On Monday, Dr. Marcus Optendrenk, Minister of Finance of North Rhine-Westphalia, visited the Schunk Ingenieurkeramik site in Willich together with Dr. Martin Plum (Member of the Bundestag), Guido Görtz (Member of the State Parliament), and Christian Pakusch (Mayor of Willich). The delegation learned first-hand about the company’s capabilities and innovative strength. The guests were particularly impressed by the wide range of applications for the high-tech material silicon carbide (SiC), Schunk’s extensive technological expertise, and advanced approaches in silicon carbide recycling, which support the establishment of independent supply chains. The challenges posed by high energy costs at the site were also openly addressed and discussed.
Strong growth in the past five years
Schunk Ingenieurkeramik has developed into an international competence center for advanced technical ceramics over the past five years. As part of the Schunk Group, the site stands for precision, materials expertise, and innovative strength – particularly in applications for the semiconductor industry, aerospace, defense, and energy generation. “Technical ceramics go further where other materials reach their limits,” says Dr. Lars Schnetter, Managing Director of Schunk Ingenieurkeramik, summarizing the versatile applications of this high-tech material.
Since 2020, more than 120 million euros have been invested in expanding the Willich site. Today, the production area covers 10,000 m², and the total site area amounts to 40,000 m². The number of employees has more than doubled and currently stands at around 500, making Schunk the largest industrial employer in Willich. A technological milestone was the opening of a new production hall for 3D printing with silicon carbide in October 2023 – one of the largest single investments in Schunk’s history. Here, components for the semiconductor and space industries are manufactured with the utmost precision, representing an important future business field for Schunk. With the acquisition of ESK-SIC GmbH in Frechen in early 2025, a secure and sustainable value chain from raw material to finished component can be realized in Germany.
“It was highly interesting to get to know Schunk on site,” said MdB Plum. “I am pleased that with Schunk we have a high-tech company in the Viersen district that is well positioned for the future with its technologies and products and, at the same time, places great value on local value chains.”
Exchange on further growth opportunities
“I would like to thank all the guests for their visit and their great interest in our company,” said Dr. Lars Schnetter, Managing Director of Schunk Ingenieurkeramik. “I am very pleased that the expertise and commitment of our team at SIK and our high-tech products ‘made in NRW’ are also resonating in politics. The intensive exchange on further growth opportunities in North Rhine-Westphalia and in the areas of security and defense industry, semiconductors, and aerospace was especially valuable for us.”
