Join Our Team at Evonik Antwerpen

Pioneers in Specialty Chemicals in the Heart of Europe

A Deep Dive into the Evonik Antwerp Production Hub

The Evonik Antwerp site stands as a testament to advanced chemical manufacturing, operating as a highly integrated and complex production hub within one of the world's most significant chemical clusters. This facility is not merely a collection of plants; it is a synergistic ecosystem where 11 specialized production facilities collaborate. These units are dedicated to manufacturing a sophisticated portfolio of high-performance materials and specialty chemicals that are foundational to countless global industries, touching nearly every aspect of modern daily life. The site's operations are a showcase of technological prowess, focused exclusively on delivering innovative solutions for a sustainable and efficient future.

Core Production Pillars

The site's operational structure is built upon several key pillars, each representing a world-class production line. These divisions manufacture products for diverse and critical sectors, from animal nutrition and electronics to automotive and construction. The main segments include the largest methionine plant of its kind globally, a cutting-edge facility for high-purity silicon, and extensive units for producing specialty binders, tire components, and C4-based chemicals. This diversification ensures resilience and a broad market impact, making the Antwerp site a critical node in Evonik's global network.

The Global Methionine Hub: The MetAMINO® Division

The most prominent feature of the Antwerp site is its massive Methionine (MetAMINO®) production complex. This division is a global leader, producing an essential amino acid vital for the animal feed industry. The process itself is a sophisticated multi-step chemical synthesis, managed by highly automated control systems to ensure consistent purity and quality. This amino acid is critical for animal nutrition, particularly for poultry and swine, enabling more sustainable and efficient animal protein production. By optimizing feed formulations, MetAMINO® reduces the environmental footprint of agriculture, contributing directly to global food security. The sheer scale of this plant, its advanced process technology, and its robust quality assurance sections make it a cornerstone of the entire site.

Advanced Materials for a Digital World: Silicon & Silanes

Pivoting to the high-technology sector, the Antwerp site houses a crucial division for producing high-purity silicon and related silanes. These materials are indispensable to the modern digital world. The silicon produced here is not for basic applications; it is a highly refined, electronics-grade material that forms the backbone of semiconductors. These semiconductors power everything from smartphones and computers to complex communication networks. Furthermore, this division's products are essential for the renewable energy sector, serving as the primary material for photovoltaic (solar) cells. The manufacturing process involves extreme precision and purification, managed within specialized clean environments to prevent contamination, highlighting the site's capability in high-tech material science.

Specialty Additives: Enhancing Everyday Products

A significant portion of the site's output is dedicated to specialty additives that enhance the performance of everyday products. One key area is the production of binders for paints, coatings, and printing inks. These are not simple commodities; they are advanced formulations that provide exceptional durability, weather resistance, gloss, and adhesion. These binders are used in demanding applications, such as automotive finishes, industrial protective coatings, and high-quality printing. Another vital product line is specialty silica for the automotive tire industry. This "green tire" technology helps reduce rolling resistance, which in turn improves vehicle fuel efficiency and lowers CO2 emissions, all while enhancing wet grip and safety.

The C4-Verbund: An Integrated Chemical Backbone

The site operates an extensive "C4-Verbund," or integrated C4-chemical production chain. This division takes C4-based feedstocks and, through a series of catalytic processes, transforms them into essential chemical building blocks. A primary product from this stream is butadiene, a fundamental component for producing synthetic rubber (used in tires) and various plastics like ABS (used in everything from LEGO bricks to car interiors). This integrated approach is highly efficient, as by-products from one process become the feedstock for another, minimizing waste and maximizing value. This section of the plant is a classic example of sophisticated industrial chemical synthesis, requiring precise control over pressure, temperature, and catalysts.

Operational Excellence: The Site's Support Sections

Beyond direct production, the site's professional excellence is driven by robust and comprehensive support sections that ensure safety, quality, and efficiency.

Logistics and Supply Chain: Given its strategic location in the port of Antwerp, the logistics section is a critical hub. This department manages a complex flow of raw materials arriving via ship, rail, and road, and coordinates the global dispatch of finished products. It oversees vast tank farms, specialized warehousing for hazardous and sensitive materials, and intricate in-plant material handling, including forklift and transport operations.

Maintenance and Reliability: A plant of this scale relies on a world-class maintenance and reliability department. This section is divided into mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation/control (I&C) teams. Mechanical technicians maintain rotating equipment like pumps and compressors, while electrical technicians manage high-voltage systems. The I&C team is crucial, calibrating and maintaining the thousands of sensors and control valves that act as the "nerves" of the plant. Reliability engineers and planners work proactively to predict failures and schedule maintenance, ensuring maximum uptime.

Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ): This is arguably the most critical support section. The HSEQ department ensures the entire site operates in compliance with the strictest safety and environmental regulations. This includes managing process safety, conducting risk assessments, training all employees, operating the on-site fire brigade, and managing waste and water treatment facilities. The Quality Control (QC) laboratories fall under this umbrella, where analysts and technicians use advanced analytical instruments to test raw materials and certify that finished products meet precise customer specifications.

Available Career Opportunities

We are looking for exceptional talent to join our team of over 1,000 dedicated employees. If you share our passion for innovation and quality, we invite you to explore the following career opportunities:

1. Process Operator

Responsibilities: Monitor and control chemical production processes, operate process equipment and control systems, conduct regular inspections and quality checks, maintain accurate production records, follow safety protocols and standard operating procedures, troubleshoot process issues and implement corrective actions, coordinate with maintenance teams for equipment repairs.

2. Production Technician

Responsibilities: Assist in daily production operations, prepare raw materials and equipment for production runs, perform quality control tests on products, maintain cleanliness and organization of production areas, document production data and report any deviations, support process optimization initiatives, ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

3. Chemical Plant Operator

Responsibilities: Operate complex chemical processing equipment, monitor process parameters and adjust controls as needed, conduct routine equipment inspections and preventive maintenance, respond to alarms and emergency situations, maintain detailed shift logs and production reports, collaborate with engineers to optimize plant performance, ensure adherence to environmental regulations.

4. Forklift Driver

Responsibilities: Safely operate forklifts and other material handling equipment, load and unload trucks and containers, transport raw materials and finished products within the facility, maintain accurate inventory records, conduct pre-operation equipment inspections, follow warehouse safety procedures, assist with inventory management and stock rotation.

5. Logistics Operator

Responsibilities: Coordinate inbound and outbound shipments, manage warehouse operations and inventory levels, prepare shipping documentation and customs paperwork, track deliveries and resolve logistics issues, optimize storage space and material flow, communicate with suppliers and transportation providers, ensure compliance with logistics regulations.

6. Packaging Operator

Responsibilities: Operate packaging machinery and equipment, package finished products according to specifications, perform quality inspections on packaged goods, label and mark packages correctly, maintain packaging materials inventory, clean and maintain packaging equipment, follow safety and hygiene standards.

7. Maintenance Technician - Mechanical

Responsibilities: Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on mechanical equipment, diagnose and repair pumps, compressors, valves, and piping systems, conduct equipment inspections and identify potential failures, maintain maintenance records and work orders, collaborate with operations team to minimize downtime, ensure compliance with safety standards, participate in equipment installation and commissioning.

8. Maintenance Technician - Electrical

Responsibilities: Maintain and repair electrical systems and equipment, troubleshoot electrical faults and control systems, perform electrical installations and upgrades, test and calibrate electrical instruments, ensure compliance with electrical safety codes, maintain electrical documentation and schematics, respond to emergency electrical issues, support automation and control system improvements.

9. Instrumentation & Control Technician

Responsibilities: Maintain and calibrate process control instruments and analyzers, troubleshoot control system issues and PLCs, install and configure instrumentation equipment, perform loop checks and functional tests, update control system software and configurations, maintain instrument documentation and calibration records, support process automation projects, ensure measurement accuracy and reliability.

10. Reliability Engineer

Responsibilities: Develop and implement reliability improvement programs, conduct root cause analysis of equipment failures, perform reliability assessments and risk analysis, optimize maintenance strategies and schedules, monitor equipment performance and failure trends, recommend equipment upgrades and modifications, collaborate with maintenance and operations teams, implement predictive maintenance technologies.

11. Maintenance Planner

Responsibilities: Plan and schedule maintenance activities, coordinate resources and materials for maintenance work, develop work packages and job plans, prioritize maintenance tasks based on criticality, track maintenance costs and performance metrics, maintain maintenance management system, coordinate with operations for equipment shutdowns, ensure availability of spare parts and tools.

12. Process Engineer

Responsibilities: Optimize chemical processes and production efficiency, develop and implement process improvements, conduct process simulations and modeling, troubleshoot process issues and deviations, prepare technical documentation and procedures, support new product development and scale-up, ensure process safety and environmental compliance, collaborate with operations and R&D teams.

13. Chemical Engineer

Responsibilities: Design and optimize chemical processes and equipment, conduct process calculations and mass/energy balances, develop process flow diagrams and P&IDs, evaluate new technologies and process alternatives, support capital projects and plant expansions, ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations, provide technical support to operations, conduct process hazard analyses.

14. Quality Control Analyst

Responsibilities: Perform chemical and physical testing of raw materials and products, operate analytical instruments and laboratory equipment, analyze test results and prepare reports, ensure compliance with quality standards and specifications, investigate quality deviations and non-conformances, maintain laboratory records and documentation, calibrate and maintain laboratory equipment, support quality improvement initiatives.

15. Laboratory Technician

Responsibilities: Conduct routine laboratory tests and analyses, prepare samples and reagents, maintain laboratory equipment and instruments, record and report test results accurately, follow laboratory safety procedures, maintain cleanliness and organization of laboratory, support quality control and R&D activities, assist in method development and validation.

16. HSE Specialist

Responsibilities: Develop and implement health, safety, and environmental programs, conduct risk assessments and safety audits, investigate incidents and accidents, provide HSE training and awareness programs, ensure compliance with HSE regulations and standards, monitor environmental emissions and waste management, coordinate emergency response procedures, promote safety culture and continuous improvement.

17. Supply Chain Coordinator

Responsibilities: Coordinate procurement and supply chain activities, manage supplier relationships and contracts, monitor inventory levels and demand forecasts, optimize supply chain costs and efficiency, track orders and resolve supply issues, collaborate with production planning and logistics, ensure timely delivery of materials, maintain supply chain documentation and systems.

18. Human Resources Generalist

Responsibilities: Support recruitment and onboarding processes, manage employee relations and performance management, administer compensation and benefits programs, ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations, coordinate training and development activities, maintain HR records and systems, support organizational development initiatives, handle employee inquiries and concerns.

19. Financial Analyst

Responsibilities: Prepare financial reports and analyses, conduct budgeting and forecasting activities, analyze financial performance and variances, support business planning and decision-making, monitor costs and identify savings opportunities, prepare investment analyses and business cases, ensure compliance with financial policies and controls, support month-end and year-end closing processes.

20. IT Support Specialist

Responsibilities: Provide technical support for hardware and software issues, install and configure computer systems and applications, troubleshoot network and connectivity problems, maintain IT equipment and infrastructure, manage user accounts and access permissions, document IT procedures and solutions, support cybersecurity measures, coordinate with IT vendors and service providers.

21. Project Manager

Responsibilities: Plan and manage capital and improvement projects, develop project scopes, schedules, and budgets, coordinate project teams and resources, monitor project progress and performance, manage project risks and changes, ensure compliance with project standards and procedures, communicate with stakeholders and management, deliver projects on time and within budget.

22. Shift Supervisor

Responsibilities: Supervise shift operations and production teams, ensure safe and efficient production processes, assign tasks and monitor employee performance, coordinate with other shifts and departments, resolve operational issues and conflicts, conduct shift meetings and briefings, ensure compliance with procedures and regulations, support training and development of team members.

How to Apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to the following email address:
socialmedia@evonik.com

Please specify the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.