Extraction, processing and refinement of industrial minerals such as quartz, kaolin, feldspar and high-performance fillers.
Quarzwerke GmbH
Frechen (headquarters) · Hirschau · Königswartha/Caminau · Mügeln/Kemmlitz · Haltern am See · Hohenbocka · Oebisfelde-Weferlingen · Münzenberg-Gambach · Alfter-Witterschlick · Leer · Groß RosenburgNew on Amplifa
The Quarzwerke Group
Quarzwerke GmbH is an independent family-owned company with over 140 years of tradition in the extraction, processing and refinement of industrial minerals. Core raw materials are quartz (SiO2 > 99 %), kaolin, feldspar, wollastonite and mica, which are processed into more than 700 quality products and sold in 50 countries. The portfolio includes quartz sand as moist sand, dry sand and quartz flour, kaolin as granulate, slurry, ground material, chamotte and raw kaolin as well as mineral high-performance fillers (High Performance Fillers) with particle size optimization and surface modification for polymer systems. Key application industries are foundry (molding and core sand for self-curing, hot-curing and gas-curing processes), glass, ceramics, paper, construction and construction chemistry, paints and coatings as well as polymer applications. Through its subsidiary WECO GmbH & Co. KG, the group also fills natural stones such as gravel, grit and TÜV-certified play sand for DIY stores. The company is headquartered in Frechen near Cologne; the group operates plants in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia and South Korea.
- Site
- Frechen
- Processes
- Extraction, processing and refinement of industrial minerals, Processing of quartz into moist sand, dry sand and quartz flour, Kaolin processing as granulate, slurry, ground material, chamotte and raw kaolin, Supply of foundry sands for mold and core production (self-curing, hot-curing and gas-curing, Production of functional high-performance fillers and additives for polymer systems, Packaging of natural stones (gravel, grit, play sand) in consumer-friendly packaging units, Development of High Performance Fillers / additives, Surface modification of fillers
- Materials
- Quartz / Quartz sand (SiO2), Kaolin, Feldspar, Wollastonite, Cristobalite, Quartz flour, Mica, Aluminium hydroxide
- Founded
- 1884
- Industries
- Foundry, Glass, Ceramics, Paper, Construction, Construction chemistry
- 01
Raw material extraction from own deposits
- 02
Processing (screening, grinding, drying)
- 03
Refinement and particle size distribution design
- 04
Surface modification of fillers
- 05
Filling and logistics
Raw materials and processes
Quartz / Quartz sand
As moist sand, dry sand and quartz flour, among others, for foundry sands, glass and fluidized bed systems.
Kaolin
White, platelet-shaped mineral as granulate, slurry, ground material, chamotte and raw kaolin for ceramics, paper and polymer applications.
Feldspar
Low-iron potassium feldspars from European deposits for ceramics and high-performance fillers.
Wollastonite
Needle-shaped mineral for reinforced polymer and filler applications.
Mica
Mineral filler for polymer and paint applications.
Cristobalite
High-performance filler for polymer and dental applications.
Quartz flour
Fine-grained filler for demanding polymer systems.
Aluminium hydroxide
Filler with flame-retardant effect for polymer applications.
Anhydrite
Mineral filler for construction chemistry and polymers.
Nepheline syenite
Filler for paints, coatings and polymers.
Fused alumina (white corundum)
Hard abrasive for grinding and polishing agents.
Natural stone (gravel/grit/play sand)
Packaged decorative and horticultural products of WECO GmbH & Co. KG.
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extraction, processing and refinement of industrial mineralsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Quartz, Kaolin, Feldspar, Wollastonite, Mica |
| Processing of quartz into moist sand, dry sand and quartz flourEngineering | – | – | – | – | Quartz |
| Kaolin processing as granulate, slurry, ground material, chamotte and raw kaolinEngineering | – | – | – | – | Kaolin |
| Supply of foundry sands for mold and core production (self-curing, hot-curing and gas-curingCasting | – | – | – | – | Quartz sand |
| Production of functional high-performance fillers and additives for polymer systemsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Cristobalite, Quartz flour, Wollastonite, Mica, Feldspar, Kaolin, Aluminium hydroxide, Anhydrite, Nepheline syenite, Fused alumina |
| Packaging of natural stones (gravel, grit, play sand) in consumer-friendly packaging unitsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Natural stone, Gravel, Grit, Quartz sand |
Additional services
History
- 1884
Founding year – over 140 years of tradition; quartz sand has been extracted for over 130 years.
- 1971
Foundation of Quarzwerke GmbH, Zelking near Melk, Austria.
- 1974
Head office moves from Cologne to Frechen.
- 1991
Acquisition of Sand- und Tonwerk Walbeck GmbH in Weferlingen.
- 1992
Acquisition of Provodínské písky a.s., Czech Republic.
- 1995
Purchase of Amberger Kaolinwerke Eduard Kick GmbH & Co. KG (Hirschau, Schnaittenbach, Caminau, Kemmlitz).
- 2008
Witterschlick is added as a quartz grit and quartz sand site.
- 2013
The Bulgarian company Kaolin EAD becomes part of the Quarzwerke Group.
- 2014
Groundbreaking for a new sand plant in Schnaittenbach.
- 2016
Weco GmbH & Co. KG becomes part of the Quarzwerke Group.
- 2022
German Solar Prize for the largest floating PV system in Haltern am See.
- 2025
Ecovadis Gold rating (top 5 % of rated companies).