Evonik to implement large-scale projects in 2016

New production plants, modernized infrastructure facilities, involvement in research and development (R&D) are part of Evonik's agenda to add power to its German sites starting 2016. The company invested more than EUR 400 million in its domestic production plants, according to recent estimate. Majority of the investment (around two-thirds) was divided among Evonik’s five-largest sites in Germany: Marl (hundreds of millions of euros), Hanau, Essen, Darmstadt, and Wesseling (tens of millions of euros at each site).

"By investing in growth and modernization in Germany, we are strengthening our foothold in important markets of the future," said Klaus Engel, Chairman of Evonik’s Executive Board.

Evonik is planning further large-scale projects in Germany. One of these is the construction of a new plant for production of specialty copolyesters in Witten by 2018 with an investment in the double-digit million euro range. As part of the global production initiative for specialty silicones, Evonik intends to invest in production for these products in Essen once again. A new silane research center is currently being built in Rheinfelden that is slated to be completed in 2016.

In the 2014 financial year, EUR 2.8 billion or 22 percent of consolidated sales was generated in Germany. The company employs around 21,000 people in its home country.

Many infrastructure projects were also completed at Evonik’s German sites in 2015. In Marl, a new canal bridge for rail transportation was inaugurated, a state-of-the-art warehouse for hazardous materials was opened, and a new coal conveyor was put into operation. For 2016,  Evonik is planning the start-up of a new gas and steam turbine plant in Marl. This new power plant will replace an old coal-fired unit and go a long way toward reducing greenhouse gases.

In Darmstadt, among other things, a new control center with a situation center for the Darmstadt/Weiterstadt and Worms sites was opened on the factory premises. In Wesseling, the plant entrance and gate system at the Bonn-Beuel section of the plant were rehabilitated, creating more space for waiting trucks and reducing the traffic backlog. There are plans to renovate the workshops and upgrade the fire protection equipment in 2016. The expansion of the central warehouse in Essen through the addition of 1,300 square meters of space is also expected to be finished next year.