Caption from left to right: Gianluca Merola (Schneider Electric), Hendrik Rasch (Evonik), Delphine Largeteau (Schneider Electric), Alper Aksit (Evonik), Jessica Bethune (Schneider Electric) and Patrick Glöckner (Evonik) at K 2025.
- Initiative starts with the kickoff of the first project at the K trade fair 2025
- New pilot plant at Evonik's Essen site will be operated with Schneider Electric's open automation solution to optimize additives for plastics recycling
- The collaboration will leverage data analytics, improve scalability, and support circular practices in competitive plastics processing
Schneider Electric and Evonik have partnered to automate a thermoplastics processing plant at Evonik's Goldschmidt site. This initiative was officially unveiled during the world's leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry, K, in Düsseldorf from October 8 to 15, 2025. The collaboration aims to increase the efficiency of mechanical plastics recycling processes and improve the quality of recyclates, underscoring both companies' commitment to the principles of the circular economy.
Evonik contributes its expertise in high-performance additives and its strong focus on the circular economy, while Schneider Electric contributes state-of-the-art solutions for process automation and digitalization. Together, the two companies are well positioned to drive innovation and transformation in recycling and thermoplastics processing.
"Digitalization is essential for advancing the circular economy. Our collaboration with Evonik demonstrates how automation can improve the efficiency and quality of recycling and highlights the power of teamwork in building a sustainable future," said Jessica Bethune, VP Industrial Automation DACH at Schneider Electric.
"Our partnership with Schneider Electric demonstrates how digitalization and chemistry enable the circular economy in the plastics sector. Schneider Electric's process automation, combined with our innovative additives, takes thermoplastic processing to a new level and aligns it with the principles of the circular economy," said Patrick Glöckner, head of the new Next Markets Program at Evonik.
The first step of the new partnership is the digitalization of an existing pilot plant at Evonik's Essen-Goldschmidt site. This plant will be equipped with an open automation approach that enables the collection and contextualization of data from various machines in a central access point. This data-driven strategy aims to analyze performance, reduce or eliminate manual labor, and streamline separate calculation steps.
The long-term goals of the collaboration include leveraging laboratory experience, improving the positioning of existing solutions based on quantified data, shortening time to market for new additive developments, and improving the scalability of pilot plants to commercial units.
The scope of this collaboration goes beyond plastics recycling and includes the entire processing of plastics with a strong focus on the circular economy.
For more information, visit Evonik and Schneider Electric at K in Düsseldorf from October 8 to 15, 2025. Evonik will be located in Hall 6, Stand D79, and Schneider Electric will be located in Hall 10, Stand H18.
Evonik: Leading beyond chemistry
Evonik, combining innovative strength with leading technological expertise, transcends the boundaries of chemistry. The Essen-based chemical company, active in more than 100 countries, generated sales of €15.2 billion and adjusted EBITDA of €2.1 billion in 2024. The shared drive of its approximately 32,000 employees: to provide customers with a decisive competitive advantage with tailored products and solutions, a superpower for industry—and thereby improve people's lives. In all markets, every day.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider is committed to making a positive contribution by helping people around the world make optimal use of energy and resources—thus combining progress with sustainability. We call this: Life Is On.
Our mission: We want to be the reliable partner for sustainability and efficiency.
As a global leader in industrial technologies, we bring our comprehensive expertise in electrification, automation, and digitalization to smart industries, resilient infrastructures, future-proof data centers, smart buildings, and intuitive living spaces. Drawing on our deep expertise, we offer holistic, AI-powered Industrial IoT solutions across the entire lifecycle—from connected products to automation, software, and services. This enables us to deliver digital twins that enable our customers to achieve profitable growth.
We are a people-first company with a global network of 150,000 employees and over a million partners in more than 100 countries, ensuring customer proximity and collaborative partnerships.