The new line increases pellet-form manufacturing capabilities at the site, targeting applications across glass fiber sizing and household appliances. The facility primarily produces thermoplastic modifiers marketed under the SCONA brand, which act as coupling agents to enhance mechanical strength and durability in plastic composites.
Logistics and storage infrastructure were also scaled with 600 additional pallet positions and a dedicated container loading dock to support European distribution. The Schkopau site currently employs around 50 people.
Decarbonization Roadmap Targeting 2027
The expansion included upgrading the site’s heating systems, eliminating direct fossil fuel heating in favor of combined waste heat recovery systems and industrial heat pumps. Through ongoing site conversions, BYK plans to fully phase out fossil fuel use at the Schkopau facility by the end of 2027.
Operating within the BYK-Chemie GmbH manufacturing network since 2011, the site has received roughly €27 million in cumulative investments over the past 15 years. For the first half of 2026, parent group ALTANA reported consolidated sales of €1.675 billion, marking an operational increase of 8% year-on-year.
About BYK
BYK is a leading global supplier of specialty chemicals whose additives optimize scratch resistance, gloss, mechanical strength, flow behavior, and flame retardancy across applications ranging from wind turbines and fuel cells to automotive coatings and packaging.
Integrated into BYK-Chemie GmbH in 2011 with roughly 50 employees, the Schkopau facility specializes in thermoplastics and high-performance modifiers marketed under the SCONA® brand. Operating production sites across Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, the US, and China, the ALTANA Group company employs approximately 2,700 people worldwide.
