Orbix and Vandersanden Join Forces for Sustainability: Pirrouet®
With Pirrouet®, Vandersanden has achieved a genuine breakthrough. Instead of being fired in a traditional kiln, these facing bricks are cured in a specially designed CO₂ chamber.
The CO₂ used in this process originates from emissions generated by other industries that rely on fossil fuels. By capturing and reusing this CO₂, a waste stream is transformed into a valuable resource, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere.
The foundation of Pirrouet® is Orbix's patented Carbstone® technology. This technology enables the production of high-quality building materials using Carbinox® and CO₂ as a binder, eliminating the need for cement, one of the most environmentally intensive materials in construction.
During the carbonation process, CO₂ reacts with calcium-containing materials to form stable carbonates. This permanent chemical bond creates a strong, limestone-like facing brick that complies with European standards for facing masonry.
Each tonne of Pirrouet® facing bricks permanently absorbs and stores approximately 60 kg of CO₂ during curing.
Outstanding Sustainability and Design
Pirrouet® is also largely circular. The brick consists of 80% mineral by-products from the steel industry, including Carbinox® and Stinox®. Rather than ending up as waste, these materials are recovered and transformed into valuable construction products.
Only 20% of the brick consists of primary raw materials such as sand, water and, where required, pigments.
Beyond its environmental benefits, Pirrouet® also stands out aesthetically. Since facing bricks play a defining role in architectural design, Vandersanden developed a distinctive textured surface that gives the product a unique appearance.
Available in nine colours, Pirrouet® offers architects and homeowners a wide range of design possibilities.
We are not building this future for ourselves alone. Years of dedication have gone into developing our circular facing brick. We want to contribute to solving the major challenges facing society, which is why we launched Together to Zero. We hope to inspire others and encourage the entire industry to collaborate. We invite everyone to join this commitment.
Nominated for Made in Limburg
The revolutionary Pirrouet® facing brick was scheduled for introduction to the Belgian and Dutch markets in the first quarter of 2024. Construction and equipment installation at the Lanklaar production facility had already reached an advanced stage. Among hundreds of entries, Pirrouet® was also shortlisted by an independent jury as one of the final twenty nominees for “Hét Product Made in Limburg”, recognizing its innovative contribution to sustainable manufacturing.
