From that point on, we were on a journey, driving the evolution of the modern alumina chemicals industry into a global force. 

Today, our products find their way into everyday items worldwide, showcasing the diversity of their applications and the scope of our contribution. As the alumina chemicals industry continues to expand, supported by ongoing research and development, we remain at the forefront. 

At Almatis, we take pride in our over 100 years of alumina expertise. A tradition of leadership in product development and an extensive history of collaboration and innovation has yielded a multitude of specialty alumina products, shaping various industries and end uses.

So many innovations and inspiring moments have made Almatis what it is today.

The origin of the global alumina chemicals industry traces back to the arrival of the modern aluminum industry in 1886, led by Charles Martin Hall in the United States and Paul Heroult in France.

The increasing demand for pure alumina to fuel aluminum production urged Dr. Karl Joseph Bayer to devise a cost-effective method for extracting alumina from bauxite. 
His 1887 invention of the Bayer process revolutionized alumina refinement, laying the foundation for our industry.

In 1903, the Pittsburgh Reduction Company (now Alcoa) inaugurated the first commercial Specialty Alumina plant in East St. Louis, Illinois. This milestone, coupled with a steady supply of alumina, activated collaborative efforts among industry pioneers to explore new applications beyond aluminum production.

Formalizing its commitment to research and development, the Aluminum Company of America Laboratories was established in 1918, with a dedicated branch at the East St. Louis plant in 1923. 

This strategic move facilitated pioneering advancements in alumina applications and purification processes, driven by close partnerships. 

The enduring collaboration between Almatis engineers and their customers has emphasized a reciprocal exchange of process technology and innovative product ideas since 1910.

Since becoming an independent entity, Almatis has broadened customer outreach to include relationships with customers and their patrons, to gain deeper insights into market dynamics and develop one-of-a-kind solutions. 

From a single calcined alumina sale in 1910, Almatis has evolved into a global leader in premium alumina production, with nine plants across three continents and a diverse product portfolio serving industries from refractories and ceramics to polishing and beyond.

For over 70 years, its widespread application in high-performance refractory materials across steel, foundries, petrochemicals, and ceramics sectors has made Tabular Alumina a remarkable product. Notably, the global Tabular Alumina market continues to expand, demonstrating an enduring product lifespan.

The journey of tabular alumina began in 1934 when Thomas S. Curtis developed it under an Alcoa contract. Over the following years, from 1935 to 1956, extensive research and improvements were made to refine both the product and its manufacturing process. With each new plant design, engineering adjustments were integrated to enhance performance.

As new advancements emerged, they were shared with customers, particularly in the ceramic industry, to improve processes. This collaboration led to significant enhancements and growth in the product line, especially with the adaptation of reactive aluminas for use in refractory applications.

Cement completes the Almatis product portfolio, especially for monolithic refractory applications, and has been a focus of our R&D work in the past years. 

Since 1990, Almatis has intensified its commitment to innovation and introduced the following product lines to the market:

• 1975: A 16 / A 17 /A 152 - High-performance reactive alumina
• 1978: T 162 - Ultra-dense and smooth surface tabular
• 1980: Tabalox - Dust and chip-free alumina for filtration
• 1987: CL 2500 - 5000 series - Low soda aluminas
• 1992: Spinel AR 78 & AR 90 - Alumina-rich spinels
• 1993: Alphabond® Re-hydratable alumina binder
• 1995: CA-270 - A new generation of calcium aluminate cement
• 1995: CTC 20 to 55 - A new reactive aluminas series
• 1996: Dispersing Aluminas
• 1997: Super Light Weight Aggregate SLA 92
• 1997: CT 3000 SDP - Reactive alumina spray dried powder ready to press
• 1999: Infilcast® Refractory placement system
• 2000: TAB LS & XLS - Low and ultra-low soda tabular
• 2001: Almatis Integrated Matrix System (AIM)
• 2002: Bonite Calcium hexa-aluminate refractory aggregate
• 2004: E-SY 1000/2000
• 2007: CA-470 Ti - A new temperature-independent cement
• 2007: CT 3000LS SG and CT 3000LS SDP - Extra-low soda reactive alumina
• 2008: GMA 25 series - For specialty glass applications
• 2008: Coarse tabular 10-25 mm
• 2010: P 833 - Polishing alumina for automotive clear-coat
• 2011: PSG 140 - Lapping and polishing alumina
• 2013: CA-670 - Early strength cement
• 2014: CaroWhite - Specific white cement for the construction industry
• 2014: RAPOL 100 + 500 - 2:1 rapid cut & shine polishing alumina
• 2015: ESY 88 & 288 - Reactive aluminas for China
• 2015: ULTIMATE P 1500 - Very high cutting, less scratches polishing alumina
• 2016: P 2 MC & MF - Polishing alumina for high gloss on all kinds of metals