Last week saw the great and the good of the ceramics and refractories world descend on the Bavarian capital of Munich for ceramitec 2026.

Raw materials for ceramic and refractory manufacturing were well represented by leading international producers, processors and traders (for review of mineral types see “Ceramics score top market for minerals”) and IMFORMED enjoyed catching up with a wide range of global clients and contacts.

Title Image Minerals Make Ceramics: One of the 50+ mines of Mota Ceramic Solutions – MCS® in Portugal, this one exploiting kaolin; MCS®, exhibiting and presenting at ceramitec 2026, is a high quality producer of >400,000 tpa of high alumina plastic clays and kaolins for ceramics, and is enhancing its sustainability strategy by constructing a 100,000 tpa ceramic recycling plant – reported below. Images courtesy MCS®; Munich Messe GmbH.

While it’s true that this trade show has shrunk from the halcyon days of the multi-hall exhibitions of the past, brisk business was reported by many exhibiting companies meeting with the high quality calibre of attendees across the three days.

IMFORMED enjoyed catching up with many clients at Ceramitec | Clockwise from left: REF Minerals (note meeting room designed as fibreglass furnace with accurately zoned refractory lining!), REFMIN China, Cermatco, Thyme, Steuler (hosting as ever the happening reception to be at!), CMP Advanced Materials.

Ceramitec reported that about 12,000 visitors attended from 74 countries. There were 485 exhibitors from 38 countries, with a 66% share of international exhibitors. Spread over 33,000 sq metres, the industry presented its entire spectrum, from traditional ceramics to highly specialised applications.

Maritta Lepp, Exhibition Director of ceramitec, said: “We are very pleased with the positive feedback from our exhibitors. In particular, the high quality of the discussions, making new contacts, and the clear focus on relevant topics were highlighted. The shortened duration [now just 3 days] also proved to be the right decision – it helped make the trade fair more dynamic and efficient.”

Traditionally, heavy clay ceramics were once again an important part of ceramitec and stood for the industrial importance of ceramic applications in construction.

In the new hall concept for A4, the area was enhanced by a central catering space as a meeting point.

The next ceramitec will be held in Munich 25-28 April 2028.

Recycling ceramics: MCS® new recycling plant initiative

The ceramitec conference programme included well-attended “ceramitec talks” in the halls which addressed key topics such as recycling, decarbonisation, energy-efficient production, digitalisation, additive manufacturing, and new applications.

Thiago Boscolo Costa, Vice President at Saint-Gobain Performance Ceramics and Refractories commented: “This year’s discussions confirm a strong focus on improving process efficiency and addressing sustainability challenges in high-temperature industries, making it a key space to share perspectives and align on future priorities.”

One of the highlights of the “ceramic talks” was a fine presentation by Brendan Clifford, Co-CEO, Mota Ceramic Solutions – MCS®, Portugal: “Residue to Raw Materials – Circular Economy and its role in the Ceramics Industry”.

Clifford underlined the increasing awareness of climate change and the appreciation of natural raw materials as finite: “When history remembers the 2020s it will be as a step change to a low carbon economy and increased focus on the principles of sustainability and circularity.”

For many years, MCS® has been recovering and re-processing more than 60,000 tpa of “residues and sub-products” generated by the various ceramic industry sectors in Portugal.

The presentation outlined how MCS®, working with like-minded partners, has embarked on a range of Ecocerâmica e Cristalaria de Portugal – ECP funded projects (EcoCer4Life, EcoREC, EcoBLEND, REVVER, GRESVER and EcoSAN) which have focused on turning more residue into resource.

As part of the EcoCer4Life project, MCS® is constructing a €3m, 100,000 tpa recycling plant located in the heart of the ceramic industry manufacturing cluster in the Aveiro region.

The new plant, expected on stream by mid-2026, will be dedicated to the separation, processing and re-purposing of fired and unfired scrap from all traditional ceramic industry sectors.

Clifford concluded with key takeaways of:

  • A paradigm shift is required to see residue as a valuable secondary raw material and to educate people in the need to reduce consumption
  • The fact that recycling rates in the EU and Portugal are low means urgent effort, action and support for industry is needed
  • There is a need for closer industrial cooperation to exchange leading practices and ideas

Indeed, these rallying cries for recycling will certainly be echoed at IMFORMED’s upcoming Mineral Recycling Forum 2026, Cannes, 15-17 April, which brings together the leading players in recycling industrial minerals, with a full programme covering:

MINE WASTE | REFRACTORIES | SLAG | ASH | CEMENT | BATTERIES | ALUMINA | SPINEL | PHOSPHATE | GRINDING | BRIQUETTING

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