HarbisonWalker International
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Refractory products |
| Predecessor | Harbison-Walker Refractories, A.P. Green, North American Refractories |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Americas |
Key people | Michel Cornelissen (President and CEO) |
| Products | Refractories, casting fluxes, molding materials |
Number of employees | 4000 (prior to 1999, Harbison-Walker) |
HarbisonWalker International (HWI) is a supplier of refractory products based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Established in 2002 through the consolidation of Harbison-Walker Refractories, A.P. Green, and North American Refractories into ANH Refractories Company, it adopted the name HarbisonWalker International in 2015. In 2023, HWI merged its operations with Calderys, becoming the group's representative brand for the Americas region.
History
The roots of HWI trace back to the union of three prominent refractory manufacturers: Harbison-Walker, A.P. Green, and North American Refractories—each a significant contributor to the firebrick sector since the early 1900s.
Harbison-Walker began in Pennsylvania in 1875 when Hay Walker Sr. and Samuel P. Harbison acquired Star Fire Brick Company. It was officially named Harbison-Walker Refractories Company in 1902, later joining forces with Dresser Industries in 1967 before separating in 1992. By 1999, Harbison-Walker maintained 25 facilities across seven nations, employing approximately 4,000 workers prior to its acquisition by the Austrian firm RHI Refractories.
Founded in 1910 by Missouri native Allen Percival Green, A.P. Green Fire Brick Company expanded its global presence and went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1966. The following year, it was acquired by USG Corporation and subsequently sold to RHI Refractories in 1998.
North American Refractories Co. (NARCO) originated in Ohio in 1929 through the merger of seven refractory producers. Ownership transitioned through several companies—including Eltra Corp., Allied Corp., and Didier-Werke AG—before being purchased by Veitsch-Radex (a subsidiary of RHI) in 1996.
In response to asbestos-related bankruptcy claims impacting numerous U.S. refractory businesses—including these three—RHI consolidated its American operations under RHI Americas in 2002, which then spun off as ANH Refractories Company. The business rebranded as HarbisonWalker International in 2015 and subsequently embraced digital transformation strategies.
In 2023, a U.S.-based private equity firm acquired HWI and integrated it with its refractory division Calderys, forming "HWI, a member of Calderys," which functions as Calderys' Americas branch.
Activities
Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, HarbisonWalker International (HWI) specializes in providing refractory solutions by manufacturing and distributing products designed for high-temperature applications such as refractories, casting fluxes, and molding materials. Its research and development efforts are centralized at the Innovation Center located in West Mifflin, PA. Following the 2023 merger with Calderys, the company conducts business under the name "HWI, a member of Calderys." Since February 2023, Michel Cornelissen has held the position of President and CEO for both Calderys and HWI.