About Us
Where Refractory Heritage Meets Tomorrow’s Demands.
A Tradition Forged in Fire
Robert Lickley Refractories Ltd is more than just a manufacturer—it is a company steeped in engineering heritage, shaped by innovation, and committed to quality. With over five decades of continuous growth and evolution, our story is one of determination, technical ingenuity, and deep-rooted values.
Our journey began in 1969, when Robert Lickley, following a distinguished RAF and engineering career, founded the company under the name JD Metallurgical Supplies Ltd. It began modestly, operating on commission through agency agreements with independent refractory manufacturers. But from the start, Robert Lickley’s vision was clear: to provide reliable refractory solutions underpinned by expertise, service, and trust.
In 1961, Robert Lickley founded the Institute of Refractories Engineers, establishing a professional body dedicated to raising technical standards, sharing specialist knowledge, and supporting the development of future experts in the field. This pioneering initiative reflected his lifelong commitment to advancing the refractory industry—an ethos that would later shape the foundations of the company he built.
That vision was shaped decades earlier in Coalbrookdale, where Robert spent his formative years. Surrounded by the furnaces, foundries, and engineering landmarks of the Industrial Revolution, he developed an early passion for materials and mechanical systems—often visiting his father at the historic Coalbrookdale Works and even helping excavate early iron furnaces that are now part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum. This deep connection to industrial history helped forge the company’s long-standing values of precision, pride, and practical ingenuity.
In 1970, the company name was changed to Robert Lickley Ltd, reflecting the founder’s personal commitment to every product and partnership. As demand grew, we expanded into our own manufacturing, producing the company’s first castable product, Arelcrete WFA. With just a small, dedicated team we weathered industry challenges, including the 1970s oil crisis, keeping operations going with creativity and resilience.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, we delivered high-profile incinerator refractory projects in Hong Kong, Dudley, and Havant, developing a reputation for technical precision and reliability.
Through the 1980s, we invested in semi-automated mixing plants, new drying ovens and extended precast production areas to support continued expansion. Our commitment to continuous improvement led to major advances in low-cement castables, and by 1988, we became one of the first monolithic producers in the UK to achieve ISO 9001 accreditation (then BS5750 Part 2).
The 1990s brought further innovation. We strengthened our in-house precast capabilities, producing refractory ladle bottoms, tundish linings, and EAF roofs, with products installed in leading UK steelworks. We phased out reliance on third-party mixes, developing our own superior materials through in-house R&D and external collaboration.
Despite several acquisition offers, including from major international groups, the company remained proudly independent. Instead of selling, the leadership team reinvested in facilities, upgraded IT and automation, and added more high-frequency vibrators, beam systems, and drying ovens to meet rising customer demand for larger, more technically advanced precast shapes.
By the early 2000s, Robert Lickley Refractories Ltd had secured its place as one of only two approved suppliers under the Corus National Monolithic Contract. We adapted to market shifts—navigating the loss of contracts at Llanwern and the aftermath of the Port Talbot blast furnace incident in 2001—by refining our materials, improving production efficiencies, and expanding our facilities to serve evolving steelmaking technologies.
Yet even as we modernised, one constant remained: our people. Many of the original staff from the 1970s continued with the company into the 21st century, bringing unmatched knowledge, commitment, and pride in their work. Their loyalty formed the backbone of our culture and contributed directly to the strength of the AREL brand, now recognised across the UK and beyond for quality, reliability, and service.
From the blast furnaces of Coalbrookdale to the steelworks of today, Robert Lickley Refractories Ltd stands as a testament to what can be achieved when tradition, expertise, and innovation work together.
Forged from history, and built for tomorrow.
As Robert Lickley Refractories Ltd moves forward under the leadership of the second generation, the company is entering an exciting new chapter—one defined by investment, innovation, and long-term vision.
Staying true to the values that shaped our past, we are embracing the future with a programme of major investment across every area of the business. Our commitment to modernising production includes the installation of new automated bagging and batching systems, enhanced process control, and upgraded drying technologies—all designed to deliver improved consistency, efficiency, and scalability. Alongside these technical upgrades, we’re placing a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility, with investments focused on reducing energy use, improving material efficiency, and supporting our carbon neutral journey. We have pledged to become Scope 1 & 2 Carbon net zero by the end of 2025.
We’re also investing in our people and processes, with the implementation of a powerful new computing systems, more advanced raw material traceability and customer service. This digital transformation ensures full integration across manufacturing, quality control, and logistics, while creating a platform to support our growth at scale.
At the heart of our next chapter is a renewed focus on Research and Development. From trialling new combustion gas stable materials to exploring new binding systems and moulding and prototype technologies, our technical team is pushing boundaries to develop next-generation refractory solutions. We are investing in advanced testing, modelling, and formulation capabilities to ensure our AREL trademarked product range continues to meet the evolving demands of current and future industry.
With a clear strategy, strong leadership, and a culture built on experience and integrity, Robert Lickley Refractories Ltd is not just keeping up with the future—we’re helping shape it.