HarbisonWalker International
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHarbisonWalker International is an American refractory-solutions brand serving high-temperature industrial processes across the Americas.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
HarbisonWalker International (HWI) is a Pittsburgh-based provider of refractory products and related high-temperature process solutions. Its offerings are used to protect industrial equipment and manage heat-intensive operations in sectors such as steel, nonferrous metals, cement, foundries, glass, energy, and other process industries. The company supplies engineered refractory materials, casting fluxes, and molding-related solutions, combining manufactured products with technical support and application expertise. The modern HWI organization was created in 2002 after the consolidation of major American refractory businesses associated with Harbison-Walker Refractories, A.P. Green, and North American Refractories. These predecessor companies were among the significant North American participants in the firebrick and refractory industry during the twentieth century. Their combined histories extend substantially further back than the HWI name: the Harbison and Walker Company originated in Pennsylvania in 1875, A.P. Green developed from a Missouri fire-clay and brick business acquired by Allen Percival Green in 1910, and North American Refractories was formed in 1929 through the combination of several manufacturers. The predecessor businesses passed through a series of industrial ownership changes and acquisitions. Harbison-Walker became part of Dresser Industries in 1967 and separated from Dresser in 1992. A.P. Green became publicly traded in 1966 and was acquired by USG the following year. North American Refractories moved through ownership by Eltra, Allied, Didier-Werke, and Veitsch-Radex. Harbison-Walker and A.P. Green were acquired by the Austrian refractory group RHI in the late 1990s, while North American Refractories also came under the RHI sphere through Veitsch-Radex. The consolidation that produced the ANH Refractories Company took place while the American refractory sector was dealing with asbestos-related liabilities. In 2002, a number of US refractory companies, including businesses linked to the three predecessor groups, entered bankruptcy proceedings connected with asbestos claims. RHI's American operations were reorganized, and the resulting business operated as ANH Refractories Company. In 2015, ANH adopted the HarbisonWalker International name, reviving one of the industry's best-known historical identities while presenting the company as an integrated refractory-solutions provider. HWI has also invested in product development and technical capabilities. Its innovation and research activity is associated with an Innovation Center in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, supporting the development and application of materials for demanding thermal environments. In addition to standard and engineered refractories, the business provides casting fluxes and molding solutions, allowing it to address multiple stages of industrial production. A further structural change occurred in 2023, when HWI's operations were combined with Calderys under private ownership. Since then, the business has operated commercially as “HWI, a member of Calderys” and functions as Calderys' brand and operating presence for the Americas. HWI therefore represents both a historical American refractory name and a regional business within a broader international refractory platform. Its current identity is centered on industrial customers that require durable materials, process reliability, technical assistance, and solutions capable of operating at extreme temperatures.
History
HarbisonWalker International's history combines the development of several major American refractory businesses. The oldest of its principal predecessor identities was Harbison and Walker, established in Pennsylvania in 1875 when Hay Walker Sr. and Samuel P. Harbison acquired the Star Fire Brick Company. The business was renamed Harbison-Walker Refractories Company in 1902 and became an important producer of firebrick and other materials used in high-temperature industrial applications. It joined Dresser Industries in 1967 and later separated from Dresser in 1992. By 1999, the business had approximately 4,000 employees and 25 locations in seven countries before being acquired by the Austrian refractory group RHI Refractories. A second major predecessor was A.P. Green. Allen Percival Green had briefly worked for Harbison-Walker before acquiring the Mexico Brick and Fire Clay Company in 1910. Under his leadership, the A.P. Green Fire Brick Company expanded during World War I, developed international activity between the world wars, and grew again after World War II. The company became publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange in 1966 and was acquired by USG in 1967. A.P. Green was later sold to RHI in 1998. North American Refractories Co. was formed in Ohio in 1929 through the merger of seven refractory manufacturers, including a Canadian company with a similar name. It expanded through later acquisitions and was acquired by Eltra in 1965. Eltra's 1979 acquisition by Allied placed North American Refractories within Allied's chemical division. The business subsequently came under Didier-Werke in 1989 and then Veitsch-Radex, which was associated with RHI. The three business lineages converged during a difficult period for the US refractory industry. In 2002, asbestos claims affected several refractory companies and led to bankruptcy proceedings involving businesses connected with Harbison-Walker, A.P. Green, and North American Refractories. RHI brought many of its American operations together under the RHI Americas structure. Following the bankruptcy-related reorganization, that American business became ANH Refractories Company. ANH continued the combined operations until 2015, when it adopted the HarbisonWalker International name. The renamed company used the historical Harbison-Walker identity while operating as a broader refractory-solutions provider. Its activities included the manufacture and distribution of refractory products, casting fluxes, and molding solutions for industrial customers. Research and development activity was associated with an Innovation Center in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, supporting product development and technical application work. In 2023, HWI's operations were combined with Calderys. The business subsequently used the commercial designation HWI, a member of Calderys, and became the Calderys group's Americas-focused arm. Michel Cornelissen has served as President and CEO of Calderys, including HWI, since February 2023. HWI's present significance therefore lies in the combination of a long-established American refractory heritage, a consolidated industrial product portfolio, and regional participation in Calderys' wider refractory platform.
- 2023
HWI becomes part of Calderys
[1]HWI's operations were combined with Calderys, and the business began operating as HWI, a member of Calderys, for the Americas region.
- 2015
ANH renamed HarbisonWalker International
[1]ANH Refractories Company changed its name to HarbisonWalker International.
- 2002
ANH Refractories Company created
[1]After asbestos-related claims and restructuring affecting several US refractory companies, RHI's American operations were reorganized into ANH Refractories Company.
- 1999
Harbison-Walker acquired by RHI
[1]RHI acquired Harbison-Walker Refractories, which at the time operated a substantial international network of employees and facilities.
- 1998
A.P. Green sold to RHI
[1]A.P. Green was acquired by Austrian refractory group RHI Refractories.
- 1966
A.P. Green becomes publicly traded
[1]The A.P. Green Fire Brick Company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
- 1929
North American Refractories formed
[1]North American Refractories Co. was created in Ohio through the merger of seven refractory manufacturers.
- 1910
A.P. Green predecessor acquired by Allen Percival Green
[1]Allen Percival Green bought the Mexico Brick and Fire Clay Company, the starting point for the A.P. Green Fire Brick Company.
- 1902
Harbison-Walker name adopted
[1]The Harbison and Walker Company became Harbison-Walker Refractories Company.
- 1875
Harbison and Walker Company established
[1]Hay Walker Sr. and Samuel P. Harbison acquired the Star Fire Brick Company in Pennsylvania, establishing the predecessor business associated with the Harbison-Walker name.
Products and positioning
A technical, industrial business-to-business refractory provider focused on protecting equipment and improving reliability in high-temperature manufacturing and processing environments.
Industrial refractories
Refractory products
HWI manufactures and distributes materials designed to withstand extreme heat, chemical attack, mechanical wear, and demanding industrial operating conditions. These products are used in equipment and process areas such as furnaces, kilns, vessels, and other high-temperature installations. The portfolio incorporates the combined capabilities and heritage of the Harbison-Walker, A.P. Green, and North American Refractories businesses.
Shaped refractory products
Firebrick and shaped refractories
Firebrick and other shaped refractory components are produced for lining and protecting high-temperature industrial equipment. The product family reflects the traditional firebrick expertise associated with Harbison-Walker and A.P. Green. Exact grades, geometries, and applications vary by process and customer requirements, so the company supports selection through technical and application services.
Monolithic refractories
Monolithic refractories and castables
Monolithic refractory materials, including castable formulations, are installed without relying solely on pre-shaped brick units. They can be used to create or repair linings and other protective surfaces in industrial thermal equipment. HWI presents these materials as part of its broader high-temperature solutions portfolio, supported by product-development and application expertise.
Metallurgical process materials
Casting fluxes
Casting fluxes are supplied for use in metal-processing and casting operations. They complement HWI's refractory products by addressing material and process needs associated with high-temperature casting environments. The reference material identifies casting fluxes as a distinct part of the company's manufacturing and distribution activities, although it does not specify individual product names or formulations.
Foundry materials
Molding solutions
HWI also supplies molding solutions for industrial and foundry applications. These products broaden the business beyond refractory linings into materials used in shaping and handling high-temperature metals. Available product details, brand names, and launch dates are not specified in the cited reference material.
Controversies
2002
Asbestos-related claims and bankruptcy proceedings
Several US refractory companies associated with the Harbison-Walker, A.P. Green, and North American Refractories businesses were affected by asbestos claims and entered bankruptcy proceedings. The restructuring formed part of the background to the creation of ANH Refractories Company.
Brand decisions
2023
Combination with CalderysM&ABackground
A private investment firm acquired HWI and combined its operations with Calderys, another refractory business.
Action taken
HWI began operating commercially as HWI, a member of Calderys, and became the group's Americas-focused business and brand.
Aftermath
The business retained the HWI identity while operating within the Calderys platform. Michel Cornelissen became President and CEO of Calderys, including HWI, in February 2023.
2015
Rebranding as HarbisonWalker InternationalStrategyBackground
ANH Refractories operated as a consolidated refractory business with predecessor brands whose histories extended back to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Action taken
The company changed its name to HarbisonWalker International, reviving the historical Harbison-Walker identity for the combined business.
Aftermath
HWI continued as a manufacturer and distributor of refractory products, casting fluxes, and molding solutions, while developing its technical and digital capabilities.
2002
Consolidation into ANH Refractories CompanyStrategyBackground
RHI reorganized its American refractory operations during a period of asbestos-related claims and bankruptcy proceedings affecting several predecessor businesses.
Action taken
The US operations associated with Harbison-Walker, A.P. Green, and North American Refractories were brought together under the ANH Refractories Company structure.
Aftermath
The consolidated business later adopted the HarbisonWalker International name in 2015.
Recent events
Reported
HarbisonWalker International launches High Temperature Times podcast[2]
HarbisonWalker International introduced High Temperature Times, a new monthly podcast available to iOS and Android listeners.
Reported
HarbisonWalker International introduces MULE-R[3]
HarbisonWalker International introduced MULE-R, a lift-assist technology designed for the refractory industry. The product was developed with Construction Robotics and is available through HWI and distributor D. Martin Enterprises.
Sources3 sources
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