National level conferences on refractories in India commenced in early 1970s and the first overseas participation in refractories conference in India was in the year 1978. Subsequently several international conferences were attempted and in 1993 a decision was taken in principle to organise a biennial international conference on refractories on the lines of UNITECR. With liberalisation of the economic policy and coming into effect of the World Trade Organisation in 1994, the industry felt the need for closer interaction with the global refractories community. The first India International Refractories Congress (or IREFCON) was held in 1994 and this has continued every alternate year.

IREFCON is a unique platform where the refractory makers from India and worldwide can interact with the local refractories producers and users. IREFCON aims to share information, experiences and ideas, to learn and to update the refractory industry in as many aspects of refractories development and applications as possible.