ESK-SIC
High-purity silicon carbide (SiC) powders and grains (~30,000 tons/year capacity) engineered for additive manufacturing, refractories, abrasives, and high-temperature applications; integrates RECOSiC sustainable recycling technology reducing CO2 emissions by 75-90%.
- CEO / Founder
- Matthias Hausmann
- Team Size
- 51-200
- Stage
- Acquired
- Total Funding
- Undisclosed
- Latest Round
- Acquired
- Key Investors
- Schunk Group
Technology & Products
Key Products
Silicon carbide grains (green and dark grades); Silicon carbide powders (submicron to millimeter range); Specialty and ultrafine SiC grades (custom blends); RECOSiC recycled SiC materials (sustainable grade); Additive manufacturing SiC powders (for binder jetting and ceramic 3D printing)
Technological Advantage
Proprietary RECOSiC recycling process (developed in partnership with Fraunhofer IKTS); circular economy model leveraging ceramic waste and end-of-life materials; economies of scale (30,000+ tons/year production); backward integration with parent company Schunk (IntrinSiC 3D printing process partner); Kyocera collaboration accelerating sustainable SiC adoption across global supply chains.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Custom SiC powder development enabling 3D-printable ceramic components with properties equivalent to conventionally manufactured parts; RECOSiC recycling technology achieves ~80% CO2 reduction vs. traditional synthesis while maintaining material performance; 30,000+ tons/year production scale with 80+ years of SiC expertise; integrated with Schunk's IntrinSiC industrial 3D printing platform.
How They Differentiate
RECOSiC sustainability advantage (75-90% CO2 reduction) with verified material equivalence; custom powder development partnerships enabling customer co-innovation; 30,000+ tons/year production capacity ensuring supply security; Schunk vertical integration enabling direct access to IntrinSiC 3D printing platform and industrial customer base (aerospace, precision manufacturing, defense); 80+ years of SiC expertise (original EK founded 1922) vs. competitors' typical 30-50 year histories.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Industrial manufacturers (aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, defense); additive manufacturing service providers; ceramic component manufacturers
Industry Verticals
Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing; Aerospace & Defense; Automotive; Semiconductors; Refractories; Abrasives & Polishing; High-Temperature Materials; Energy & Power Generation; Industrial Precision Metrology
Competitors
Washington Mills (CARBOREX brand SiC powders for AM; global supplier); Saint-Gobain (diversified ceramics and SiC producer); Ningxia Tianjing / Lanzhou Heqiao (Chinese SiC producers)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Production scale: ~30,000 tons/year SiC capacity; Team growth: 160 employees (post-acquisition); Award: 'TOP 100 Company' 2024-2025 (German innovation recognition); Market expansion: RECOSiC commercial introduction targeting 75-90% CO2 reduction adoption across industrial ceramics sector.
Major Milestones
1998: ESK-SIC GmbH founded as 100% subsidiary of Elektroschmelzwerk Kempten GmbH; 2018: Investment in SiC powder processing and marketing for additive manufacturing (strategic AM market entry); 2021 Q3: Investment in processing capabilities for refractory applications (capacity expansion); 2023-2024: RECOSiC recycling technology commercialization (Fraunhofer IKTS partnership); Feb 2024: Strategic partnership with Kyocera for sustainable SiC production and circular economy R&D; Jan 1, 2025: Acquisition by Schunk Group (vertical integration with IntrinSiC 3D printing platform)
Notable Customers
Schunk Technical Ceramics (parent; IntrinSiC 3D printing process); Kyocera (strategic partnership); Aerospace component manufacturers (end-user applications via Schunk); Semiconductor industry participants (reported customer segment); Defense/precision metrology manufacturers (reported via Schunk partnership)