Schunk Group acquires SiC raw material manufacturer ESK-SIC

The Schunk Group has fully acquired the raw materials manufacturer ESK-SIC GmbH. With this acquisition, Schunk is expanding its product portfolio to manufacture and distribute the strategically crucial raw material silicon carbide. This deal is particularly relevant for Schunk’s IntrinSiC business of silicon carbide 3D printing services.

ESK-SIC is the leading manufacturer of high-quality silicon carbide powder, which Schunk uses in its Business Unit Technical Ceramics as a starting material for 3D printing high-tech products. With this acquisition, Schunk expands its portfolio to include producing and distributing the strategically crucial raw material silicon carbide. This will enable Schunk to pursue new growth opportunities with this high-performance material, which is in high demand in the market.

ESK-SIC and Schunk have worked closely together for years and have jointly developed numerous innovations involving 3D printing of diamond-hard SiC. These 3D printing processes can produce components from silicon carbide. Schunk has succeeded in raising the material properties of IntrinSiC to the well-known level of conventional RB-SiC from Schunk.  In addition to excellent thermal shock resistance and thermal conductivity, IntrinSiC is characterized by very high strength values, high reliability (high Weibull modulus), high oxidation, and corrosion resistance.

Compared to similar processes, 3D printing can produce significantly more complex and larger monolithic components (up to a size of 1.8 m x 1.0 m x 0.7 m). The new manufacturing process is exciting for manufacturers who do not want to forego the usual high strength and reliability of RB-SiC for significant, complex components.

IntrinSiC offers the globally unique possibility of producing 3D printed RB-SiC consistent with material produced by conventional manufacturing processes. This service therefore provides Schunk’s customers from a wide range of industries with new possibilities, such as industrial precision and metrology. The high level of homogeneity also guarantees no impairment due to cracks in these extremely large components.

Scunk and ESK-SIC are planning a silicon carbide production facility using ESK-SIC’s newly developed recycling process. By recycling silicon carbide, ESK-SIC and Schunk are ensuring Europe’s independence in the supply of this critical raw material and thus a source of silicon carbide for the ceramic industry and its customers.

The bundling of expertise between ESK-SIC, a manufacturer of high-quality silicon carbide powders, and Schunk, a leading company in the production of silicon carbide ceramics, also enables the development of completely new and improved materials, adding value to the customers of both companies.