Our History

Founded in Gouda in the early 1900s by two Dutch brothers.

1901 | The start of a factory

The two brothers Gerhard and Arie Jacob Nagtegaal start a factory in Gouda for the production of refractory materials under the name of Firma Gebrs. Nagtegaal.

In 1909 Arie Jacob leaves the company and transfers his share to his sister Anna Maria.

1945 | The grow of a company

Gerhard's son Gerard Cornelis and the latter's brother-in-law Eduard Carel van den Bovenkamp buy-out the founders of the company and focus on supplying to the petrochemical industry, which is growing rapidly thanks to the post-war reconstruction.
Gouda employees 1950

1954

Firma Gebrs. Nagtegaal becomes an NV (Dutch limited liability company) with more than 60 employees.

1959 | Partnership

Partnership with De Porceleyne Fles leads to a new name: NV Gouda Vuurvast, Verenigde Vuurvaste-Steenfabrieken. New offices and a modern laboratory are built on the company's site. The factory is already using a tunnel oven. Regular customers for the company's refractory bricks and monolithics include Shell, Esso, Stork, Philips, Ketjen, Werkspoor, Koninklijke Sphinx, Koninklijke Mosa, the Royal Netherlands Navy and the NS (Dutch Railways).

1969

Acquisition of the refractory materials installation department of De Porceleyne Fles. By now the company has over 150 employees.
NV Gouda Vuurvast 75 jr

1972

Acquisition by the French company Carbonisation Entreprise et Céramique (CEC). This in turn became later part of the cement producer Lafarge.

In 1976 the company celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Geldermalsen factory Chamotte

1981 | Another factory

Gouda Vuurvast takes over Chamotte Unie in Geldermalsen. An additional refractory factory was purchased for the price of six million guilders.

In 1982 De Nagtegaal and Van den Bovenkamp families buy Gouda Vuurvast back from Lafarge.
Gouda Vuurvast holding IPO 1987

1987 | IPO

Gouda Vuurvast is listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange.
Facilitie Gouda Vuurvast Belgium in Wijnegem

1996 | Gouda Vuurvast Belgium

Acquisition of the Belgian oven builder Selanco Vuurvast in Schoten leads to the formation of Gouda Vuurvast Belgium.
Gouda Refractories-Bochum

1998 | Germany

Gouda Feuerfest is established in Germany.
anANDUSgroupcompany logo gray background

2008 | Part of a group

Gouda Vuurvast becomes part of the RijnDijk Groep, which changes its name to Andus Group at the beginning of 2009. The group has four divisions working in the oil & gas, steel construction, refractory and process industries.
Gouda Refractories logo Fav-icon

2009

Andus Refractories has four independent operating companies: Gouda Refractories, Gouda Vuurvast Services, Gouda Vuurvast Belgium and Gouda Feuerfest (Germany).
New tunnel kiln, up to 1700°C

2013

On November 15, 2013, the 3rd tunnel kiln and the new production facility were officially brought into service. By means of the new furnace, which reaches 1700°C temperature, the production capacity increased by 60%.

2018 | Further expansion

An agreement for the acquisition of 15.000 m2 of adjacent land and buildings has been reached with the city council of Gouda. With this acquisition the ambitions and further development of Gouda Refractories can be realized.

The construction of a new fully automatic mixing line for high-grade refractory materials will already start at the end of November 2018.

2019 | New construction in Gouda

Construction works for a new head office is started and scheduled for completion by mid-2020. Other projects that can be realized through this expansion include the realization of cutting-edge laboratory facilities for product development and further improvements to the production process and logistics process.
Gouda Refractories office sweden

2020 | Nordic

The refractories division from Andus Group opens a location in Sweden: Gouda Refractories Nordic.
Industri Eldfast worker

2021

Again the refractories division from the Andus Group opens a new location in Sweden: Gouda Industri Eldfast.
Gouda refractories Group logo gray background

2022

The division Andus Refractories changes into Gouda Refractories Group and becomes an autonomous group of companies.

2024 | Integration into Shinagawa Group

With the support of investment company Gilde Equity Management (GEM) since 2021, Gouda Refractories Group has experienced strong growth. As of October 24, 2024, an acquisition by Shinagawa Group was successfully completed, making Gouda Refractories Group and all its subsidiaries part of Shinagawa Group.
1901 | The start of a factory
1945 | The grow of a company
1954
1959 | Partnership
1969
1972
1981 | Another factory
1987 | IPO
1996 | Gouda Vuurvast Belgium
1998 | Germany
2008 | Part of a group
2009
2013
2018 | Further expansion
2019 | New construction in Gouda
2020 | Nordic
2021
2022
2024 | Integration into Shinagawa Group