Focused content for specialists In High-Temperature Industries.
Starting a new role as a Turnaround Refinery / Plant Manager or Turnaround Planner can feel overwhelming. You're expected to make smart, fast decisions in environments where extreme heat, pressure, and performance are the norm. Whether you're working in cement, steel, petrochemical, or waste-to-energy, your choices directly impact safety, uptime, and team morale.
One of the most critical areas to understand early on is refractory protection. When linings fail, it’s not just equipment that suffers, it’s your schedule, your budget, and your people. Unplanned shutdowns lead to thermal stress, costly repairs, and lost trust.
This crash course is here to help you get ahead. You’ll learn what refractory anchors are, why they matter, and how to choose the right ones for your operation, so you can lead with confidence and avoid the
trial-and-error phase that slows teams down.
Refractory anchors are critical components that secure refractory linings inside furnaces, kilns, reactors, and incinerators. They prevent lining displacement, ensuring safe, efficient, and long-lasting equipment performance.
Selecting the right refractory anchor involves two key steps:
Material Selection: The choice of alloy depends on your operating conditions: temperature, chemical environment, and mechanical stresses.
Not sure which alloy suits your needs? Share the details with our metallurgical experts, and we’ll recommend the most suitable material.
Anchor Design: Every application is unique. If our crash course doesn’t cover your specific challenge, don’t worry, we can design a custom anchor tailored to your requirements.
Tell us about your setup, and we’ll engineer the right solution for you.
Need Help?
Our expert is ready to assist: sales@silicon.nu
Refractory anchors are essential in reactors and FCC units. Abrasion lining failures can disrupt supply chains and inflate costs. Learn why hex metal may not be the best choice for your application challenge, and explore SILICON’s signature refractory solutions in our white paper.
The Speed® System is a high-performance anchoring solution designed to outperform traditional hex metal and V-anchor alternatives for abrasion linings. It delivers continuous refractory support and superior weld integrity, significantly reducing the risk of lining detachment from the shell.
With targeted solutions for all applications: coking, non-coking, large and small areas, bullnose sections, and tight spaces, the SpeedHex® 3 and SpeedVee® Systems ensure uninterrupted refractory support without limits.
SpeedHex® 3
A robust alternative to traditional hex metal, SpeedHex® 3 is engineered for high-abrasion environments like FCC units. It provides continuous support and exceptional weld integrity for long-lasting performance.
SpeedHex® Mini
A compact yet powerful version of SpeedHex® 3, designed for tighter spaces and lighter applications, without compromising on performance.
SpeedTab®
Engineered for enhanced refractory protection, SpeedTab® solves common termination bar challenges, especially in corners where standard tabs often fail.
SpeedVee® System is the next-generation solution, chosen for Heaters, Gunned and Castable Refractory Linings.
SpeedVee®
An alternative to conventional hand-welded V anchors. SpeedVee® offers mechanical enhancements and full fusion welds, delivering greater structural reliability and installation efficiency.
Fiber Pins (FFS): Specialized fasteners for securing ceramic fiber insulation to industrial surfaces.
Module Studs (FMS): Threaded anchors for attaching ceramic fiber module blocks to structural surfaces with precision and durability.
Cement plants face corrosive atmospheres, thermal cycling, and mechanical stress. Our anchors are built to endure and extend equipment life.
Recommended SILICON Speed® System anchors:
SpeedBolt® – Moveable, long-lasting, ideal for rotary kilns and cyclones.
SpeedCell® – Available in dual alloy, vibration-resistant for burner pipes.
SpeedVee® - Incorporates the successful design philosophy of the SpeedVee® and has been specifically developed for dual linings.
SpeedClaw – Optimized for calciners.
SpeedTab® Hexy & Mega – Prevent sagging and match lining specs.
CV Anchors (RAW-weldable) are entry-level, hand-weldable anchors designed for use with Rapid Arc Welding systems, suitable for diameters up to 8 mm. These anchors provide a practical solution for securing insulation in high-temperature environments.
Hand-weldable anchors are also available in a variety of sizes and alloys, offering flexibility to meet diverse project requirements and material specifications.
To learn more about SILICON Cement Solutions, click the button below.
In the steel industry, refractory anchors are used in furnaces and other high-temperature equipment. They help maintain the stability of the refractory lining, ensuring consistent and efficient operation.
Refractory anchors can be installed in various steel industry application areas, including blast furnace and its components, electric arc furnaces, direct reduced iron (DRI) furnaces, tundishes, ladles, walking beam furnaces, water-cooled flue pipes, combustion chambers, and settling tanks.
Recommended SILICON Speed® System anchors:
SpeedBolt® – High-strength and adaptable for dynamic thermal loads.
SpeedVee® – Ideal for dual linings and high-wear zones.
Manual Welding Anchor Options:
CV Anchors (RAW-weldable) - a reliable choice for basic applications, these anchors are compatible with Rapid Arc Welding and support diameters up to 8 mm.
Custom Weldable Anchors - Offered in a wide range of sizes and high-performance alloys, these anchors can be tailored to meet the specific thermal and mechanical demands of steelmaking operations.
Waste-to-energy incinerators face abrasion, corrosion, thermal shock, and chemical attacks. Our anchors are engineered to resist all of these.
Recommended Anchors:
YSMR, L-Shaped, F-Shaped Anchors are specialized refractory anchors designed to secure insulation or castable linings in high-temperature industrial equipment, each offering unique shapes to optimize grip, stress distribution, and performance in various installation conditions.
CVC Anchors – Designed for welding between pipes.
Headed Studs – Custom shapes for incineration needs.
Bright annealing improves anchor durability by reducing hardness, relieving stress, and preventing cracking. It’s a key step in ensuring long-term performance.
Watch the video below to see the power of annealing in action.
Hand welding under pressure can lead to costly errors and inconsistencies. That’s why our anchors are fully compatible with Rapid Arc Welding (RAW), a technology exclusively developed by SILICON to transform refractory anchor installation.
RAW offers a faster, safer, and more reliable alternative to traditional stud welding. It dramatically reduces installation time while delivering exceptional precision, with an industry-leading rejection rate of just 0.1%. This cutting-edge solution is engineered for high-temperature environments such as furnaces and vessels, ensuring consistent quality and long-term performance.
Want to see it in action?
Join a free live demo or request an on-site session to discover how RAW can streamline your next project.
In modern industrial construction, prefabrication is becoming a preferred method for improving efficiency, safety, and quality control. Whether you're assembling modular units for refineries, cement, steel, or power plants, the need for precise, durable, and easy-to-install refractory anchoring systems is critical.
At SILICON, we offer anchoring solutions specifically designed for prefabricated refractory modules. These anchors are engineered for dimensional accuracy, repeatability, and compatibility with automated welding systems, making them ideal for factory-controlled environments.
By integrating our anchoring systems into your prefabrication process, you reduce on-site labor, improve installation speed, and ensure consistent quality across all units, helping you meet tight project timelines and safety standards.
Our team can go for the installation at your facility, or we can work on your parts in our warehouses.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to optimize your current setup, our team is here to assist you.
