Leading specialty chemicals company Evonik has opened a new Innovation Hub at its Allentown, Pa., site. The Hub consists of several state-of-the-art testing and processing labs as well as a pilot plant. It also features a newly designed collaboration space to support a hybrid and creative work environment. The expansion will create 50 highly paid jobs for scientists, engineers, and lab technicians in the Lehigh Valley region around Allentown.

The Innovation Hub is part of a broader globalization strategy for Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) at the Germany-based company.

"We are strengthening regional RD&I hubs in Asia and North America to benefit from innovative ideas outside of Europe and be closer to our customers in those regions," said Evonik Chief Financial Officer Ute Wolf at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Allentown Innovation Hub. "The new Hub will transform the Allentown site into our premier center for research, business, and innovation in North America."

By 2030, Evonik aims to invest more than $3 billion in Next Generation Solutions - products with superior sustainability benefits. Evonik will invest an additional $700 million in Next Generation Technologies to optimize production processes and infrastructure and avoid CO2 emissions.

North America is an essential growth market for Evonik. The region contributed roughly a quarter (23%) to Evonik's annual sales in 2021, making it the second-largest revenue source after Europe (EMEA).

"Addressing the global challenges of our time requires the worldwide collaboration of competent partners," said Ralph Marquardt, Evonik's Chief Innovation Officer. "North America has a thriving ecosystem for R&D due to world-class universities, innovative companies, and an entrepreneurial startup scene. We are looking forward to developing innovative solutions together."

Evonik's new High Performance Polymers lab in Allentown allows the processing and testing of plastics for 3D printing, medical implants, or performance foams in airplanes or cars. Another lab enables the formulation and testing of additives for industrial coatings. Allentown's best-in-class polyurethane spray foam testing and emission chamber helps Evonik customers meet environmental and emission standards.

“Evonik’s new, state-of-the-art space will build on Pennsylvania’s strength as a center for advanced manufacturing,” said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. “I’m proud to have invested $2.5 million in this Innovation Hub that will bring new, good-paying jobs to the Allentown region.”

Caption: L-R: Rep. Susan Wild, Ralph Marquardt (Chief Innovation Officer), Ute Wolf (Chief Financial Officer), Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Bonnie Tully (President North America region)