Press release
Corporate Press
October 18, 2011

Raw materials for the solar industry. Evonik commissions new chlorosilane plant

  • Production of raw material for ultra-pure silicon in Italy 
  • Key supplier to the solar industry 
  • Long-standing supply agreements with strong partner

 

Essen, Germany-based Evonik Industries has commissioned a new plant in the town of Sinich in northern Italy for the production of high-purity Siridion®chlorosilanes. Evonik supplies the chlorosilanes to a neighboring production plant owned by MEMC Electronic Materials Company for producing ultra-pure silicon. A long-time Evonik customer, MEMC is one of the leading suppliers of ultra-pure silicon and the silicon wafers made from it for the electronics and solar industry.

Dr. Thomas Haeberle, Evonik's Executive Board member responsible for the segment Resource Efficiency, says: "Evonik develops key technologies for more efficiently using renewable energies and the mobility of the future. With the new production facilities in Sinich, we are strengthening our reputation as a key supplier to the electronics and solar industries."

Evonik and MEMC are reinforcing a long-term partnership. Evonik has already supplied the MEMC site in Sinich with chlorosilanes for about 30 years. With the new plant, this close cooperation will now continue locally. "Locating the new plant so close to MEMC's production network allows us to optimize production costs and share closed material handling cycles wherever possible," explains Thomas Hermann, head of Evonik's Inorganic Materials Business Unit.

Siridion® chlorosilanes and monosilane are important raw materials for the photovoltaics industry, as well as for flat-panel displays, optical fibers and semiconductors. Evonik holds a leading market position in chlorosilanes and monosilane. Long-standing supply agreements with strong partners help ensure plant utilization for the long term.

Evonik has some 60 years of experience as a supplier of chlorosilanes, and operates additional plants at its production sites in Rheinfelden and Bitterfeld in Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; and Yokkaichi, Japan.

About Evonik

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders
in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. In 2010 about 80 percent of the Group's chemicals sales came from activities where it ranks among the market leaders. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.

Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2010 more than 34,000 employees generated sales of around €13.3 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of about €2.4 billion.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.