2011 Registration Document - Imerys

1 Minerals
PRESENTATION OF THE GROUP
for Ceramics, Refractories, Abrasives & Foundry
p Sanitaryware and kiln furniture: the use in sanitaryware of
the chamottes manufactured by Imerys in Europe allows for the
manufacturing of so-called ‘fine fireclay’, a high-end ceramics
material fit for more sophisticated forms than vitreous ceramics.
This technique is well established and enjoys growing popularity
in Western Europe, particularly in Italy, but is also taking hold in
the fast growing MENA production centres;
p Well stimulation and drilling muds for the oil and gas industry.
The proppants manufactured by Imerys are high tech ceramic
beads essential in the production of non-conventional oil and gas,
which requires hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is the process of
pumping water underground to open fractures in the reservoir
formation to allow more oil and/or gas to permeate through
the open surface area. The proppants keep fractures open,
combining great mechanical strength with low density. The
proppants used in the industry are naturally occurring (sand)
or man-made (ceramic). C eramic proppants provide superior
pressure resistance and a better profitability of deposits.
p T he activity also sells all products manufactured by Imerys, which
are used in well cementing and drilling muds.
❚ INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, QUALITY AND SALES ORGANIZATION
Industrial facilities
Minerals for Refractories and Oilfields business has 20 industrial facilities :
22 2011 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT IMERYS
❚ MARKETS
Market trends
In 2011, steel production, which drives the majority of the demand for
the activity’s refractory products, continued to follow a positive trend,
albeit at a slower pace than in 2010, with year on year increases
of + 3% in Western Europe, + 7% in North America and + 9% in
China, according to the International Iron & Steel Institute. Demand
for the activity’s refractory products also benefited from a rebound
in projects activity related to other refractory segments, especially
in the aluminum industry.
Demand for proppants is driven by non-conventional oil and gas
production in North America. The non-conventional drilling activity
was particularly strong in the North American oil rich basins,
where the characteristics and performance of light weight ceramic
proppants are valued. This market was not material to the activity’s
sales in 2011, as the first shipments from the new plant occurred in
the first quarter of 2012.
Main competitors
K aolin AD (Bulgaria); Cluz (Czech Republic); Andalucita (Peru);
Andalusite resources (South Africa); Carboceramics, Minco (United
States); various Chinese producers and several local competitors in
all geographies.
Europe Americas
Asia-Pacific
& Africa
Fused silica 1
Refractory materials sizing 1 1
Andalusite 1 6
Bentonite 2
Refractory clays & Chamottes 3 2
Mullite 1
Fused white alumina 1
Molochite 1
Quality
14 plants are ISO 9001 certified.
Sales organization
The Minerals for Refractories and Oilfields activity is well represented
around the globe by its own refractory sales, logistics and technical
teams, which are organized by geographic region. In 2011, the
in house Chinese, Brazilian and Ukrainian sales networks were
reinforced in order to better serve these growing markets.
In 2011, the activity established a sales team dedicated to the
oilfield markets, serving the industry globally with presence in the
United States and Europe. These teams also market the products
manufactured by other Imerys entities used in the oilfield industry.