The building materials industry is pragmatic!
Should we make such a statement? It may sound a little disrespectful at first, but if you take a closer look, this statement quickly becomes clear.
It’s all about large quantities, fixed formulas, and little room for error, insufficient quality, and lengthy supply chains. Because if a raw material does not deliver the desired performance, it is immediately apparent. Inadequate processing quality and unusual surface properties, in turn, lead to increased complaints. The building materials industry does not need much, but it knows exactly what it needs. Pragmatism, in other words.
Why are we telling you this? Because it is clear that in this industry, raw materials are much more than just a purchase item—they are the foundation for production reliability and a guarantee of customer satisfaction.
COFERMIN supplies building material customers primarily where requirements are high and tolerance limits are narrow. Whether it’s shotcrete, fiber-reinforced concrete, mortar, leveling compounds, or joint fillers. Our portfolio also includes raw material solutions for applications in the fiberboard sector. What all these products have in common is that they must withstand consistently high loads in everyday use. That’s why one thing counts above all else – reliable performance instead of short-term price advantages.
You can see what the building materials industry typically demands. At first glance, this may not sound spectacular. But that’s exactly the point: consistent quality, consistent color, and consistent grain sizes. And that’s precisely where the crux of the matter lies.
This requires mixtures that are based on consistent raw material quality. This is standard practice for us. Among other things, our silica fume is certified according to EN 13263-1:2005 + A1:2009 and is regularly tested – both by our own production control and by external monitoring. Tests of this kind enable us to ensure consistent quality. However, quality is not only expressed in terms of raw material quality, but also in terms of service, supply chains, and availability.
Availability and supply chains
Many in the industry are currently concerned with the issue of availability. Especially in the case of high-volume bulk raw materials, delivery capability and logistics are naturally closely linked. To counteract this “challenge”,we are strongly focusing on sourcing as part of our supply chain strategy. We are constantly looking for new sources and partners and establishing long-term supply relationships. Where possible, we use sources in Europe. At the same time, depending on the market situation, we also draw on sources from Asia to secure supplies for our customers. The goal is simple: predictability instead of ad hoc solutions.
Silica fume in particular shows how quickly markets can change. Silica fume is often a producer business because it is a classic by-product. When something shifts on the producer side, the entire chain feels it. Many operators of electric arc furnaces have had to temporarily or permanently shut down their operations in recent years. The reasons for this are competitive pressure, including from China, and the difficult conditions in Europe – from high energy costs to regulations and bureaucracy. For the building materials industry, this means that supply is not automatically guaranteed, even if the raw material is technically established.
This is where COFERMIN differs from traditional wholesalers. We specialize in recycling silica fume from various deposits. This makes us less dependent on the ongoing production of individual plants and less exposed to economic fluctuations. For customers, this translates into a little more stability in an already tense supply landscape.
And then there is the pressure to be sustainable, which has long been part of everyday life in the building materials industry. The demand for alternative or “green” raw materials is increasing. At the same time, a green label is not enough. It’s about reliable quality, technical suitability, and dependable supply chains. With recycled goods, we make a concrete contribution to sustainability – without customers having to sacrifice process reliability.
We are not an “everything-to-everyone” provider. We are a niche player. But one that offers an interesting and sustainable alternative to large producers in a critical raw materials sector. For decision-makers and purchasers, this is often exactly the combination that counts: a focused partner who ensures quality, thinks ahead in terms of supply, and remains capable of acting in a difficult market.
