Wedoany.com Report on Mar 14th, As a company within the Calderys Group and a supplier of refractory materials, HWI officially inaugurated its advanced lightweight monolithic material production facility in Fulton, Missouri, on March 12, 2026. This investment, located within the company's rotary kiln complex, allows for direct access to local high-quality clay resources. This vertical integration model ensures consistent quality and supply security for the refractory materials. The production facility is equipped with dedicated kilns, a fully automated robotic packaging system, and enhanced material handling capabilities.
This capacity expansion is of significant strategic importance to HWI. The new facility increases the production capacity of premium GREENLITE® refractory materials by nearly 60%, enabling significantly shorter delivery lead times and establishing a dedicated inventory production model. These improvements allow HWI to undertake large-scale projects that were previously constrained by supply limitations. GREENLITE® refractory materials are widely used in heater and kiln linings within the petrochemical, refining, and power generation industries, providing thermal insulation properties and an optimized strength-to-density ratio, helping customers reduce heat loss and lower CO2 emissions.
The construction of this production facility was supported by state and local economic development agencies, creating a total of 11 new jobs and continuing HWI's century-long industrial legacy in Missouri. Ross Wilkin, Senior Vice President of HWI Americas, stated that the company's previous facility in Ohio faced capacity constraints and local clay resource depletion. The Fulton area, with its proven clay deposits and established workforce, prompted the company to choose this location for investment. The new facility covers approximately 15,000 square feet, took about a year to build, was completed by the end of November 2025, and has been gradually brought into operation.
The launch of this production facility advances the growth strategy of the Calderys Group and demonstrates the company's long-term confidence in North American manufacturing. Kayla Kookerhan, Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, stated that this investment reflects confidence in Missouri's workforce and the future of advanced manufacturing, and will further solidify the state's position in the field of refractory material innovation.
