Essen -- Evonik Industries has concluded the transaction to purchase the hanse chemie Group (comprising hanse chemie AG and nanoresins AG). This acquisition puts Evonik in a position to rapidly move into additional markets for specialty applications in silicone chemistry. The purchasing agreement was signed at the end of March, with both parties agreeing not to disclose the purchase price.

The hanse chemie Group, with its workforce of some 100 employees, is headquartered in Geesthacht near Hamburg, where it produces high-quality components and raw materials for the manufacture of sealants and adhesives, molding and casting compounds, and other products. The group therefore complements perfectly other activities at Evonik Industries that address the megatrends of resource efficiency and the globalization of technology.

Hanse chemie Groups products are used by end customers in such markets as the construction industry and automotive manufacturing, in dental technology, and in wind-power and photovoltaic plants. The greatest share of business will be incorporated into the Interface & Performance Business Line, whose activities surrounding the silicone specialties it produces are directed at a variety of industrial markets. In future, activities in the paint and coatings industry, especially those concerning nanocomposites based on extremely fine-particled silicic acid, will be conducted by the Coating Additives Business Line. Nanocomposites are mostly used in paints and coatings to improve their surface hardness and achieve a higher degree of scratch resistance without any loss of transparency.

Evonik is a major supplier in numerous industrial and consumer-oriented markets. Its products include organomodified silicones and silicic acid. Evoniks specialty products offer tailored properties that help its customers occupy an excellent competitive position.