to Invest in Performance Silica

Degussa’s Advanced Fillers & Pigments Business Unit announces an investment in their Chester, PA based Precipitated Performance Silica production site. “We urgently need the additional volume in order to meet the growing demand in the US for our Performance Silica mainly for the Tire and Life Science industry”, says Thomas Trempler, VP and General Manager for the Business Unit in NAFTA. It is planned to add to the existing capacity some additional million pounds through de-bottlenecking and yield improvement of already existing key equipment and technology, as a first step to be finalized by the end of 2004.

“Performance Silica is core business at Degussa and we are committed to provide the right grades, sufficient volumes and consistence service to our customers” adds Mr. Trempler.

The Business Unit Advanced Fillers & Pigments of Degussa AG operates 29 plants in 18 countries. The company is the only one manufacturing and supplying Carbon Black (Rubber and Pigment Black), Performance Silica, and Rubber Silane from one single source. As a specialist in surface chemistry and physics, the business unit focuses on the production and application of Carbon Black, Performance Silica, Matting Agents, Rubber Silane, and Iron Blue Pigments.

Degussa is a multinational corporation consistently aligned to highly profitable specialty chemistry. In fiscal 2003, its 47,000 employees generated sales of € 11.4 billion and operating profits (EBIT) of € 878 million, making it Germany’s third-largest chemical company and the global market leader in specialty chemicals. Innovative products and system solutions enable Degussa to play a valuable and indispensable role in the success of its customers, as summed up by our claim “creating essentials”.