Silicon Carbide Abrasive Grain (Grinding/Lapping/Wire Saw)

Formerly the silicon carbide business of Saint-Gobain; spun out in 2019 by OpenGate Capital as Fiven ASA. Acquired by Kymera International (US specialty materials) in June 2024. Self-described as "the world's leading producer of silicon carbide." Operates manufacturing facilities in Arendal and Lillesand (Norway), Hody (Belgium), Barbacena (Brazil), and Puerto Ordaz (Venezuela). Traces its lineage to the Acheson process discoveries of 1891. The Norway plants produce SiC from quartz and petroleum coke using the original Acheson electric furnace method. Produces SIKA® brand SiC grains and powders for abrasive, refractory, ceramics, and industrial applications.

French multinational founded 1665; world's largest flat glass and building materials company. Operates 400+ industrial sites globally; major flat glass brands include SGG (construction glass) and Sekurit (automotive glass). Also makes high-performance materials, gypsum (Gyproc/CertainTeed), and insulation.

The oldest continuously operating abrasive grain company in the US (founded 1868). Washington Mills acquired the Carborundum Company's electro minerals silicon carbide plant in Niagara Falls, NY in 1986. Expanded with a second SiC plant in Hennepin, IL in 2023 (+10,000 t/yr), bringing total SiC crude capacity to approximately 70,000 tonnes/year across both US plants — making it the largest SiC abrasive grain producer in North America. Produces CARBOREX® brand black and green SiC for abrasive blasting, grinding wheels, lapping, wiresawing, filtration, and refractory applications.

ESD-SIC (Electric Smelting Delfzijl – Silicon Carbide) is a privately owned Dutch silicon carbide producer operating one of the largest SiC factories in the world. Produces up to 65,000 tonnes of crystalline SiC annually at its Farmsum (Delfzijl) site. Products include crystalline SiC, metallurgical SiC, refractory SiC (E-REFSIC), and TopSIC® (dried metallurgical grades). Self-described as the "World's most environmentally friendly producer of SiC." Operates from a single large plant in the industrial port zone of Delfzijl, Netherlands, benefiting from access to bulk raw material logistics via the Eems Canal.

Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), part of the 125-year-old Murugappa Group, was established in 1954 as a tripartite joint venture. Listed on NSE and BSE. CUMI is India's largest abrasive grain and materials science company, and self-described as the "2nd Largest producer of Silicon Carbide worldwide." Operates the Silicon Carbide production unit at Koratty, Kerala (commissioned 1984, micro-grit plant added 1988), plus additional SiC processing at Hosur, Tamil Nadu. Also produces fused alumina, superabrasives, and advanced ceramics. International presence via CUMI America and Russia operations.

ESK-SIC GmbH (founded 1922, formerly Elektroschmelzwerk Kempten — the original German SiC maker) is a Frechen, Germany-based silicon carbide specialist. Acquired by Schunk Group (industrial ceramics and carbon technology) in 2025. Developed the world's first industrial SiC recycling process (RECOSiC) that recovers high-quality SiC from Acheson process by-products and industrial waste — reducing raw material costs and carbon footprint. ESK-SIC is a specialty processor rather than large-volume crude SiC smelter; it converts imported crude SiC into precision grains and powders for electronics, ceramics, and abrasive applications.

Navarro SiC is the only Spanish producer of silicon carbide, operating since 1950 from two production plants in Spain with combined capacity of approximately 20,000 tonnes/year. Dominant in the southern European SiC market for abrasive, refractory, and metallurgical applications. Competes with Fiven (Norway/Belgium) and Chinese imports across Europe. While a relatively small global producer, Navarro is strategically important to Spanish and Iberian abrasives supply chains.