Extraction and refining of potash, magnesium and salt products for agriculture, industry, consumers and municipalities.
K+S Aktiengesellschaft
Kassel · Heringen · Philippsthal · Unterbreizbach · Bernburg · Zielitz · Bad Salzdetfurth · Grasleben · Neuhof-Ellers · Hamburg · Bethune (CA) · Dombasle-sur-Meurthe (FR) · Olomouc-Holice (CZ)New on Amplifa
About K+S
K+S Aktiengesellschaft, headquartered in Kassel, is an internationally oriented raw materials company whose roots go back to the mid-19th century, when miners in Germany opened up the world's first potash deposits. K+S extracts and refines mineral raw materials such as potash, magnesium products and rock salt, supplying customers in four business segments: agriculture, industry, consumers and municipalities. The value chain spans everything from exploration through conventional underground mining and solution mining to processing, refining, logistics and application consulting. In addition, through REKS GmbH & Co. KG the group offers underground disposal of hazardous waste, tailings covering and recycling of salt-containing aluminium slags (REKAL). Around 11,000 employees work at 51 locations on five continents, with production sites in Europe and North America and sales sites among others in South America, Africa and Asia.
- Site
- Kassel
- Processes
- Underground mining (potash and rock salt), Solution mining (brine mining), Sea salt production by evaporation of seawater, Processing and refining of mineral raw salts (mechanical/physical processes), Vacuum salt production by evaporation of brine, Granulation of animal hygiene products, Packaging of salt products, Underground landfilling of hazardous waste
- Materials
- Potash (potassium), Magnesium products, Rock salt, Vacuum salt, Sea salt, Salt slag (salt-containing aluminium slag), Aluminium, Underground mining and solution mining
- Certificates
- Certified according to international standards and norms (certificates per
- Employees
- approx. 11,000
- Industries
- Agriculture, Animal nutrition, Chemical industry, Industry (plastics, mineral oil, textiles, glass), Food production, Water treatment
- 01
Exploration (drilling, seismic measurements)
- 02
Extraction (underground mining, solution mining, sea salt production)
- 03
Production: processing and refining of the mineral raw salts
- 04
Logistics / supply chain management
- 05
Sales and marketing
- 06
Application consulting
Raw Materials & Processes
Potash (potassium)
Plant nutrients for agriculture and raw materials for industrial applications.
Magnesium products
For fertilisation, animal nutrition and industrial processes.
Rock salt
Extracted by mining for industrial, pharmaceutical and consumer applications.
Vacuum salt
Produced by evaporation of brine for food and water treatment.
Sea salt
Obtained by evaporation of seawater.
Salt slag (salt-containing aluminium slag)
Recycling and recovery under REKAL for the secondary aluminium industry.
Aluminium
Production of aluminium granulate from salt slag recycling.
Underground mining and solution mining
Conventional extraction of potash and rock salt below and above ground.
Mechanical/physical refining of raw salts
Multi-stage processes without altering the natural properties.
Underground disposal (REKS)
Certified specialist disposal company for long-term safe landfilling and recovery underground.
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underground mining (potash and rock salt)Forming | – | – | – | – | Potash, Rock salt |
| Solution mining (brine mining)Forming | – | – | – | – | Potash, Rock salt |
| Sea salt production by evaporation of seawaterCasting | – | – | – | – | Sea salt |
| Processing and refining of mineral raw salts (mechanical/physical processes)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Potash, Rock salt, Magnesium products |
| Vacuum salt production by evaporation of brineCasting | – | – | – | – | Vacuum salt |
| Granulation of animal hygiene productsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Rock salt |
| Packaging of salt productsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Table salt, De-icing salt, Regeneration salt |
| Underground landfilling of hazardous wasteEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Underground recovery (stacked backfill, paste backfill, pour backfill)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Recycling of salt-containing aluminium slags (REKAL)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Aluminium, Melting salts |
| Production of aluminium granulateEngineering | – | – | – | – | Aluminium |
| Tailings covering / recultivation of potash tailings pilesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Exploration of deposits (drilling, seismic measurements)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Transport and logistics services / supply chain managementEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mobile and stationary machines for underground extraction and processing | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality & Certificates
K+S attaches particular importance to the continuous improvement of the safety, quality and environmental compatibility of its products; the products are certified according to international standards and norms. As a certified specialist disposal company, REKS operates underground disposal.
| Evidence | Kassel |
|---|---|
| Certified according to international standards and norms (certificates per |
History
- 19. Jahrhund
Miners open up the world's first potash deposits in Germany and begin fertiliser production – the roots of the K+S Group.
- 2021
Christina Daske takes over the management of production at all active potash and rock salt plants.
- 2023
Dr. Christian H. Meyer (15.03.) and Dr. Carin-Martina Tröltzsch (20.02.) join the Board of Executive Directors; Christina Daske becomes Labour Director (01.12.).
- 2023
Launch of the K+S ambassador programme (corporate influencers on LinkedIn).
- 2024
German Award for Online Communication for the ambassador programme.
- 2025
Dr. Christian H. Meyer takes over as Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and Dr. Jens Christian Keuthen as CFO (01.06.); Dr. Harald Schwager becomes Chairman of the Supervisory Board (14.05.).