Course Adaptable to suit audience

Refractories in Practice with Jan Theron

Course description

This five‑day programme provides a complete, structured overview of refractories, from fundamental material behaviour through to installation and in‑service performance. Participants will explore how refractory materials are manufactured and how their internal structure influences performance, before progressing to the principles of testing, interpretation of results, and their relevance to real applications.

The programme also covers the key considerations in refractory lining design, common failure mechanisms and how to investigate them effectively, and concludes with best‑practice installation methods and quality control.

Together, the modules build a practical, end‑to‑end understanding that supports better decision‑making, improved reliability and more effective collaboration across the refractory supply chain.

Understand how refractory materials are manufactured and how their microstructure influences performance in service
Explain the purpose, strengths and limitations of common refractory test methods and interpret test results appropriately
Identify the key factors that influence refractory lining design and engage more effectively with designers and modellers
Recognise common refractory deterioration and failure mechanisms and support improved inspection and sample collection
Apply practical knowledge of refractory installation methods to support quality assurance, quality control and best practice on site
Make better informed technical and operational decisions when specifying, testing, designing, installing or maintaining refractory linings

Refractory fundamentals
Material microstructure
Test interpretation
Critical evaluation
Design awareness
Failure diagnosis
Root cause analysis
Inspection skills
Installation quality
Quality assurance
Technical judgement
Evidence based decision making

This course is ideal for engineers, material scientists, plant operators, maintenance personnel, technical and quality professionals involved in the selection, design, testing, installation or performance of refractory materials.
The course has been designed for those new to the refractories industry, professionals with limited experience or individuals seeking a career change or refresher. This course provides a solid understanding of refractory materials - their performance, quality control and design for industrial processes.

5 days of in-person training, held at Lucideon's Headquarters and the AMRICC Centre in Staffordshire.
This course includes a tour of Lucideon’s testing facilities and the AMRICC Centre, a unique open-access facility that translates materials, processes and technologies into real-world products and solutions through the commercialisation of innovative ideas.
Practical demonstrations of lab testing for refractories also form part of the course. Please ensure you attend wearing closed toe shoes, any further required PPE will be provided for you.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided for both days of training.

The next available dates for this course are:

Monday 22nd June - Friday 26th June at Lucideon Headquarters/AMRICC Centre, Stone, Staffordshire. ST15 0SH.

Meet the trainers

Jan Theron

Meet the trainer

Jan Theron

Jan Theron has been involved in refractories since 1999, when he changed his chemical engineering career at SASOL in South Africa, the largest coal-to-chemicals facility, and took on the challenge to improve the performance of refractory lined units. Due to the nature of this unique facility, refractory applications range from arc furnaces, rotary kilns, multiple hearth incinerators, FCC units, fluidised bed reactors, heaters and many other bespoke refractory-lined operating units, which gave him exposure to a wide variety of technical challenges. With his chemical engineering background, he was able to better understand the process conditions to which refractory linings are exposed, leading to significant improvements in overall reliability and cost-effective solutions.

In 2008 he made another major change when relocating to the UK to join CERAM (which later became LUCIDEON). This gave him the opportunity to further expand his knowledge in failure analysis and consultancy, supporting clients worldwide.

Jan is a refractories consultant and acts as Chair for refractories standards (RPI/1) within BSI. His passion for sharing his knowledge and experience with others in the refractories industry has led to a partnership with AMRICC Academy to deliver a unique refractories training course, reflecting his enthusiasm for the deepening understanding of refractory materials.

Course

Duration 5 days

Delivery Method In-person

Learner Level Adaptable to suit audience

Price per plan

Subscribers

£3,645 incl. VAT £3,037.50 excl. VAT

Non-Subscribers

£4,050 incl. VAT £3,375 excl. VAT

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