Evonik Industries concluded the transaction to purchase the hanse chemie Group, Geesthacht, Germany, 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 agreement was signed at the end of March, with both parties agreeing not to disclose the purchase price.

Hanse chemie Group’s 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.

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• Evonik Industries AG, Essen, Germany