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Schunk Group Acquires ESK-SIC

The Schunk Group (Germany) has fully acquired the raw material manufacturer ESK-SIC with effective date 1 January 2025. With this acquisition, Schunk is expanding its product portfolio to include the production and distribution of the strategically important raw material silicon carbide. ESK-SIC is the leading manufacturer of high-quality silicon carbide powder, which is used by Schunk’s Technical Ceramics business unit as a raw material for the 3D printing of high-tech products.

“With this acquisition, we are expanding our portfolio to include the production and sale of the strategically important raw material silicon carbide. This will open up new growth opportunities for Schunk with this high-performance material, which is in high demand on the market”, says Peter R. Manolopoulos, CEO of the Schunk Group.

ESK-SIC specialises in the production of silicon carbide powder. Founded in 1922, the company has been based in Frechen near Cologne since 1952 and employs around 160 people. ESK-SIC and Schunk have been working closely together for many years and have jointly developed numerous innovations such as IntrinSiC, the 3D printing of diamond-hard SiC.

Together, the companies plan to produce silicon carbide using ESK-SIC’s newly developed recycling process. “This will create the basis for the new groundbreaking RECOSiC powders”, says Matthias Hausmann, Managing Director of ESK-SIC. “These powders offer unique technical properties and at the same time make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 % compared to conventional silicon carbide synthesis. I am therefore very pleased that ESK-SIC is now part of the Schunk Group and that the new recycling process can now be implemented on an industrial scale”.

The acquisition of ESK-SIC by Schunk is also of great importance beyond the two companies. “With the recycling of silicon carbide, ESK-SIC and Schunk are securing Europe’s independence in the supply of this important raw material and thus a source of silicon carbide for the ceramics industry and its customers”, emphasises Dr. Ulrich von Hülsen, COO of Schunk and responsible for the technology group’s materials business.

Combining the expertise of ESK-SIC as a manufacturer of high-quality silicon carbide powders and Schunk as a leading company in the production of silicon carbide ceramics also enables the development of completely new and improved materials. ‘We are thus offering ESK-SIC’s existing and future customers real added value in the use of the high-tech material silicon carbide,” says Dr Lars Schnetter, Head of Schunk’s Technical Ceramics business unit.

www.schunk-group.com

www.esk-sic.com


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