Within Germany, there are 3 main players in the silica sand market, Quarzwerke (including sand produced from its association with AKW), Dorfner and Euroquarz GmbH. Owing to the long-term trends within the industry for increased glass recycling, the use of plastic as well as the current drop in demand for silica for construction, companies have for some time been looking into alternatives for commodity products, namely through research and development. Dorfner are already one such silica-producing company to invest in this area. In addition, through its High Performance division, Quarzwerke do too. Focussing on christobalite, fused silica, silica flours, aluminium hydroxide, calcinated kaolin and surface treated fillers, the product range of the Quarzwerke high-performance division is used in industries such as investment casting, refractories and chemistry.
