Manufacturer of specialty chemicals based on aluminium hydroxide and aluminium oxide as well as halogen-free flame retardants in Bergheim.
Martinswerk GmbH
Bergheim (Kölner Straße 110)New on Amplifa
About Martinswerk
Martinswerk GmbH in Bergheim, in the Rhenish lignite mining region, produces more than 100 specialty products based on aluminium hydroxide and aluminium oxide as well as organic matting agents and carrier materials (Pergopak). The product portfolio includes fine precipitated aluminium trihydrate (FPH), ground and surface-treated aluminium trihydrate (ATH, Martinal), calcined aluminium oxides (Martoxid), nitrogen-phosphorus flame retardant technology (Safire) and molybdate-based smoke suppressants (Kemgard). Founded in 1914 as a subsidiary of Alusuisse, the company has belonged to J.M. Huber Corporation since 2016 and has been part of the strategic business unit Huber Advanced Materials since 2022. Its customer industries include polymers and the plastics industry, the paper industry, paint and coating manufacturers, the cable industry, ceramics, refractory materials, polishing agents and agriculture; additional applications lie in lithium-ion batteries. Around 580 employees work at the Bergheim site; the site serves as a production, customer-care and supply-chain hub, hosts a Center of Innovation Excellence and is the European headquarters of Huber Advanced Materials. Since 2024, Martinswerk has operated a new natural gas power plant and a laboratory LIMS from Thermo Fisher Scientific.
- Site
- Bergheim
- Processes
- Production of specialty chemicals (fine precipitated aluminium trihydrate FPH), Production of aluminium oxides (calcined/activated aluminium oxides), Grinding of aluminium trihydrate (ATH), Surface treatment of aluminium trihydrate (Ground & surface treated ATH), Production of organic matting agents and carrier materials (Pergopak), Production of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide powders, Production of sodium silicates (Ankerglas) and active silica (Ankersil), Bayer process for the production of smelter-grade alumina (aluminium oxide) from bauxite
- Materials
- Aluminium hydroxide (alumina trihydrate, ATH), Aluminium oxide (calcined, activated), Magnesium hydroxide, Magnesium oxide, Sodium silicate (water glass), Active silica, UF resin (urea-formaldehyde resin), Molybdate (Kemgard molybdate complexes)
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 50001:2018, IATF 16949, EN 9100
- Industries
- Polymers/plastics industry, Paper industry, Coatings/paints, Cable industry, Ceramics, Refractory materials
- 01
Precipitation of aluminium trihydrate (FPH)
- 02
Calcination into aluminium oxides
- 03
Grinding of aluminium trihydrate (ATH)
- 04
Surface treatment of ATH
- 05
Production of organic matting agents and carrier materials (Pergopak)
- 06
Sampling and analysis in production and the central laboratory (SampleManager
- 07
Sales and technical customer support
Products, Materials and Processes
Aluminium trihydrate (aluminium hydroxide, Martinal)
Halogen-free flame retardant and filler, precipitated, ground and surface-treated for plastics and cable applications.
Aluminium oxide, calcined (Martoxid)
Calcined and activated aluminium oxides for ceramics, refractory materials as well as polishing and grinding applications.
Fine precipitated aluminium trihydrate
Fine precipitation for polymer, paper and tire applications.
Organic matting agents and carrier materials
Matting agents and additives for coatings, paints and the agricultural industry, including the PFAS-free grade Pergopak M7.
UF resin (urea-formaldehyde resin)
Included in the certification scope for the production and development of chemical specialties.
Magnesium hydroxide (Magnifin)
Halogen-free flame retardant for cables, lines and connectors; sales and development within the certification scope of Martinswerk.
Nitrogen-phosphorus compound (Safire 400, zinc-containing)
Patented halogen-free flame retardant technology with char formation and smoke suppression for thermoplastics, thermosets and coatings with a process window up to 320 °C.
Molybdate complexes (Kemgard)
Molybdate-based smoke suppressants and flame retardants, especially for PVC applications.
Bergheim Site
Bergheim
DEProduction site, customer-care and supply-chain hub, Center of Innovation Excellence, European headquarters of
- Materials
- Aluminium hydroxide, aluminium oxide, Pergopak matting agents, UF resin; sales of magnesium hydroxide specialties
- Natural gas power plant (commissioned in 2024)
- Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS (central laboratory)
- Systems for precipitation, calcination, grinding and surface treatment
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production of specialty chemicals (fine precipitated aluminium trihydrate FPH)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Aluminium hydroxide |
| Production of aluminium oxides (calcined/activated aluminium oxides)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Aluminium oxide |
| Grinding of aluminium trihydrate (ATH)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Aluminium hydroxide |
| Surface treatment of aluminium trihydrate (Ground & surface treated ATH)Surface | – | – | – | – | Aluminium hydroxide |
| Production of organic matting agents and carrier materials (Pergopak)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Organic matting agents |
| Production of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide powdersPlastics | – | – | – | – | Magnesium hydroxide, Magnesium oxide |
| Production of sodium silicates (Ankerglas) and active silica (Ankersil)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Sodium silicate, Silica |
| Bayer process for the production of smelter-grade alumina (aluminium oxide) from bauxiteOther | – | – | – | – | Bauxite, Aluminium oxide |
| Processing and surface treatment of alumina trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide productsPlastics | – | – | – | – | Aluminium hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide |
| Production and delivery of hydrate chemicalsPlastics | – | – | – | – | Aluminium hydroxide |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas power plant | – | 1 | – | 2024 | Bergheim, Germany |
| Laboratory LIMS (Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS) | Thermo Fisher Scientific SampleManager LIMS | – | – | 2024 | Bergheim, Germany |
Quality and Certification
Martinswerk has been ISO certified since 1991 and maintains an integrated management system for quality, environment, energy and occupational safety. Process control systems as well as systematic sampling and analysis of chemical and physical properties in production and the central laboratory (since 2024 with Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS) are at the core of quality assurance.
| Evidence | Bergheim |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | |
| ISO 14001:2015 | |
| ISO 45001:2018 | |
| ISO 50001:2018 | |
| IATF 16949 | |
| EN 9100 |
History
- 1914
Founded as a subsidiary of Alusuisse for the production of smelter-grade alumina (aluminium oxide) using the Bayer process; Wikipedia cites 1913 as the founding year and the naming after General Director Martin Schindler.
- 1990
Stake in the founding of MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co KG in Breitenau, Austria, to expand the halogen-free flame retardant product line.
- 1994
Transformation from a supplier of smelter-grade alumina to a manufacturer of specialty chemicals based on aluminium hydroxide and aluminium oxide.
- 2001
Acquisition by Albemarle Corporation following the merger of Alusuisse with Alcan.
- 2016
Acquisition by J.M. Huber Corporation.
- 2024
Commissioning of a new natural gas power plant (December 2024) and introduction of Thermo Scientific SampleManager LIMS in the laboratory.
- 2025
Recertification according to ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 by DQS GmbH (valid until November 2028).