engosyn - Grothe Rohstoffe GmbH & Co. KG

iMpRiNT
photos: peter Hübbe; www.peterhuebbe.com // Text: Thomas Soltau · Design: Sven Grot; www.B-99.de
print: Druck Center Drake + Huber, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany
The Company
Perfection in ceramic surfaces
Grothe Rohstoffe has been Europe’s leading supplier of engobes and your reliable partner for 40 years. Set up as a
trading company in 1946, Grothe Rohstoffe is now being managed by the third generation of the Grothe family.
We develop and manufacture special engobes (ENGOSYN®), glazes and melting colours (GRONAT®) and special
tarnishing colours (REDOX®) for industrial ceramics. The product range is completed by the trade products manganese
oxide (MANGRONAT), iron oxides and chromite.
We satisfY eVerY reQuirement
As experts, we supply individual solutions for every sphere. At its Bückeburg development laboratory, the company
develops and manufactures top-quality products tailored to our customers’ requirements – however, specific the
requirement, we can satisfy it.
Your satisfaction is WHat motiVates us
The success of Grothe Rohstoffe is based on extraordinary service and the highest standards of quality. Our team
satisfies customer requirements to the best of its ability, with speed and innovation. The quality laboratory guarantees
that our products always reach customers in a consistent quality. State-of-the-art equipment is used for ceramic
inspection processes.
coLours from BÜcKeBurG for fiVe continents
Our colours for a more beautiful world: our dense network of agencies abroad enables us to supply the most remote
places from our location in Bückeburg (in Central North Germany). The company owns some 20,000 formulations
and the 45 employees at Grothe Rohstoffe produce around 10,000 t of ceramic colours a year. Sustainability plays a
significant role in our production processes. Successful business is increasingly being defined by whether it handles
resources economically and efficiently, so responsible
behaviour is one of our fundamental principles.
We would be pleased to advise you personally, so do
contact us at any time. For more information about
Grothe Rohstoffe, visit www.grothe.net
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Managing Director, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Uwe Grothe

the quality of a product is no coincidence, it
is always the result of committed action.
Our company’s performance is embodied in
the quality of our staff who focus entirely
Product Development
40 Years of exPertise for BriLLiant coLours
individuality and variety mean high sales of ceramic products - and consequently success in the market. Essential cornerstones
in this process are top quality products with a long service life. Our company can now fall back on over
4 decades of experience in ceramic colours and surfaces. Some 90 per cent of the frits we use are in-house developments.
Our employees also have many years’ experience of the way in which ceramic body composition, firing temperature,
dwell time, settlement behaviour, firing atmosphere and other production parameters affect the colour and
surface of your ceramic products.
exPerts in customized Products
As a result, you have an enormous amount of expert knowledge at your disposal. We are there for you when you need
to find new trends and variations for your products – we develop and accompany the product all the way from the
concept through to readiness for serial production.
a reLiaBLe Partner for our customers
You likewise benefit from the experience of our employees in implementing the ideas of your sales and marketing
departments, however detailed. Our team of developers will collaborate with you on site to realize highly individual
specifications and ideas to give your products a unique character.
on customer satisfaction. Staff in the lab regularly analyse fresh trial results from
Always state of the art – our product ranges are subject
to continuous development
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our kilns

only control of every little detail enables
you to be precise. in our test lab, we work
on achieving the best every day:
because quality always breeds success.
Quality Assurance
Guarantors of QuaLitY
Our experienced employees use state-of-the-art production and testing methods to guarantee top quality. This applies
equally to production, sales and technical advice. We give top priority to quality assurance, so quality management is a
particular focus for Grothe Rohstoffe.
The company has developed some 20,000 formulations over the decades, always of consistently high quality.
care at eVerY Production staGe
We prepare, approve and record every production step without exception using quality assurance measures. Our
quality assurance department has 6 members of staff and adapts continuously to the latest technical standards. As well
as employing ceramic inspection processes, we use the latest equipment for routine inspections. For special tests (such
as heating microscope tests or CTE measurements, for example) we work in close collaboration with respected testing
institutes.
strict insPection Processes for comPLiance WitH tHe most
strinGent reQuirements
To ensure that results are always correct, we participate regularly in inter-laboratory tests and have imposed strict,
regular inspection processes from a quality assurance manual we compiled in-house. Before being released for
production, every batch of raw materials is subjected to a standardized inspection process based on quality agreements
with our suppliers. Results and samples taken are archived long term. Every batch without exception is examined
during the production process to enable top quality to be delivered on time.
Only these comprehensive material tests and constant monitoring of process parameters enable us to ensure the
high quality of our products.
Every quality and every order is subject to intensive
inspection prior to despatch
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High-tech quality assurance: X-ray fluorescence analysis
ensures consistent high quality

»our lead-free and environmentally compatible engobes
come in a limitless selection of colours. We implement
whatever you want on a customized, premium-quality
basis. for colours which retain their brilliance for ever.«
Sonja Sommer
ENGOSYN ® SPECIAL ENGOBES
Premium-QuaLitY Perfection
Grothe Rohstoffe is an established supplier of ceramic pigments all over
the world. For three generations now, this traditional company has stood
for innovation, premium quality and a flexible response to customer
requirements. Our laboratories develop ENGOSYN® special engobes to
the serial production stage and our headquarters in Bückeburg, Germany,
have produced some 10,000 formulations. ENGOSYN® is an environmentally-friendly
special engobe for almost every ceramic body, firing
curve and kiln type in industrial ceramics.
stronG PiGments – LonG Protection
Engobes are pigmented finely-ground powdered clays which are applied
to clay. These powders can be applied by centrifuging, spraying, dipping,
pouring, brushing or even by dry application. We develop all pigments in
line with your individual production parameters and requirements. On
the next few pages, we present a selection of pigments and other options
for customizing the finish of your different ceramic surfaces.
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enGosYn ® ENGOBES WITH A MATT FINISH
HiGH in QuaLitY and Kind to
tHe enVironment
ENGOSYN® special engobes are environmentally friendly and made of
high-quality raw materials for use in roofing tile, brick, clinker and floor
tile factories. They are suitable for firing temperatures between 850 °C
and 1250 °C.
Whatever colour you would like, we develop every shade to suit your
ideas. On an individual basis, quickly – and, of course, in premium quality.
The gloss finish of ENGOSYN® special engobes ranges from matt
to brilliant to satin - depending on your specifications and production
conditions.
Our special engobes are frost-resistant on a ceramic body if the body itself
also has this property.
This benefit results from the fact that special engobes can still breathe
naturally after firing, even with a satin finish. Yet another plus point is
that special engobes are also suitable for fast firing. They can be mixed
together and also applied one on top of the other. With ENGOSYN®,
your creativity has no limits – just try it!
ENGOSYN ® -P: HiGH strenGtH for
PaVinG cLinKers and fLoor tiLes
ENGOSYN®-p is used in paving clinkers and floor tiles. This is because
this special engobe has characteristics such as high abrasion resistance
– and can thus cope with the harshest conditions. ENGOSYN®-p is
absolutely resistant to heavy mechanical load, extreme weather conditions
and UV radiation.
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enGosYn ® ENGOBES WITH A SATIN FINISH
ENGOSYN ® -V:
Premium QuaLitY for facinG cLinKers
ENGOSYN®-V engobes have beneficial properties in applications for
facing clinkers. These products are made specifically to suit relatively long
kiln times and allow highly innovative products to be achieved.
ENGOSYN ® -S: seaLs eVerYtHinG –
GiVes eVerYtHinG nuances
ENGOSYN®-S acts as a ceramic body sealant. Engobes applied to the
ceramic body stop water penetrating it once it has been fired. Another
application for ENGOSYN®-S is to provide subtle nuances in colour with
a minimal application weight. This allows a wide range of product shades
to be manufactured, especially in facing clinkers and tiles.
ENGOSYN ® -T: oPtimum surfaces
ENGOSYN®-T has proved to be the perfect engobe to prevent adhesion
during firing. it is used to keep ceramic bodies in the kiln separate from
adhering material. This prevents the end-product from being spoiled by
adhesion points. The outcome: optimum surfaces.
All engobes are supplied in the form of a powdered finished product
or a “ready to use” slurry. They are easy to use because there is no need
to add viscosity regulators or stabilizers. Powdered engobes are simply
mixed with water and are then easy to use. Slurries can be used as soon
as they arrive.
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enGosYn ® ENGOBES WITH A HIGH-GLOSS FINISH enGosYn ® ENGOBES WITH A METALLIC GLOSS
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Best coLour dePtH
and LuminositY
ENGOSYN®-M metal-effect engobes
are environmentally-friendly special
engobes in a variety of colours made
of high-quality raw materials in combination
with a unique metal effect.
The great depth of colour, high luminosity
and amazing colour changes
dependent on light incidence make
these engobes especially attractive.
ENGOSYN®-M metal-effect engobes
are outstandingly suited to finishing
the surfaces of roofing tiles, facade
panels, wall tiles, floor tiles, clinkers
and hand-shaped bricks. These unique
engobes can be used at temperatures
between 960 °C and 1150 °C.

»our glazes satisfy the most discerning requirements.
they combine a high-grade appearance with timeless
elegance, whilst their gloss gives them impact.«
David Halas
GRONAT ® GLAZES & MELTING COLOURS
Gronat GLazes
GRONAT® glazes are finely-ground, free of harmful substances and
thus kind to the environment. The products are used in roofing tiles and
clinkers - and equally in floor tiles and decorative ceramics. GRONAT®
glazes can be applied by centrifuging, spraying, pouring or dipping.
Application by brush, as in decorative ceramics, is also a possibility.
GLazes to maKe You feeL Good
GRONAT® glazes are suitable for firing temperatures from 950 °C in
conventional kilns, but also for fast firing. The upper firing temperature
limit is 1200 °C. The degree of gloss of GRONAT® glazes is individually
adjustable depending on firing temperature and the composition of
the glaze. High-gloss surfaces are just as realizable as satin or matt-effect
glazes. We quickly produce premium-quality pigment designs to suit any
customer requirement.
All glazes, both gloss and matt finish, are supplied in the form of a
powdered finished product or a “ready to use” slurry. They are easy to
use because there is no need to add viscosity regulators or stabilizers.
Powdered glazes are simply mixed with water and are then easy to use.
Slurries can be used as soon as they arrive.
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Gronat ® HIGH-GLOSS GLAZES
GLoss Perfection
All our glazes share a gleaming beauty
and a brilliant language of shape. The
high-grade glazed surfaces have an
immediate impact, draw the eye and
satisfy the most exacting demands.
Flexibility in our response to customer
requirements is as important
to us as sustainability, and our glazes
likewise meet the most discerning
requirements.
Gronat ® MATT GLAZES
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unLimited
matt GLazes
if you want a matt glaze, you know
perfectly well why. The soft surface
structure has a high-grade elegance
and a perfect feel. Glossy surfaces are
not permitted in every construction
zone, and this is where matt glazes can
be an alternative. Compared to highgloss
glazes, matt glazes blend unobtrusively
into their surroundings. As a
result, there is no dazzle (reflection) as
there is with high-gloss surfaces. The
high-grade appearance of matt glazes
also adds a timeless elegance.

Gronat ® MELTING COLOURS
surfaces of manY sHades WitH meLtinG coLours
Do you like individual bricks with a special surface? Then take a look at the GRONAT®-S and GRONAT®-ES ranges
of melting colours.
These melting colours promote both changing colour effects and a variety of surface textures on bricks. This creates
unique effects which are particularly useful in creating rustic-looking, rough surfaces on facing bricks. GRONAT®-S
melting colours are fine-grained grades with a particle size of up to approx. 1.5 mm. GRONAT®-ES products are
relatively coarse-grained products with a particle size of approx. 5 mm. They create special rustic effects as they cause
holes to form in the brick. it is possible to mix GRONAT®-S and GRONAT®-ES melting colours, and include sand,
to achieve completely unique effects. Combinations involving our GRONAT® glazes, ENGOSYN® special engobes
and REDOX ® tarnishing colours increase creative opportunities still further.
Application methods: Scattered and compacted
GRONAT®-S and GRONAT®-ES melting colours are supplied only as powders as they can only be processed in
this form. Both GRONAT® glazes and GRONAT®-S and GRONAT®-ES melting colours should be stored in dry
conditions away from frost.
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»the unique all-rounders, redox ® tarnishing colours
achieve special clinker effects. We are doing all we can
to improve this premium quality still further.«
Claudia Günther
REDOX ® TARNISHING COLOURS
redox ® – a success storY
The REDOX® success story began in Bückeburg four decades ago. in
1972, the head of the family firm, Martin Grothe, managed to produce
a tarnishing colour which he registered under the name REDOX®. A
great many experiments in a tiny laboratory were required to achieve this
success, but production was able to start shortly afterwards. Mixing may
originally have been performed in a small washing-up bowl in the cellar,
but nowadays, four different-sized high-performance mixers work on the
production of REDOX®.
HiGH-Grade aLL-rounder
REDOX® tarnishing colours improve a great many surfaces. They make
roofing tiles, clinkers, floor tiles and stove tiles as unique as a fingerprint.
in contrast to engobes or glazes, however, their different composition and
individual impact make them a completely independent type of product.
effects WitH redox ®
REDOX®: our tarnishing colours bond permanently to the ceramic body
and penetrate it deeply following ceramic firing.
The mix is what makes it: REDOX® colours can be mixed together and
can be applied one on top of another - to achieve special colour effects.
innumerable firing colours: REDOX® grades can be fired in both
reducing and oxidizing atmospheres. Completely different firing colours
are obtained under these differing firing conditions.
Many combinations: REDOX® tarnishing colours can also be combined
to outstanding effect with GRONAT® glazes and ENGOSYN® special
engobes.
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edox ® TARNISHING COLOURS
»REDOX ® IS A SPECIAL PRODUCT: THE
TARNISHING COLOUR IS OF PREMIUM QUALITY
AND CONjURES UP FANTASTIC EFFECTS ON
ANY CLINkER OR BRICk
naturaL coLours for Life
Surprise yourself: REDOX® generates interesting pigment interactions
after firing if some of it is applied thickly and some thinly.
Dry scattering through a fine sieve (0.5 mm) also leads to astounding
results. All tarnishing colours are developed exclusively in line with
individual customer requirements.
QuicK to Process
REDOX® grades are available for an enormous variety of kiln types
and firing curves. They can be used at temperatures between 980 °C
and 1320 °C.
REDOX® tarnishing colours are supplied exclusively in powdered form.
Once water has been added, the suspension can be centrifuged, sprayed,
poured, dipped or brushed. The powder should be stored in dry conditions
away from frost.
CERAMiC RAW MATERiALS
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CERAMIC RAW MATERIALS
trust our exPerience –
effectiVe PiGmentinG
We have never forgotten our roots: since our company was set up in 1946,
we have become established as one of the most successful suppliers of
ceramic raw materials in the brick and tile industry.
Our company‘s continuous growth is driven by its demand for premium
quality combined with passion. We stand for state-of-the-art development
of innovative, long-lasting products. Our customers trust us and
our pigmenting raw materials in the three product groups Mangronat
manganese oxides, iron oxides and chromite.
eVerYtHinG BroWn: manGronat manGanese
Beautiful effects are achieved by adding MANGRONAT manganese
oxide to the ceramic body. MANGRONAT manganese oxides are highly
effective and highly pure manganese oxide powders. The extremely fine
powdered form of our manganese oxides ensures optimum consistent
pigmentation of ceramic products. The nuances of colour and thus the
individuality of every product extend from light brown to blackishbrown.
The range of colours can be expanded further by firing conditions
– it is possible to fire under both oxidizing or reducing conditions.
eVerYtHinG red: iron oxides
Our company supplies highly effective iron oxide powders for the
consistent pigmenting of ceramic bodies. Our iron oxides are supplied in
fine powder form and thus pigment with the full power of an iron oxide.
Obviously, this makes everything red.
eVerYtHinG GreY: cHromite
Chromite is likewise outstandingly suitable for the consistent pigmenting
of ceramic bodies. A combination of chromite and extremely low-iron
clays results in the widest possible range of different grey tones.
www.grothe.net

GERMANY
Grothe Rohstoff e GmbH & Co. KG
Kreuzbreite 16 · DE-31675 Bückeburg
p +49 5722 9513 0 · F +49 5722 9513 60
info@grothe.net
www.grothe.net
GREECE
Exelixis · Alexis Nemtsoglou
5A, Kleopatras street · GR-166 71 Vouliagmeni · Athen
p +30 210 896 4866, +30 694 465 5007
F +30 210 896 4866
info@exelixis-agencies.gr
FRANCE
Grothe Rohstoff e GmbH & Co. KG
Mr. poirier
5, rue de Francois Mitterand · FR-87570 Rilhac Rancon
p +49 172 580 9513
ap@grothe.net
BENELUX
Technisch Bureau Hazewinkel bv
De Holtplaats 4 · NL-7064 HZ Silvolde
p +31 315 346228
F +31 315 346278
hazewinkel@wxs.nl
SPAIN
Foerschler S. L.
C/ pirineos 25 · Edifi cio 2 · Ofi cina
ES-28040 Madrid, Spanien
p +34 914 591 877
info@foerschler.net
TURKEY
Elbasi Keramik Consulting
Mr. Turan Elbasi
Bassermannweg 1B · DE-12207 Berlin
p +49 30 81 00 14 47 · F +49 30 81 00 14 48
turanelbasi@mac.com
GREAT BRITAIN
Shire Minerals & Machinery · Mr. Chris Hallas
Crigglestone · Wakefi eld
West Yorkshire · GB-WF4 3HZ
p +44 1924 258509 · F +44 1924 258509
chrishallas@aol.com
PORTUGAL
Metaglobal LDA · Joaquim Ferreira · Ricardo Moreira
Largo José João Farinha Júnior, No. 6-1B
pT-1600-302 Lisbon
p +351 217 158 553 · F +351 217 164 022
geral@metaglobal.pt
AUSTRALIA
Fired Clay Technologies pty. Ltd.
Mr. David Goodman
4 Watton St · Quakers Hill, AU-NSW 2763
p +61 2 9626 3936 · F +61 2 9837 6703
davidgoodman@iprimus.com.au