Company group profile
Rathscheck started to search for high quality slate deposits and strategic production partners all over the world in the late seventies. Under the name InterSIN, one of the world's most prestigious brands for high quality slate from the best international deposits was created. In 2008, Rathscheck Schiefer acquired the Spanish company ‘Grupo Cafersa S.L.’. This important slate producer based in O Barco de Valdeorras (Ourense, Galicia) had been one of Rathscheck's main suppliers for decades.
The Rathscheck Group now also includes the exploitation ‘La Fraguiña’ (in Carballeda de Valdeorras, Galicia), the largest underground slate mine in the world. In chambers up to 200 metres long and 60 metres high, the slate blocks are extracted with advanced equipment and brought to the surface through a system of tunnels. In the nearby production facilities, the slate blocks are converted into workable pieces and given their final shape for roof and façade coverings.
Then, in 2013, the slate producer ‘Pizarras Castrelos, S.A.’, also based in Galicia, was acquired. This family-owned company was founded in the early 1980s and had been known to Rathscheck as a reliable business partner for many years. ‘Pizarras Castrelos’ includes a large surface deposit with first-class slate qualities as well as an innovative processing plant. With the acquisition of this Spanish slate producer, Rathscheck secured further quality deposits.
In 2023, Rathscheck marks another milestone in its company history. With the acquisition of the family owned producer ‘Pizarras La Baña S.A.’, based in the province of Castilla y León, Rathscheck equips itself to meet the growing worldwide demand for natural and sustainable building materials. In addition to the acquisition of high-quality deposits, the new acquisition also includes two further production plants equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Together with the more than 100 employees of ‘Pizarras La Baña’, the total workforce of the Rathscheck Group thus amounts to more than 600 employees.
The extensive resources, together with the most advanced production facilities of the Spanish companies, guarantee Rathscheck a long-term supply of top quality slate on an international level.
Slate connects- and commits
Slate connects tradition and modern times.
From the Romans to today's (building) spirit of the age. Slate is and remains a roof for everybody. Slate connects employees, customers and all the other partners. From the miner to the house-owner. Slate connects men and machines, from the pick to the ridge of the roof.
Slate lets the tradition of the craft live.
For two millenniums. The natural product is individual, from the geology of the every slate slab to the individual roof design. Slate demands a strong mutual co-operation, from the miner to the trimmer, from the technical consultant to the roofer, from the planner to the client. A strong connection that commits. Slate connects our knowledge and our values. We know how to recognise and look after the resulting responsibilities and commitments.
This is how we meet our commitments
In his/her area of activities every employee is a holder of our entrepreneurial responsibility. Credibility and confidence form the basis of the long-term relationships with all our partners. By achieving an appropriate yield we secure our future.
We take care of traditional and social values and a responsible contact with our environment. Together with our partners we develop leading solutions.
Together in the awareness for tradition and the modern age
By constantly optimising information and communication every employee knows his/her scopes of activities and responsibilities and uses them. Responsibility is transferred and accepted.
Loyalty and responsibility determine our activities.
Co-operation is done objectively and tolerantly with a positive culture of arguments and mistakes. With regard to our reliability we also understand comprehensive quality assurance not only in relation to the customers. We provide impulses for changes and arrange them positively. To be an example is for the management personnel and every employee the first proof of credibility for the conception of ourselves. We lead by means of agreed targets with a maximum degree of self-control. At the same time we demand and promote top performances. We consider the promotion and development of employees an important task of leadership. Providing performance and self-realisation form a unit.
Fulfilling our obligation is the goal
As market leader we develop the slate market with alliances on a partnership basis.
In order to maintain our leadership in quality and service we secure our quality and supply capability by optimising the local production and byworldwide involvement.
By sustained investments into our employees and innovative solutions we promote our technical and social competence. We obtain an appropriate return on investment by cost leadership and transparency.
We keep our word
We act loyally and responsibly for the well-being of our enterprise and our partners. We accept the responsibility transferred to us in order to act reliably, topically and independently. We are innovative and design our future actively. By positive thinking and capacity for enthusiasm we achieve efficient services. With hard work, discipline and involvement we reach our targets.
By acting across areas and togetherness on a partnership basis inside and outside we strengthen each other. We consolidate our technical and social competence by a continuous learning process. We feel bound to slate and its good qualities and involve ourselves with high identification for the use of this natural building material rich in tradition.