An International Group Dedicated to the Glass Industry
Saint-Gobain SEFPRO is the only refractory group worldwide fully dedicated to and streamlined for offering top-of-the-line refractory solutions specifically to the Glass Indutries.
 - With its 9 manufacturing sites around the world, Saint-Gobain SEFPRO offers total reactivity to the Glassmakers needs, combining the power of a global player and its large available resources with the proximity of local partners.
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 - Saint-Gobain SEFPRO also has the largest research centres in the world specialising in refractories and their interaction with all types of glasses, and has been leading the industry for decades in the development of new materials.
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The latest examples of this innovation power are:
ER 2001 SLX, a completely new generation of AZS fused-cast refractory with practically no exudation at furnaces' working temperatures.
New ZA 33 LB and ZA 33 HR feeder expandables materials, bringing innovative answers to the issues of transitory blistering of plungers or random breakage of tubes.
HPAL, a second generation of high alumina sintered material for feeder channels, with exceptional performance both in corrosion and glass quality.
ZIRCHROM 85, the ultimate high chromia material for the most demanding applications in insulation fibre and soda lime glasses (throats), with its unequalled thermal shock resistance.
Other well known solutions proposed by Saint-Gobain SEFPRO include:
- Dense Chromes with improved thermal shock resistance, in large, complex shapes.
- Dense Zircons with improved thermal shock resistance.
- Dense Tin Oxide Electrodes.
- Fused Mullite for melter crowns and superstructure applications.
- Fused-Cast AZS sidewalls with heights of up to 2.5 meters.
- High Zirconia Fused-Cast products for TV and special glasses.
- New types of Cruciforms with higher thermal efficiency and greater resistance against silica carry-over and alkaline vapours.
- Spout Lip Casing "ready-for-installation" in float glass furnaces.
- Monolithic Lip Stones up to 2.8 meters length, with very low blistering.
- Large range of Expendables.
- A complete Unshaped Product Range for all applications.
To help glassmakers reach their goals, the team works closely with each of them throughout the life of the furnace, providing an entire range of additional services:
- Furnace design assistance.
- Assistance in the choice of refractories, optimization of blocks sizes.
- On-site assembly assistance.
- Supply of complete, pre-assembled sub-units.
- Assistance in furnace pre-heating.
- Periodic check-up of the furnace performance, wear, evolution forecasts, etc...
- Organization of rapid trouble-shooting for exceptional emergency evaluations.
- Management of worn refractories.
- Integrating feedback to improve the design of the next furnaces.
- Glass defect analysis.
History Milestones:
- 1929: Corning and Saint-Gobain set-up in Modane, France, "L' ELECTRO-REFRACTAIRE" for the production of fused cast refractories for glass furnaces.
- 1947: A new production site is selected in Le Pontet, near Avignon, France.
- 1971: Acquisition of REFRADIGE (Italia) (now SEPR ITALIA S.p.A). This fused cast materials manufacturing facility was established in 1960, under the name of "SICEDISON"
- 1973: "L' ELECTRO-REFRACTAIRE" becomes S.E.P.R. (Société Européenne de Produits Réfractaires).
- 1987: Integration of CORHART REFRACTORIES (USA).
- 1991: Signature of a Joint Venture agreement for the production of fused cast refractories in China (ZPER Co. Ltd.).
- 1996: Integration of SAVOIE REFRACTAIRES (France). SAVOIE, established in 1898, is specialized in manufacturing bonded materials for the Glass Industry.
- 2001: ZPER is renamed "Beijing SEPR Refractories." Inauguration of a new plant in Changping (Beijing)
- 2002: Integration of CUMI (India) created in 1977, now SEPR Refractories India Ltd.
- 2003: Toshiba Monofrax, now Saint-Gobain TM K.K, joins the Saint-Gobain SEFPRO family.
- 2006: Start of Linyi Saint-Gobain Refractory (JV) China.
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