Evonik Industries has reorganized its carbon black activities and established Evonik Carbon Black GmbH, a legally independent management company that produces carbon black under the Evonik umbrella.
The decision to create a separate company reportedly was made based on Evonik being the second largest manufacturer of carbon black worldwide, nearly €1 billion in 2009. The company produces carbon black at 17 sites in 12 countries on four continents.
Evonik Carbon Black GmbH launched launched on July 1, 2010 and will be headquartered in Hanau-Wolfgang beginning October, 2010. Jack Clem has been named chairman of the board and CEO of the company, and Rainer Wobbe will assume the position of the CFO.
The company is considering three options for its independent carbon black business, which will be decided by the end of 2010: optimizing it as an independent market unit, a partnership solution or sale of the business.
Evonik maintains that its product portfolio will not be affected by the establishment of the new business.