The beginning of research and development activities
Current RHI research and development activities stem from historically independent companies, which only merged into today's R&D infrastructure after many years. In 1935 the history of dedicated refractory R&D began with the establishment of a research laboratory of the Veitscher Magnesitwerke in Veitsch, Austria. The laboratory's main purpose was the development of new, not purely magnesitic refractory products to counter the developments of the former competitor Austro-American Magnesite Company in Radenthein, which evolved into Radex and eventually merged with the Veitscher Magnesitwerke in the early 1990s.

Full focus through concentration of our research facilities
The technological power and the know-how of our globally distributed research and development departments were streamlined in the course of intensive restructuring measures, pooled and concentrated at the international Technology Center in Leoben, Austria.

Research and development facilities also existed in other companies before they joined the RHI group. For example, alumina-zirconia-silica (AZS) fused cast refractories were developed in the laboratory at Niagara Falls in the 1940s. It then belonged to Carborundum from the 1970s onwards and after some intermediate steps finally became a member of the RHI group in the early 2000s with the acquisition of Monofrax in Falconer, NY, USA.

Activities in Didier's research and development center in Wiesbaden, Germany, were concluded at the turn of the millennium and its capacities were transferred to the Technology Center Leoben, RHI's main R&D hub. Falconer now is the competence center for fused-cast materials and a facility in Dalian, China, renders support of local activities. Consequently, our R&D activities, augmented by decades of experience, are a main contributor to the refractory proficiency of RHI.