HWI celebrates its 100th anniversary

2021-07-23

July 22, 2021 – For the past century, a leader of one of the most critical industries affecting the quality of all our lives has been consistently serving customers across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. This month, HarbisonWalker International Ltd. (HWI) celebrates its 100th anniversary as a leading producer of refractory products and services.

For HarbisonWalker International Ltd, the journey began on July 22nd, 1921, when the company was founded in London as Steam Plant Accessories Ltd. Initially, the company was supplying materials to boiler and steam companies.

For many years, the company had a sales office in London and a plant in Manchester. In 1966, the company invested in modernisation and built a brand-new plant in Bromborough. Throughout several acquisitions and corporate restructurings, the company changed names. Finally, in 2015 the name of the company was changed to HarbisonWalker International Ltd.

HarbisonWalker International Ltd. in the UK serves the European and Middle Eastern markets. A committed sales team and a network of agents ensure close collaboration with customers and end-users. The local production of monolithic materials and precast shapes required in many applications make it possible to respond quickly to urgent customer requests. The company has been steady and constant in the local economy and a provider of long-term employment offering career opportunities.

As a part of HarbisonWalker International Inc., the largest producer of refractory products and services in North America, UK operations are supported by a vast Technical Marketing team and state-of-the-art Research and Development facilities. With more than 150 years of refractory expertise, these teams focus on the specific refractory needs of each market segment.

HWI is poised to meet customer needs today and in the future through ongoing change and adaptation of processes for lower carbon emissions. Requirements for improved insulation and the development of alternative heat sources will change the demand for refractories in the future. HarbisonWalker International technical, research, and sales teams are devoted to anticipating, delivering, and responding to customers to drive innovation.

This forward-thinking approach is also fueling the company’s employee-led Environmental, Social, and Governance, or “ESG,” journey, launched this year to ensure that HWI will be a thriving, responsible, and sustainable business for its next century of operations, and beyond.