Evonik invests USD 56.2M to expand silicone production in Essen
The new facility strengthens Evonik’s ability to produce tailored silicone additives used across a wide range of industries.
GERMANY – Evonik has invested €52 million (USD 56.2 million) in expanding its silicone platform at the Essen Goldschmidtstrasse site in Germany.
The investment included building a new production plant and a large tank farm, increasing capacity for organomodified silicones, a key product group within Evonik’s global silicone network.
These include polyurethane foams for insulation materials, mattresses, and automotive seating, as well as adhesives, coatings, and personal care products.
Lauren Kjeldsen, the Evonik Management Board member responsible for the Custom Solutions segment, said, “This expansion strengthens our silicone production platform, enhancing supply chain resilience and creating a strong foundation for profitable growth.”
“This latest investment highlights the important role that our innovative German sites play in the success of our global operations.”
Essen Goldschmidtstrasse is a key production site within Evonik’s silicone platform and is closely connected to other sites in Geesthacht, Obernburg, and Wittenburg in Germany, as well as Pandino in Italy, Shanghai in China, and Hopewell, Virginia, in the United States.
The new facility improves the resilience of Evonik’s international production network by reducing the need to transport intermediates and finished products between sites.
The investment also optimizes logistics infrastructure to enable more 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 for key raw materials.
As a result, production processes are more stable, supply chains are more resilient, and dependence on short-term deliveries is reduced.
The new tank farm has expanded the Essen site from 32 to 35 hectares.
The project was carried out while the Essen site remained fully operational and despite limited available space.
Around 80 Evonik employees and more than 230 contractors from 25 partner companies contributed to its successful completion.
The strategic importance of Essen Goldschmidtstrasse is also reflected in Evonik’s recently developed long-term plans.
The company has defined a clear profile for each of its six major German production sites, Essen Goldschmidtstrasse, Marl, Wesseling, Darmstadt/Weiterstadt, Rheinfelden, and Hanau, to guide their future development.
Under this framework, Essen Goldschmidtstrasse is positioned as a centre of excellence for customer-specific formulations.
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