Ostend (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Evonik plans to close its Ostend plant, risking 35 jobs. Gert Smans cites overcapacity and foreign competition. Silica production, used in toothpaste and industry, faces uncertainty.
As VRT News reported, the Evonik chemical plant in Ostend, formerly called Huber, is facing job cuts. 32 permanent employees and 3 temporary workers could lose their jobs. The plant produces silica, a fine, white, chemically pure powder. Silica looks like sand or glass but is much finer and has special properties.
It is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and industrial products. One of its most common uses is in toothpaste. There, it acts as a gentle abrasive to remove plaque and stains and also thickens the paste.
Why is Evonik closing its Ostend plant?
The German parent company of Evonik has announced plans to close its Ostend facility due to intense competition from other abroad companies. According to Gert Smans of Evonik, the company currently faces overcapacity.
“Our facilities at different sites can produce far more than what is being sold,”
Smans said.
“They are not being used efficiently. To operate more cost-effectively, we want to consolidate production at larger sites. The Ostend plant is relatively small compared with other locations.”
The closure raises uncertainty about the future of the employees at Ostend. Management is holding talks with the unions to discuss options if the site is shut down. One possibility is transferring staff to other company locations, but Smans stressed that this is not guaranteed. The discussions are ongoing, and the outcome for workers remains unclear.
The Evonik Silica Belgium factory is situated in Plassendale Industrial Park in Ostend, which has been operating since 1912. The plant was initially operated by J.M. Huber Corporation, a U.S.-based company that specialises in engineered materials.
In 2017, Evonik acquired Huber’s silica business for $630 million. Once Evonik took ownership of the Ostend plant, it became part of Evonik’s Smart Materials division, which produces precipitated silica. The Ostend factory currently employs roughly 41 people.
