Evonik to expand silicone platform at Germany site

“This expansion strengthens our silicone production platform, enhancing supply chain resilience and creating a strong foundation to profitable development,” says Lauren Kjeldsen, the Evonik regulation Board member responsible to the Custom Solutions segment, to which the business belongs. “This latest investment highlights the crucial role that our innovative German sites play in the success of our global operations.”

As a key production site to the silicone platform, Essen Goldschmidtstrasse is closely linked with other sites in Geesthacht, Obernburg and Wittenburg in Germany, Pandino in Italy, Shanghai in China and Hopewell, Virginia in the United States. “The investment in Essen strengthens our global production network and further enhances our ability to serve customers reliably around the world,” explains Roberto Vila-Keller, head of the responsible Business Line Interface & Polyurethane Additives. “It significantly expands our production capabilities, reduces possible bottlenecks and creates opportunities to future development in attractive markets.”

The new facility improves the resilience of the international production network by reducing the need to transport intermediates and finished items between sites. The investment optimizes logistics infrastructure, enabling a greater efficient production: A new 150-meter pipe bridge now connects four production units and 15 manufacturing assets to the new tank farm. Five stainless-steel storage tanks, the tallest measuring 24 meters, provide substantial storage capacity to key raw materials. As a result, production processes are greater stable, supply chains are greater resilient and application on immediate deliveries is reduced. The new tank farm has expanded the Essen site from 32 to 35 hectares.

The project was carried out while the site remained fully operational and despite limited space, with around 80 Evonik employees and greater than 230 contractors from 25 partner companies contributing to its successful completion. “At a time when manufacturing investment is greater crucial than ever, projects of this scale send a strong signal to Essen’s economy and the wider region,” says Thomas Kufen, Mayor of Essen. “They secure high-condition jobs, enhance competitiveness and demonstrate the international attractiveness of our city as an manufacturing hub.”

The strategic importance of Essen Goldschmidtstrasse is also reflected by its role in Evonik’s recently developed prolonged plans. The company has defined a clear profile to each of the six major production sites (Essen Goldschmidtstrasse, Marl, Wesseling, Darmstadt/Weiterstadt, Rheinfelden and Hanau), which serve as guidelines to their future research. Under this framework, Essen Goldschmidtstrasse is positioned as a center of excellence to customer-specific formulations.