30 Years and Still Going Strong – Celebrating Almath’s Journey

This month marks a special milestone for us at Almath Crucibles — 30 years in business. On March 5th, 1996, the company was officially incorporated at company’s house here in the UK, beginning a journey that started in a garden shed belonging to our founder, Alan Misson.

From Humble Beginnings to Global Recognition

Back then, Almath was a one-man operation, driven by determination, craftsmanship, and a passion for high-quality ceramics. Alan began producing high purity alumina and zirconia crucibles, initially just serving the University of Cambridge who required reliable, high-temperature ceramic crucibles. At around this time the internet was starting to be a thing and Almath has the “claim to fame” of being the first crucible company to be listed on the internet. Soon the phone calls and emails came in fast and furious from around the world.

Three Decades of Growth and Innovation

Today, Almath Schmelztiegel is no longer a small garden shed operation. With 30 years of growth behind us, we now operate from a 10,000-square-foot factory and an additional 10,000-square-foot building that we own. Despite our expansion, we still proudly consider ourselves a family-run business, focused on craftsmanship, customer satisfaction, and innovation.

In 2021, we were honored with the Queen’s Award for Export for our global reach and continued success in international markets.

Expanding Capabilities with Modern Machinery

Growth hasn’t just been about buildings and staff — it has also been about expanding our capabilities. Heavy reinvestment in modern machinery has helped this increase in capabilities, from diamond wire cutting to laser cutting and everything in between.  While crucibles remain at the heart of what we do, Almath now manufactures a wide range of technical ceramic products. These include items such as, furnace baffles, kiln furniture specialist crucibles, combustion boats, trays, tubes, rods, plates, setters, and custom ceramic components generally known as technical ceramics (buttons and bobbins as one young employee calls them), produced using high purity materials including alumina, zirconia, magnesium oxide (MgO) ZTA , quartz and Graphite to name just a few.

Our products are used by universities, laboratories, and industrial companies worldwide, supporting applications from precious metal analysis and refining to advanced materials research and high-temperature processing. Many of our components are custom-made, reflecting the specialist needs of the industries we serve.

Research & Development – Paving the Way for the Future

Another important part of Almath today is research and development. Over the years we have increasingly worked alongside research organisations, universities, and industry partners to develop new ceramic solutions for demanding environments. Being a small, flexible company allows us to collaborate closely with customers and adapt quickly to new challenges — something that has become a defining part of how we operate.

One notable achievement in our R&D journey is the development of dense vitrified MgO, a material commonly used in the nuclear industry for uranium enrichment. After a 7 year pursuit, we perfected the process, earning the prestigious King’s Award for Innovation in 2024. This MgO material has become highly sought after in large volumes, solidifying Almath’s reputation for innovation in ceramics.

Despite the growth, some things have remained constant. Almath is still a family run business, still focused on quality, reliability, and practical engineering, and still proud of its roots. The same hands-on approach that built the company in a garden shed continues to guide how we work today.

A Proud Milestone – Looking Ahead

Reaching 30 years in business is an achievement we are extremely proud of, but it would not have been possible without the people who supported us along the way. We would like to thank our customers, suppliers, and staff past and present who have all played a part in the Almath story.

From a shed in the garden to a global customer base, it has been quite a journey.

And the best part is — we’re just getting started. 🚀