The greenfield investment increases HWI’s lightweight monolithics production capacity and reinforces its commitment to reliable, innovative, and sustainable solutions for customers across the Americas.
Built on existing HWI property at the company’s Rotary Kiln complex, the state-of-the-art facility has direct access to high-quality local clay reserves, enabling true vertical integration for greater supply security and consistent raw material quality. Advanced features include a purpose-built furnace system for GREENLITE® aggregate production, full robotic automation for packaging and material handling, and upgraded packaging options.
Operationally, the capacity increase is transformative for HWI. It enables dramatically shorter lead times, dedicated make-to-stock inventory, and gives HWI the flexibility to pursue new business opportunities and larger-scale projects that were previously limited by tight supply. Premium GREENLITE® products—including the GREENLITE®-45-L family of monolithics and GREENLITE® 115 AR brick—are now shipping at scale to HWI’s distribution network.
“Demand for these high-performance, energy-saving lightweight refractories continues to grow rapidly while global supply chains remain under pressure” said Michel Cornelissen, President and CEO of Calderys Group. “This added capacity strengthens availability and ensures we reliably support customers’ operations, growth, and sustainability goals.”
Monolithic refractories are essential for lining heaters, reformers, boilers, crackers, and furnaces in petrochemicals, refineries, aluminum, power generation, and other high-temperature industries. HWI’s GREENLITE® lightweight monolithics provide superior insulation with optimized strength-to-density ratios—minimizing heat loss, reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, extending campaign life, and enabling longer service intervals. These benefits help customers lower operating costs and improve energy efficiency while maintaining productivity and reliability.
“The expansion builds on our more than 100-year legacy in Missouri and reinforces HWI’s innovation and capacity strengths in lightweight monolithics across North America,” noted Ross Wilkin, Senior Vice President of the Americas region for Calderys Group. “Our strategically located facilities and strong networks enable us to deliver greater efficiencies and responsiveness for customers throughout the region.”
HWI’s extensive distribution network and its strong Contractor/Installer (C/I) network ensure rapid delivery and expert installation, strengthening partnerships and supporting growth in lower-energy applications.
The project created approximately 11 new jobs in the Fulton area and reflects collaboration with the Fulton Area Development Foundation (FADF), Callaway County, the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), and the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).
HWI remains committed to its people, communities, and customers. The opening advances Calderys Group’s growth strategy in the Americas and demonstrates its long-term confidence in North American manufacturing.
