Written on 18. December 2025. Posted in General, Throwback Thursday.

That was our 2025—a special review of the year

December is the time for another special Throwback Thursday: we look back at the highlights of the past year and review what has moved our readers on the blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Employees

The year 2025 began with an information day for around 40 new employees at Quarzwerke. From the very beginning, the focus was on cooperation: new colleagues were given a warm welcome, gained insights into the company’s values, and were able to immediately feel part of the Quarzwerke family. Trust, sustainability, and team spirit characterized the start of the year—we hope everyone has settled in well!

A real highlight this year was the international Quarzwerke Sports Festival in Varna. At the beginning of September, around 500 colleagues from across the group gathered in Bulgaria to play sports together, visit one of our sites, and experience a sense of community that transcends national borders. The special atmosphere was palpable from the very beginning: diverse teams, warm welcomes, and the joy of seeing familiar faces again and getting to know new colleagues. The sports festival remains what it has been since 2007: a symbol of solidarity, fun, and exchange. A big thank you to our Bulgarian colleagues for their hospitality.

Nature & Culture

In April, the interactive nature trail for families was opened around the Frechen open-cast mine. At 16 stations, families can use QR codes to discover nature, play games, and try out craft ideas. The “NaSa – Nature and Sand Researchers” project has been teaching children about nature and species conservation for years and is a real labor of love for Quarzwerke.

From May 30 to June 1, Hirschau was transformed into a stage for culture, music, art, and history. The Upper Palatinate Culture Days offered a varied program with concerts, exhibitions, fairy tale workshops, a spring market, and hands-on activities for the whole family. There was a special focus on the kaolin region and its significance for the area—exciting days that will be remembered for a long time to come.

In November, the Keramion Foundation in Frechen hosted an inspiring exchange on sustainable resource use, organized by the Finnish-German Trade Guild of North Rhine-Westphalia. Managing Director Jens-Uwe Klemens presented current plans for recycling quartz sand for the foundry industry and emphasized the importance of cooperation and innovation for true sustainability. The key conclusion: resource conservation must become an integral part of industrial business models.

The fact that Quarzwerke is on the right track is also demonstrated by the German Sustainability Award for the rock industry, which we received in March for our efforts to become a CO₂-neutral plant.

Innovation & Products

HPF The Mineral Engineers made a declaration of love to the mineral quartz on Valentine’s Day: for them, quartz is not just a raw material, but a matter close to their hearts and an indispensable component of numerous everyday products – whether in glass, ceramics, electronics, or innovative high-tech applications. Mineral raw materials can be so beautiful! ♥️

In 2025, our HPF division presented itself at several smaller trade fairs as well as at the two most important industry events: the European Coatings Show in Nuremberg, the leading trade fair for the paint and coatings industry, and K 2025 in Düsseldorf, the leading international trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry. The high level of internationality, the quality of the discussions, and the multitude of innovations made the trade fairs real highlights.

Locations

The first Safety Day took place at the Caminau kaolin plant in March. Small, rotating groups were taught about topics such as occupational safety, environmental protection, and health and safety, not only in theory but also in practice. Colleagues were able to get to know areas of the plant that would otherwise remain hidden from them in their everyday work. In addition to further training, the focus was on team building—rounded off with a freshly grilled bratwurst from the plant manager.

In July, the Haltern am See site spent two days focusing on occupational safety. Nine supervisors from the German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Raw Materials and Chemical Industry (BG RCI) immersed themselves in the theory and practice of quartz sand extraction. The direct exchange promoted mutual understanding and laid the foundation for future cooperation.

Less welcome was the massive cable theft at the new photovoltaic system at Quarzwerke in Frechen in February. Unknown perpetrators tampered with the video surveillance system, broke open the gate, and stole cables worth around €500,000. The system, which was only inaugurated in 2024 and supplies the factory and parts of the population with solar energy, was out of operation for a long time as a result.

For Steffi, content creator at Quarzwerke, it was clearly the film contribution: KRAZZ – From military vehicle to hero of Quarzwerke. “I think it’s just great that Peter still finds pleasure and joy in everything he does after so many years, and because it’s simply fun to work/film with him.”

“It’s really exciting to see where our sand is used, whether you’ve thought about it or not,” says Katrin, Head of Corporate Communications, recalling the article about quartz sand in equestrian sports.

Tanja, who is responsible for historical contributions, would like to once again draw attention to the 100th anniversary in Weferlingen: “We have so many locations with a long tradition and an exciting history. Since the German-German border ran directly through our location in Weferlingen, a part of German history can be experienced here. That is very special and unique.”

“The post about ringing the eagle owl chicks in Frechen is one of my favorite posts from 2025.” Britta is not only a communicator, but also a biologist with heart and soul. “It shows that nature and species conservation can take place right here in our production facilities. Authentic stories like this create real connections: they arouse curiosity, touch people, and raise awareness. For me, this post embodies exactly what we stand for as a company – taking responsibility, living sustainability, and inspiring people to do the same.”