Sibelco - History

History

• 1872: Formation of Sablières et Carrières Réunies (SCR) in order to extract the silica sand layers in Mol for industrial applications.

• 1896: At the end of the 19th century, hundreds of hectares were acquired in the vicinity of Mol-Rauw with large quantities of silica sand. In 1896 the sand quarry of Stevensvennen opened, the first automated sand quarry.

• 1919: Of the many sand extractors, only three remain: SCR, Anciennes Sablières Stanislas Emsens and De Nieuwe Zandgroeven in Mol.

• 1921: SCR takes over the shares of Anciennes Sablières Stanislas Emsens. The basis is laid for the common technological and later also geographical expansion.

• 1930: Together with Belgian experts, an American company builds a unique hydro-classification installation. It was later marketed worldwide as Type SCR. The company constructs its first laboratory in the 1930s.

• 1955: After World War II priority is given to the development of new technologies. In 1955, SCR opens a factory in Dessel for drying and milling silica sand: Sibelco. The factory is a model for similar projects of the Sibelco group.

• 1960: In Maasmechelen a new sand extraction zone is exploited. The layer is 12 million years old and the sand can be made purer through a new technological process.

• 1961: Sibelco has its own transshipment installation in the port of Antwerp. In the 1960s, Sibelco experiences a European expansion and works together with various foreign companies. Sites are established in France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

• 1972: The first silica sand production in the Netherlands dates from the 1950s. Expansions follow in 1972 with the takeover of Sigrano, Heerlen. This subsidiary is now part of the operations of Sibelco Belgium.

• 1973: In 1970 the American company Unimin is established. Three years later it is the largest North American producer of silica sand. Henceforth Unimin constitutes a part of SCR-Sibelco.

• 1983: A new processing plant in Lommel makes it possible to upgrade humus rich silica sands from the vicinity. They are mainly intended for the glass industry (flat glass).

• 1993: The Nieuwe Zandgroeven in Mol, in the meantime an independent subsidiary for a few years, is integrated.

The British WBB Minerals now also becomes part of the Sibelco-group. The is a supplier of clay and related products

• 1996: Lieben Minerals becomes a part of Sibelco Belgium. Together with the production office in Maasmechelen, the Dutch sites Sigrano and Lieben Minerals produce quartz products, amongst other suitable for the crystal industry.

• 2000: Further globalisation. Sibelco now has sites in Europe, America, Australia and Asia. As from 2000, Sibelco has a permanent foothold in Australia and acquisitions follow in China, South Korea, Brazil, India.

In 2005 a new factory is opened in Russia

• 2006: The beginning of a new extraction in Maasmechelen and the construction of a new sand upgrading plant in the Mechelse Heide Zuid quarry.