Extraction and preparation of clays, slags, fireclay, feldspar, and ceramic masses for the ceramic and refractory industries.
Adolf Gottfried Tonwerke GmbH
96269 Großheirath · 92271 Freihung/ThansüßNew on Amplifa
Family Business Since 1921
Founded in 1921, Adolf Gottfried Tonwerke GmbH is a family business based in Großheirath south of Coburg, which extracts and refines high-quality mineral raw materials from its own reserves. At the main headquarters, clays, slags, fireclay, and ceramic masses are processed with an annual production of over 100,000 t; Gottfried is considered one of the leading producers in Europe, especially in the slag sector. Through the subsidiary Gottfried Feldspat GmbH, white-firing feldspar sand (pegmatite) is mined in Freihung/Thansüß and finely ground in an iron-free mineral mill. The spectrum of processes includes milling, mixing, drying, spray drying down to < 63 µm, and calcination in rotary kilns, supplemented by toll processing for foreign raw materials. Experienced ceramic engineers develop tailor-made raw material solutions for the ceramic, refractory, glass, and construction material industries together with customers. The ISO 9001-certified company ensures quality through its own laboratory and operates an energy management system according to ISO 50001.
- Site
- Großheirath
- Processes
- Extraction and preparation of raw materials (clay, slag, fireclay, ceramic masses), Milling (finely ground mineral products), Mixing (Ceramic Masses, Granulate Masses), Drying, Calcining (Calcination of mineral products, fireclay, rotary kilns), Toll processing of raw materials, Washing/Preparation of feldspar sand (pegmatite), Laboratory analysis and quality control (own laboratories, ISO 9001 / ISO 50001)
- Materials
- Clay (Raw and Ground Clay, 20-43% Al₂O₃), Slag, Fireclay (fine-crystalline, also calcined, for steatite and cordierite masses), Ceramic Masses, Pegmatite (white-firing feldspar sand), Feldspar, Granulate Masses, Illite (high-purity, clay mineral basis of the Argolitec product range)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 50001:2018, ISO 9001, ISO 50001
- Founded
- 1921
- Industries
- Ceramic Industry, Refractory Industry, Porcelain, Sanitary Ceramics, Tiles/Clinker, Glass
- 01
Mining from own reserves
- 02
Raw material reception and storage/homogenization
- 03
Preparation: Crushing, milling, classifying, washing
- 04
Mixing and granulation or spray drying down to < 63 µm
- 05
Calcining in rotary kilns (slag, fireclay)
- 06
Laboratory analysis and quality control
- 07
Loading and delivery
Raw Materials and Processes
Raw and Ground Clay (20–43 % Al₂O₃)
Base raw material for refractory masses, stoneware tiles, capsule clay, and construction ceramics; available raw, crushed, freshly dug, or spray-dried down to < 63 µm.
Slag
Specified according to refractoriness, porosity, thermal expansion, and grain size (< 30 mm to < 63 µm) for refractory products, sanitary and construction ceramics, including cordierite slags.
Fireclay (fine-crystalline)
Optimal for steatite and cordierite masses; calcined especially advantageous for extruded products such as insulating components for electrical ceramics and honeycomb bodies.
Pegmatite / Feldspar
White-firing base raw material for porcelain, sanitary ceramics, tiles, and clinker; washed feldspar sand also used as a diluent and Al₂O₃ carrier in glass.
Ceramic Masses / Granulate Masses
Plastic, slagged masses with adjusted moisture content for refractory products, construction ceramics, oven tiles, and pottery.
Argolitec (high-purity illites)
Clay mineral product range based on high-purity, non-swelling 3-layer silicates, introduced in 2022.
Fillers (finely ground mineral products)
Raw and calcined clay, slag, and feldspar powders as additives for construction materials and building chemistry to influence color, shrinkage, wear, and fire resistance.
Sites
Großheirath
DEHeadquarters; extraction and preparation plant for clay, slag, fireclay, and ceramic masses
- Materials
- Clay, Slag, Fireclay, ceramic masses
- various mills
- mixers
- dryers
- rotary kilns
- spray drying plant with mixing and granulating system
- 17 loading silos (capacity over 1,000 t)
- clay storage and homogenization hall (approx. 5,000 t)
- own laboratory
Freihung/Thansüß
DEPlant of Gottfried Feldspat GmbH; extraction and preparation of pegmatite/feldspar sand
- Materials
- Pegmatite, Feldspar
- mineral mill for iron-free fine grinding
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extraction and preparation of raw materials (clay, slag, fireclay, ceramic masses)Other | – | – | over 100,000 t/Year production capacity | – | Clay, Slag, Fireclay, ceramic masses |
| Milling (finely ground mineral products)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Clay, Slag, Fireclay, Pegmatite, Mineral raw materials |
| Mixing (Ceramic Masses, Granulate Masses)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Clay, Slag, Fireclay, ceramic masses |
| DryingHeat Treatment | – | – | – | – | Mineral raw materials, Clay |
| Calcining (Calcination of mineral products, fireclay, rotary kilns)Heat Treatment | – | – | – | – | Fireclay, Mineral raw materials |
| Toll processing of raw materialsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Raw materials (various), Clay, Mineral raw materials |
| Washing/Preparation of feldspar sand (pegmatite)Other | – | – | – | – | Pegmatite, Feldspar sand |
| Laboratory analysis and quality control (own laboratories, ISO 9001 / ISO 50001)Testing | – | – | – | – | Clay, Slag, Fireclay, ceramic masses, Feldspar |
| Development of customized raw material solutions (Ceramic Engineers)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Clay, Slag, Fireclay, ceramic masses |
| Extraction of raw materials from own reserves (Mining)Other | – | – | – | – | Clay, Slag, Fireclay, Pegmatite |
| Construction ceramics / mineral sealing (Clay, Granulate, plastic elements, filling floor)Other | – | – | – | – | Clay, Granulate, Filling floor, Construction ceramics |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mills (various, for finely ground mineral products) | – | – | – | – | Großheirath |
| Mixers | – | – | – | – | Großheirath |
| Dryers | – | – | – | – | Großheirath |
| Rotary Kilns (Calcination) | – | – | – | – | Großheirath |
Additional services
Quality
The laboratory in the raw material plant ensures continuous quality control from quarry exploration and incoming inspections to the approval of finished goods, supported by external institutes. The company is certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 50001.
| Evidence | Großheirath | Freihung/Thansüß |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | ||
| ISO 50001 |
History
- 1921
Founded by Adolf Gottfried in Fonsau/Egerland with the extraction of high-quality clays.
- 1939
More than 300 employees and 8 open-pit mines before World War II; supply to ceramic and refractory plants across Europe.
- 1950
Reconstruction of clay mining in Großheirath; founding of Gottfried Feldspat GmbH in Thansüß.
- 1954
First excavator in clay mining.
- 1956
Hammer mill connected to its own power supply.
- 1958
Construction of the first rotary kiln plant for slag.
- 1963
Second larger rotary kiln and slag preparation with crushing, milling, and classifying units.
- 1966
Mineral mill at Thansüß train station for iron-free fine grinding of pegmatite.
- 1989
Construction of a clay storage and homogenization hall with a capacity of approx. 5,000 t; Christian Gottfried joins the company.
- 1991
Plant for spray drying down to < 63 µm with mixing and granulating system.
- 1995
Christian Gottfried follows Anton Gottfried as managing partner in the 3rd generation.
- 2001
Cessation of own clinker ceramic production; sales via the Gottfried Construction Materials division.
- 2012
Investment of over 3 million € in modernization and expansion of preparation plants; 17 loading silos with a capacity of over 1,000 t.
- 2015
Participation in the Energy Efficiency Network Franconia (Initiative by E.ON and Bayernwerk Natur).
- 2022
100th company anniversary and presentation of the Argolitec product range (high-purity illites) at ceramitec.