Degussa

Degussa was a major German industrial company whose name originated from Deutsche Gold- und Silber-Scheide-Anstalt, meaning German Gold and Silver Separation Works. The company began as a precious-metals refiner and developed into a diversified industrial group active in metals, inorganic materials, chemicals, construction products, catalysts, additives, polymers and other specialty businesses. Its historical identity therefore spans two closely connected fields: the processing and refining of precious metals, and the development of industrial chemical technologies. During the twentieth century Degussa expanded through subsidiaries, acquisitions and technical development. Its activities included precious-metal recovery, industrial catalysts, carbon materials, chemical intermediates, plastics-related products, construction chemicals and other performance materials. The company also became associated with Degesch, a subsidiary involved in the manufacture and distribution of Zyklon B during the Nazi period. Zyklon B was used in the mass murder of people in Nazi extermination and concentration camps. Degussa's historical record also includes the processing of gold dental fillings forcibly removed from concentration-camp prisoners and links to companies that used Jewish forced labor. These facts remain a central and highly sensitive part of the company's history. After the Second World War, Degussa was rebuilt and resumed its role as a major German industrial enterprise. Over time, its portfolio became increasingly oriented toward specialty chemicals and advanced materials rather than its original refining identity. The company operated internationally and supplied materials used in manufacturing, automotive production, construction, agriculture, nutrition, coatings, polymers and electronics. RAG AG acquired Degussa in 2006 as part of the restructuring of the German mining and technology group. The chemical activities were subsequently incorporated into the newly created Evonik structure. Degussa AG was renamed Evonik-Degussa GmbH, and its chemical operations became the core of Evonik's Chemicals Business Area. Evonik was established in 2007 and later developed into a major international specialty-chemicals group. In this corporate sense, Degussa as an independent industrial company is defunct, although the name continued to appear in legal entities, product histories and selected commercial activities. The Degussa name also remains associated with precious-metals trading and investment products through Degussa Goldhandel, which operates a separate contemporary gold-trading business using the historic name. That activity should not be confused with the former Degussa chemical group or with the current Evonik specialty-chemicals organization. The supplied website points to the gold-trading business, while the authoritative encyclopedia subject concerns the historic German industrial company and its transition into Evonik.

Degussa's name derives from Deutsche Gold- und Silber-Scheide-Anstalt, a German gold and silver separation enterprise established in 1873. Its original competence was the refining, recovery and commercial processing of precious metals. From that base, the company developed a broad industrial portfolio and became one of Germany's best-known chemical and materials groups. The company expanded its technical scope during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Precious-metals expertise supported the development of catalysts, pigments, electronic materials and other industrial applications, while separate chemical businesses produced intermediates, inorganic materials, carbon products, construction chemicals, polymers and additives. Degussa increasingly operated as a diversified industrial group rather than a narrowly defined refinery. The company's history during the Nazi period is a major part of any balanced account. Degussa subsidiary Degesch was the principal manufacturer and distributor of Zyklon B, the pesticide formulation used in Nazi gas chambers. Degussa was also involved in processing gold dental fillings forcibly removed from concentration-camp prisoners. A related company, Deutsche Gasrusswerke, used Jewish forced labor at the Gleiwitz concentration-camp subcamp of Auschwitz. These activities created a lasting ethical and historical responsibility for the company and its successors. Following the Second World War, Degussa rebuilt its operations and returned to international industrial markets. Its businesses supplied materials and technologies to sectors including automotive manufacturing, construction, coatings, agriculture, nutrition, electronics and plastics. The company also maintained an important precious-metals identity, but specialty chemicals and advanced materials became increasingly important to its economic profile. RAG AG acquired Degussa in 2006 during a restructuring intended to separate coal mining, which operated under a different institutional and political framework, from internationally competitive industrial businesses. Degussa was subsequently renamed and integrated into Evonik-Degussa GmbH. Evonik Industries was established in September 2007 to combine the former RAG group's chemical, energy and real-estate businesses, while mining remained with RAG. The chemical operations derived from Degussa became the central component of Evonik's Chemicals Business Area. Evonik later divested or separated its energy and real-estate activities and focused increasingly on specialty chemicals. The inherited portfolio included advanced intermediates, consumer specialties, coatings and additives, inorganic materials, health and nutrition products, and performance polymers. A significant operational event occurred in March 2012, when a fire at the Marl site interrupted production of cyclododecatriene. Because cyclododecatriene is connected to the production of laurolactam and PA12, the incident affected concerns about supply to downstream industrial and automotive manufacturers. The event illustrated the importance of highly concentrated specialty-chemical supply chains. Degussa as an independent corporate group no longer exists. Its chemical businesses became part of Evonik, whose shares began trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2013. The Degussa name nevertheless survives in historical references, selected legal and product contexts, and the contemporary Degussa Goldhandel precious-metals business. Those modern gold-trading activities use the historic name but should be distinguished from the former chemical company and from Evonik's successor operations.

1. 2013Evonik stock-market listing

   Evonik shares began trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, marking a later corporate milestone for the successor group containing Degussa's chemical operations.

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2. 2012Marl cyclododecatriene plant fire

   A fire stopped production for several months and contributed to global concern over PA12-related chemical supply.

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3. 2007Integration into Evonik-Degussa

   Degussa's chemical operations were incorporated into the newly formed Evonik group and operated under the Evonik-Degussa name.

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4. 2006RAG acquisition

   RAG acquired Degussa during the restructuring of its mining and industrial businesses.

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5. 2003Berlin Holocaust Memorial controversy

   The discovery that Degussa supplied materials used at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial led to a temporary construction pause and a subsequent decision to complete the project with Degussa involved.

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6. 1945Postwar reconstruction

   After the Second World War, Degussa rebuilt its industrial operations and continued its development beyond precious-metals refining.

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7. 1873Foundation of Deutsche Gold- und Silber-Scheide-Anstalt

   The enterprise that became Degussa was established in Germany as a gold and silver separation and refining company.

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Historically positioned as a German industrial technology group combining precious-metals expertise with increasingly broad specialty-chemicals and advanced-materials businesses. Its successor chemical operations were positioned around technically demanding, international markets rather than commodity chemicals alone.

• Refined precious metalsPrecious metals

  Precious-metals refining and recovery formed the historical foundation of Degussa. The business processed gold, silver and other valuable metals for industrial and commercial use. This expertise also supported later catalyst, electronics and materials applications. Precious metals remained an important part of the Degussa name even after the company expanded into chemicals.

• Industrial catalystsCatalysts

  Degussa developed and supplied catalyst-related materials using its knowledge of precious metals and inorganic chemistry. These products served industrial chemical processes and, through successor operations, automotive and environmental applications. The catalyst portfolio exemplified the company's movement from metal refining toward higher-value technical materials.

• Carbon black and carbon materialsInorganic materials

  Carbon-based materials were among the industrial businesses associated with Degussa and its successor chemical operations. Such materials are used in rubber, plastics, coatings, pigments and other manufacturing processes. The line reflected Degussa's role as a supplier of functional materials rather than only conventional chemical commodities.

• Cyclododecatriene and PA12-chain materialsPerformance polymers

  The Marl site produced cyclododecatriene, a feedstock connected to laurolactam and the manufacture of polyamide 12. The material was important to downstream industrial and automotive supply chains. A 2012 plant fire demonstrated the dependence of these markets on a limited number of specialized production sites.

• Methionine and nutrition chemicalsHealth and nutrition

  The chemical operations inherited by Evonik included nutrition products such as DL-methionine. These products served animal-nutrition markets and formed part of the successor group's specialty-chemicals portfolio. Production was international, including a major Singapore investment referenced in the corporate history.

• 2012Response to the Marl plant fireOther

  A fire interrupted cyclododecatriene output at a site supplying a material connected to PA12 production.

  What changed. Production was stopped while the incident was addressed, creating a disruption lasting several months.

  Aftermath. The interruption triggered concern about global availability of downstream polyamide materials and encouraged consideration of alternative bio-based polyamides.

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• 2007Creation of EvonikStrategy

  The RAG group needed a structure separating coal mining from businesses competing in international markets.

  What changed. Evonik Industries was created and the former Degussa chemical operations were organized within Evonik-Degussa.

  Aftermath. The Degussa corporate identity was replaced by the Evonik brand in the successor specialty-chemicals group.

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• 2006RAG acquires DegussaM&A

  RAG was restructuring its coal-mining activities and internationally competitive industrial businesses into a new corporate arrangement.

  What changed. RAG acquired Degussa and brought its chemical operations into the group.

  Aftermath. Degussa was later renamed Evonik-Degussa GmbH and became a principal source of Evonik's specialty-chemicals activities.

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• 2003Holocaust Memorial materials controversyControversy

  Construction of Berlin's Holocaust Memorial was temporarily halted after public discussion of Degussa's supply of an anti-graffiti coating and plasticizer used in the project. Trustees ultimately approved completion with Degussa's continued involvement.

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• 1940Degesch and Zyklon B during the HolocaustControversy

  Degussa subsidiary Degesch was the principal manufacturer and distributor of Zyklon B, which the Nazi regime used in gas chambers to murder people in extermination and concentration camps. Degussa's wartime record also included the processing of dental gold forcibly removed from camp prisoners and links to forced labor at Gleiwitz.

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• 2012Fire disrupts Degussa's cyclododecatriene production

  A fire at the Marl plant halted cyclododecatriene production for several months. The disruption raised concerns about the supply of laurolactam and PA12 materials used in industrial and automotive applications.

  OtherProduct generation
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• 2007Evonik-Degussa becomes part of the newly created Evonik group

  The former Degussa chemical business was incorporated into Evonik's new corporate structure and subsequently operated as Evonik-Degussa GmbH.

  Leadership change
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• 2006Degussa acquired by RAG

  RAG acquired Degussa as part of the separation and restructuring of mining-related activities from internationally competitive industrial businesses.

  M&A
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1. Evonik Industries
2. Degussa Goldhandel