100 years of the Weferlingen factory
Quartz sand has been mined in Weferlingen for over a century—a history full of twists and turns, marked by division, expropriation, and reunification. Today, after 25 years as the location of Quarzwerke GmbH, we look back with pride on this eventful period.
It all began in 1925, when the first valuable quartz sands were mined and refined at the Weferlingen deposit. But the history of the plant is not just a story of sand and technology—it also reflects the historical upheavals of the 20th century. After World War II, the plant fell under the control of the Soviet military administration and later became the state-owned enterprise “VEB Sand- und Tonwerke Walbeck” in the GDR.
However, the division of the deposit did not only bring political challenges. While the eastern side was nationalized, the western side in Grasleben continued to develop under the management of the Dörentrup company. A modern sand and clay grinding plant was built there, separated by the border but united by the common raw material: quartz sand.
After reunification, a new chapter began. The business in the east became independent again and Sand- und Tonwerke Walbeck GmbH was founded. On January 24, 1991, Quarzwerke took over the company and, one year later, the plant on the western side as well. This was followed by a period of intensive modernization and investment, culminating in the complete merger of the two sites in 2000.
The 1990s brought new developments not only for the plant, but also for the region. Companies such as MAPEI and Euroglas settled nearby and placed high demands on the quality of the quartz sand from Weferlingen. These challenges were mastered through continuous optimization of processing techniques—always with the aim of making the particularly white and pure sand even better.
Today, we are celebrating not only 100 years of sand mining, but also a success story of adaptation and progress that has made Weferlingen an important location for quartz works.
And we are already looking forward to the open house planned for 2026—you’ll be there, won’t you?
