite that reduces finished-product costs while supporting consistent, high whiteness in engineered-stone kitchen and bathroom countertops.
• CERASIL® High-Purity Ceramic Silica High-purity ceramic silica produced from crystalline-silica feedstock for formulating and manufacturing ceramic whitewares, enamels, and glazes.
• MAXUM® Sodium Feldspar for Ceramic Flux Sodium feldspar used as ceramic flux, providing a mineral mix for sanitary ware, tableware, tile, and frit processes.
• CRISTOBALEX™ Specialty Silica Specialty silica blend composed primarily of cristobalite, transformed from high-quality spherical quartz grains and micronized to improve whiteness and performance in coatings.
• INCAST® High-Purity Foundry Sand High-purity foundry sand with fine-tuned process control and consistent grade distribution for core and mold production in metal-casting applications.
• INCAST 3D™ 3D Printing Foundry Sand Foundry sand designed for 3D printing in metal-casting applications, supporting advanced manufacturing processes.
• TECHNISAND® Trucoat High-Performance Resin-Coated Sand High-performance resin-coated sand for foundry core and mold-making applications requiring high performance.
• PURESIL® Extra Low Iron Glass Sand Extra-low-iron glass sand for fiberglass production and specialty-glass applications requiring minimal iron content and optical clarity.
• MATRIX® Feldspathic Glassy Phase Promoter Feldspathic glassy phase promoter for glass manufacturing that supports fiber formation and viscosity control in fiberglass production.
• SILEX® Glass Grade Ground Silica Glass-grade ground silica for glass-manufacturing applications.
• FG™ Fiberglass Kaolin Fiberglass kaolin providing alumina content for strength, durability, and thermal resistance in fiberglass insulation and composite applications.
• GRANUSIL® Construction Sand High-purity sand and aggregates for construction applications including roofing, industrial flooring, insulation, and cementitious applications.
• SPECTRAQUARTZ® Colored Quartz Colored quartz product for architectural and decorative applications.
• MINBLOC® HC High-Content Mineral High-content mineral filler for polymer applications requiring specific performance characteristics.
• IMSIL® Micronized Silica Micronized silica providing functional-filler properties in coatings and polymer applications.
• BLACK LAB CUSTOM TOLL BLENDING Custom toll-blending service for manufacturers that outsource blending of sand, aggregates, minerals, colorants, and other materials.
• PREMIERE® Ceramic Pressing Clay Ceramic pressing clay for tile and sanitary-ware manufacturing.
• STARCAST® Ceramic Casting Kaolin Ceramic casting kaolin for sanitary-ware and tableware production.
• SPECTRUM® High-Alkali Ceramic Flux High-alkali ceramic flux for ceramic glaze and frit applications.
• PRESTIGE® Ceramic High-Plasticity Clay High-plasticity clay for advanced ceramic applications.
• ROYALE® Kaolin Slurry Kaolin slurry for ceramic and industrial applications.
• SILVERBOND® Multi-Purpose Ground Crystalline Silica Multi-purpose ground crystalline silica for industrial applications.
• TRACSAND® Traction Sand Traction sand for winter road maintenance and anti-skid applications.
• SNOBRITE® Functional Filler Functional filler for coatings and polymer applications.
• BESTSAND™ Golf Products Complete line of golf sand products, including Proanglegolf, Bestsandgolf, Bestsandbunker, and Bestsandtopdressing, for golf-course applications.
• BESTSAND™ Turf Sand Sports-turf sand for athletic-field applications.
• BESTSAND™ Volleyball Sand High-quality volleyball-sand blend with drainage performance and resistance to compacting and crusting.
• PLAYSAND® Premium Play Sand Premium play sand for recreational applications.
• DST™ Dust Suppression Technology Dust-suppression technology products for industrial and environmental applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pre-blended footing installation eliminated on-site mixing, reduced labor costs, and improved material consistency — builders reported every load as 'very consistent'
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles10 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• U.S. Silica Holdings: Largest pure-play U.S. industrial silica sand producer serving oil & gas proppants, glass, foundry, and building products. Closest direct competitor to Covia in North American industrial silica sand with overlapping end markets and distribution footprint.
• Badger Mining Corporation: Family-owned U.S. industrial silica sand miner serving foundry, glass, construction, recreation, and filtration markets. Direct peer in industrial sand mining with comparable distribution model and end-market exposure to Covia.

Broad incumbents

• SCR-Sibelco: Global, privately held Belgian mineral solutions company producing silica, nepheline syenite, feldspar, ball clay, and kaolin for glass, ceramics, coatings, and polymers. Directly comparable mineral portfolio to Covia but at significantly larger global scale.
• Imerys: French-listed global specialty minerals leader with parallel product lines in performance minerals (kaolin, feldspar, nepheline syenite, calcium carbonates) for ceramics, coatings, polymers, and engineered materials. Comparable mineral mix and processing capabilities to Covia across multiple segments.
• Quarzwerke GmbH: German family-owned producer of industrial minerals (silica, feldspar, kaolin, nepheline syenite) for glass, ceramics, paints, plastics, and construction. Comparable to Covia's specialty fillers and silica processing business, primarily Europe-focused.
• Vulcan Materials Company: Largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel). Overlaps with Covia's GRANUSIL construction sand and broader Building Products segment, though Vulcan is a much larger and publicly listed broad-line aggregates incumbent.
• Martin Marietta Materials: U.S. publicly listed aggregates-led building materials company with overlap into industrial sand and specialty minerals. Comparable to Covia's construction materials footprint though more weighted toward aggregates than specialty minerals.

Emerging players

• KaMin LLC: U.S. kaolin producer serving paper, paint, coatings, and specialty industrial markets with refined functional mineral products. Comparable to Covia's kaolin and clay business serving coatings and engineered stone end uses.
• Thiele Kaolin Company: U.S.-based kaolin miner and processor supplying coatings, adhesives, plastics, and specialty industrial markets. Overlaps with Covia's PREMIERE, STARCAST, and ROYALE kaolin/clay product lines serving ceramics and engineered stone.
• Opta Minerals: North American specialty mineral processor serving foundry, glass, steel, and water filtration end markets. Comparable to Covia's Metals & Foundry and Water & Environmental segments as a smaller-scale mineral processor with overlapping specialty applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CoviaCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/covia-corp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Covia