This year, the Calderys Group celebrates its 160th anniversary, marking a legacy that began with HWI back in the 1860s in Pennsylvania, USA.
From 1865 to today, the Group’s journey has been shaped by people, technology, and expertise, with a steadfast focus on offering innovative and customized solutions to protect the equipment of industries operating in extreme conditions.
As the decades passed, the Group’s presence which started mainly in the United States and in Europe, expanded both organically and by acquisitions, across continents and across industries. Generations of colleagues have built a legacy of excellence that continues to fuel industries and enable progress around the world.
Today, the Calderys Group combines a unique heritage with a forward-looking commitment to serving industries that form the backbone of the global economy.
“Our 160-year anniversary is much more than a number. It is the story of people who built, innovated, and shaped an industry that remains vital to modern life. Every step of our legacy reflects our commitment to excellence and our ability to deliver value across steel, cement, energy, petrochemical, metal casting, and many other high-temperature industries. This journey inspires us as we continue to deliver safe, efficient, and more sustainable solutions for our customers worldwide,” says Michel Cornelissen, President and CEO of Calderys.
To mark this milestone, the Group is releasing a special four-part video series retracing its journey through history — from 1865 to 2025. The series highlights both key company milestones among global events, showing how refractories and other high-temperature solutions have accompanied global progress and continue to play a critical role in building the future.
Find the teaser video on Calderys’ YouTube channel, and check back for the following chapters released in the coming weeks!
Premises of the Calderys Group history:
1865: Creation of the Star Fire Brick Company in Pennsylvania, USA.
1875: Hay Walker Sr. and Samuel P. Harbison acquired the Star Fire Brick Company and established the Harbison & Walker Company (renamed Harbison-Walker Refractories Company at the very beginning of the 20th century).
1902: Beginning of the Group’s activities in Europe (Sweden).
1908: Lafarge invented aluminous cement in France.
1914: Beginning of operations in India; development of the first monolithic refractory in the US and creation of the Pliable Firebrick Company (Plibrico).
1926: Creation of Stollberg, the ancestor to Calderys’ steel casting fluxes business, in Germany.
1934: Establishment of S&B, the ancestor to the Group’s molding sand additive activities in Greece.
Latest milestones of the Group:
2002: ANH Refractories was established in the US through the merger of A.P. Green, NARCO, and Harbison-Walker Refractories Company.
2005: Plibrico and Lafarge Refractories merged under the Imerys Group to form Calderys. This moment marked the beginning of the Calderys brand’s journey.
2015: ANH Refractories was rebranded to become HarbisonWalker International (HWI).
2023: Calderys was acquired by a privately owned company and combined with HarbisonWalker International to form the Calderys Group as it is today, with HWI, a member of Calderys the brand for the Americas region of the Group. Together, they form a premier, world-class provider of comprehensive high-temperature solutions.
About HWI, A member of Calderys
HWI is one of the leading suppliers of refractory products and services in the United States, with a history that spans 160 years. It is part of Calderys and is the brand for the Americas region of the Group. HWI operates an extensive network of manufacturing sites and distribution centers across the Americas, along with the largest refractory industry research facility in North America. Serving virtually every major industry that requires refractory solutions to enhance production and protect assets, HWI is consistently recognized for its talented experts, industry firsts, and intensely driven excellence.
For more information, visit https://thinkhwi.com