Gottfried goes green

At Ceramitec, the German raw materials producer will present its wide range of products for the ceramic industry.

Gottfried, a long-standing German manufacturer of high-quality raw materials for the ceramic industry (clays, chamotte, feldspars and steatite) will be exhibiting at Ceramitec in Munich (Hall A5, Booth 503) from 9 to 12 April.

The exhibition will also be an opportunity for the company to outline its transition towards more sustainable processes, i.e. firing chamotte with zero-carbon fuel.

With its clay deposits located in Großheirath, near Coburg, and the strategic use of supplementary raw materials, Gottfried supplies customised raw material solutions that cater to the specific needs of various sectors of the ceramic industry. The range of raw and ground clays with between 20% and 43% aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and firing colours from creamy white to yellow and red are especially popular with manufacturers of structural building ceramics and refractory products.

Argolitec, a high-purity nano-scale illitic clay, stands out for its exceptional qualities and is particularly suited for the production of technical ceramics and ceramic surfaces.

Along with raw and calcined ground soapstone, the company also supplies iron-free ground pegmatite, mined and processed in Thansüß near Amberg, where both a pegmatite quarry and a mineral grinding plant are located. This white-firing potash feldspar sand serves as a basic raw material for porcelain, ceramic sanitaryware and tiles, while special grain sizes are used as a leaning agent in the production of light-coloured clinker masses and clay roof tiles.

Other minerals, such as sodium feldspar, can be combined and ground iron-free according to specifications. The washed quality boasts exceptionally low iron and titanium content.

Chamotte is another material that occupies a key position in Gottfried’s product portfolio. These custom-made hard materials actively improve the characteristics of ceramic products and are widely used in the production of refractories, fine fireclay sanitaryware and structural clay products. Gottfried is preparing to switch from fossil fuels such as oil and coal to biogenic fuels like wood for firing chamotte and other minerals in rotary kilns, a transition that is expected to take place as early as this spring. The company is set to inaugurate a complete facility for processing residual wood into wood powder, a significant step towards efficient and sustainable raw material production.