German specialty chemicals producer Evonik said it will expand capacity for fumed silica at its Antwerp, Belgium, site up to 2019. The new plant, which will require investment in the “upper double-digit million range,” is scheduled to go on stream in summer of 2019.

Output will be marketed for applications in paints and coatings, modern adhesive systems, transparent silicones and non-flammable high-performance insulation materials. Capacity figures for the new facility are not being disclosed, but the company said its total capacity for precipitated and fumed silica as well as matting agents totals 600,000 t/y.

Evonik’s new CEO, Christian Kullmann, who recently succeeded Klaus Engel, said the investment “is a good fit for our strategy to concentrate more on distinct specialty chemicals businesses and to gradually create a more balanced portfolio.” Demand for specialty silica, which has low cyclicality, is seeing above-average market growth and has good margin potential, he said.

Following the planned takeover of the Huber silica business and the continuous expansion of precipitated silica capacity, the expansion of Evonik’s Aerosil brand product at Antwerp is the next logical step, Kullmann added.

Evonik sees the global market for fumed silica growing at rates exceeding 4% and thus outpacing global economic growth. The market for applications in specialty silicones, adhesives for wind turbines and in the area of non-flammable high-performance insulation is enjoying above-average development, it said.  

With the expansion, the German company will be able to supply customers not only with hydrophilic but also hydrophobic silica from Antwerp. Silane capacity is also being upgraded to secure raw material supply for the new Aerosil unit. Output will also be sold to the tire market. Fumed silica is produced from the high temperature hydrolysis of silanes in a hydrogen flame.