History

1914

Development of the first monolithic refractories by William A.L. Schaefer in the USA (Pliable Firebrick Company = PLIBRICO)

1931

Registration of the first European PLIBRICO company as “The Jointless Firebrick Company Limited” in London/U.K.

1937

Foundation of Swedish company, now PLIBRICO Scandinavia AB

1952

Foundation of PLIBRICO Netherlands

1955

Foundation of PLIBRICO Germany in Düsseldorf and start of production in Neuwied

1958

Foundation of “Austria - PLIBRICO Feuerfestkonstruktion Ges. m.b.H”. in Vienna (today PLIBRICO Ges. m.b.H., Austria)

1967-1970

First complete monolithic linings of high-capacity furnaces for slab production at Mannesmann/Mülheim and Thyssen/ Duisburg. These furnaces are still partly operated with the original lining, and PLIBRICO refractories are used for regular maintenance.

1979

Development of lances for steel treatment in cooperation with the departmental engineers of Mannesmann in Duisburg - lances encased by a refractory material for the injection of solid matters into the liquid steel melt, by means of argon gas as a carrier.

1985

Development of the PLICAST Super-Bond materials, which for many years served as a reference for the refractory lining of blast furnace runners. This was the first type of ultra low cement castables (ULC) of high density with self-flowing properties. Due to special additives an exothermic reaction was achieved during the setting process, so that micro gas channels were produced, which allowed for quick and uncomplicated heating up even in case of large wall thicknesses.
The expensive process of compaction of the refractory materials, by air or electric vibration was no longer required.

1986

Development of the PLICAST HyMOR range of products, dense castables of extremely high resistence, especially suitable in case of strong mechanical stress on the monolithic lining.

1986

Development of the first PLIBRICO purging plug (bottom purging plug for the purging of steel melts) with so-called “directional porosity”. First successful tests carried out in a 225-ton ladle of the Mannesmann steel plant in Duisburg-Huckingen in 1987.

1987

Development of internal cooling for the refractory bodies of purging and lance treatment using a ribbed tube anchor system.

1995

PLIFLOW-series - free-flowing mixes

1996

Acquisition of the PLIBRICO Group by IMERYS

1996

Spraycast mixes - High-tec materials with physical and chemical properties similar to those of vibration castables and comparable brick linings.
The Spraycast system is an installation technique which combines pumping and gunning.

2002-2004

Modernization of the Neuwied plant.

Erection of a new taphole clay production unit

Start-up of the new fully automated plant No. 1, probably one of the most modern concepts for refractory producing units

Start-up of the plant No. 2 for dry mixes