Sibelco
Encyclopedia
Sibelco has over 245 production units worldwide and is the disputed market leader in the extraction, production and distribution of the main industrial minerals: quartz, cristobalite, nepheline syenite, plastic clay and olivine. Furthermore the Sibelco group produces almost all other industrial minerals: barite, bentonite, calcite, dolomite, hydromagnesite, kaolin, feldspar, wollastonite, talc and huntite.
The company extracts and refines various types of sand
and minerals. These mainly relate to top quality silica sands for industry. Today, Sibelco is the global market leader in this sector with production sites all over the world.
SCR-Sibelco was founded in 1872 by Stanislas Emsens, and is one of the oldest companies in Flanders
today. The administrative headquarters of Sibelco Belgium are situated in Antwerpen.
Sibelco is owned by the Belgian family, the Emsens, one of Belgium's richest families.
In Flanders, silica sand is found in two regions: Maasmechelen
and the region of Dessel
-Mol-Lommel
. Sibelco concentrated its operating offices here. The development of Sibelco remains closely linked to the Flemish quarries and their top quality silica sand. The companies Sigrano and Lieben Minerals are active in Heerlen
and Maastricht
. These Dutch
sites are operationally part of Sibelco Belgium. The group is directed from its corporate headquarters
in Antwerp, where Sibelco also has a large storage facility. Ships leave the port
and transport quartz sand all over the world.
Amongst others the company was dedicated to the exploitation thereof.
In 1896 the sand quarry of Stevensvennen opened, the first automated sand quarry.
company
builds a unique hydro-classification installation. It was later marketed worldwide as Type SCR. The company constructs its first cutting-edge laboratory in the thirties.
priority is given to the development
of new technologies. In 1955, SCR opens a factory
in Dessel for drying
and milling
silica sand: Sibelco. The factory is a model for similar projects of the Sibelco-group in the rest of the world.
a new sand extraction zone is exploited. The layer is 12 million years old and the sand can be made exceptionally pure through a cutting-edge technological process.
installation in the port of Antwerp
. Silica sand is transported worldwide.
In the sixties, Sibelco experiences a Europe
an expansion and works together with various foreign companies. Sites are established in France
, Switzerland
, Italy
, Spain
and Portugal
.
dates from the fifties. Expansions follow in 1972 with the takeover of Sigrano, Heerlen. This subsidiary
is now part of the operations of Sibelco Belgium.
In 1970 the American company Unimin
is established. Three years later it is the largest North America
n producer of silica sand. A collaboration cannot be far off for SCR-Sibelco. Henceforth Unimin constitutes a part of SCR-Sibelco.
makes it possible to upgrade humus-rich silica sands from the vicinity. They are mainly intended for the glass industry (flat glass).
The British
WBB Minerals now also becomes part of the Sibelco-group. The company has a leading position as a supplier of clay
and related products
and acquisitions follow in China
, South Korea
, Brazil
, India
.
In 2005 a new factory is opened in Russia
The company extracts and refines various types of sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
and minerals. These mainly relate to top quality silica sands for industry. Today, Sibelco is the global market leader in this sector with production sites all over the world.
SCR-Sibelco was founded in 1872 by Stanislas Emsens, and is one of the oldest companies in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
today. The administrative headquarters of Sibelco Belgium are situated in Antwerpen.
Sibelco is owned by the Belgian family, the Emsens, one of Belgium's richest families.
In Flanders, silica sand is found in two regions: Maasmechelen
Maasmechelen
Maasmechelen is a municipality located on the Meuse river in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Maasmechelen municipality comprises the former communes of Mechelen-aan-de-Maas, Vucht, Leut, Meeswijk, Uikhoven, Eisden, Opgrimbie, Boorsem, and Kotem...
and the region of Dessel
Dessel
Dessel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Dessel proper. On January 1, 2006 Dessel had a total population of 8,773 inhabitants...
-Mol-Lommel
Lommel
Lommel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Lommel had a total population of 31,898. The total area is 102.37 km² which gives a population density of 312 inhabitants per km².-Lutlommel:...
. Sibelco concentrated its operating offices here. The development of Sibelco remains closely linked to the Flemish quarries and their top quality silica sand. The companies Sigrano and Lieben Minerals are active in Heerlen
Heerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
and Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
. These Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
sites are operationally part of Sibelco Belgium. The group is directed from its corporate headquarters
Corporate headquarters
Corporate headquarters is a term used to describe the entity at the top of a corporation to take full responsibility for the overall success of the corporation, ensures Corporate Governance...
in Antwerp, where Sibelco also has a large storage facility. Ships leave the port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
and transport quartz sand all over the world.
1872
Formation of Sablières et Carrières Réunies (SCR) in order to extract the silica sand layers in Mol for industrial applications.1896
At the end of the 19th century, hundreds of hectares were acquired in the vicinity of Mol-Rauw with large quantities of silica sand.Amongst others the company was dedicated to the exploitation thereof.
In 1896 the sand quarry of Stevensvennen opened, the first automated sand quarry.
1919
Of the many sand extractors, only three remain: SCR, Anciennes Sablières Stanislas Emsens and De Nieuwe Zandgroeven in Mol.1921
SCR takes over the shares of Anciennes Sablières Stanislas Emsens. The basis is laid for the common technological and later also geographical expansion.1930
Together with Belgian experts, an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
builds a unique hydro-classification installation. It was later marketed worldwide as Type SCR. The company constructs its first cutting-edge laboratory in the thirties.
1955
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
priority is given to the development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
of new technologies. In 1955, SCR opens a factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
in Dessel for drying
Drying
Drying is a mass transfer process consisting of the removal of water or another solvent by evaporation from a solid, semi-solid or liquid. This process is often used as a final production step before selling or packaging products. To be considered "dried", the final product must be solid, in the...
and milling
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
silica sand: Sibelco. The factory is a model for similar projects of the Sibelco-group in the rest of the world.
1960
In MaasmechelenMaasmechelen
Maasmechelen is a municipality located on the Meuse river in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Maasmechelen municipality comprises the former communes of Mechelen-aan-de-Maas, Vucht, Leut, Meeswijk, Uikhoven, Eisden, Opgrimbie, Boorsem, and Kotem...
a new sand extraction zone is exploited. The layer is 12 million years old and the sand can be made exceptionally pure through a cutting-edge technological process.
1961
Sibelco has its own transshipmentTransshipment
Transshipment or Transhipment is the shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate destination, and then from there to yet another destination....
installation in the port of Antwerp
Port of Antwerp
The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. The inland location means that the port...
. Silica sand is transported worldwide.
In the sixties, Sibelco experiences a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an expansion and works together with various foreign companies. Sites are established in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
1972
The first silica sand production in the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
dates from the fifties. Expansions follow in 1972 with the takeover of Sigrano, Heerlen. This subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
is now part of the operations of Sibelco Belgium.
1973
SCR-Sibelco gains a permanent foothold on the American continent.In 1970 the American company Unimin
Unimin
Unimin Corporation is the American subsidiary of Sibelco and the United States' leading producer of silica sand. Unimin specializes in industrial minerals....
is established. Three years later it is the largest North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n producer of silica sand. A collaboration cannot be far off for SCR-Sibelco. Henceforth Unimin constitutes a part of SCR-Sibelco.
1983
A new processing plant in LommelLommel
Lommel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Lommel had a total population of 31,898. The total area is 102.37 km² which gives a population density of 312 inhabitants per km².-Lutlommel:...
makes it possible to upgrade humus-rich silica sands from the vicinity. They are mainly intended for the glass industry (flat glass).
1993
The Nieuwe Zandgroeven in Mol, in the meantime an independent subsidiary for a few years, is integrated.The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
WBB Minerals now also becomes part of the Sibelco-group. The company has a leading position as a supplier of clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
and related products
1996
Lieben Minerals becomes a part of Sibelco Belgium. Together with the production office in Maasmechelen, the Dutch sites Sigrano and Lieben Minerals produce top quality quartz products, amongst other suitable for the crystal industry.2000
Further globalisation. Sibelco now has sites in Europe, America, Australia and Asia. As from 2000, Sibelco has a permanent foothold in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and acquisitions follow in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
In 2005 a new factory is opened in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...