Degussa Acquires Novara

Unique Technology has Promising Market Prospects

02-Apr-2003
The Degussa AG Aerosil & Silanes Business Unit, Duesseldorf, has acquired all of Novara Technology S.r.I. (NTECH), headquartered in Novara, Milan. Degussa had previously acquired a 50 percent share of Novara Technology from its joint venture partner Gel Design Engineering. Degussa's future wholly owned subsidiary will be integrated in the Aerosil Business Line, which is a part of the Aerosil & Silanes Business Unit. All employees will be transferred to the new Degussa. Novara Technology is a leader with its sol-gel processes for manufacturing high-purity synthetic silica glass bodies, a technology that it has refined to maturity. The Novara Process® is unique worldwide and offers customers an extremely cost-effective alternative to standard production methods used to make high-purity synthetic silica glass. Novara Technology offers licenses for the production of these glasses, which are based on fumed silicas like AEROSIL®. "By being innovative, we want to position ourselves in the special oxides field as the top supplier of custom precursors. The acquisition of Novara Technology represents a vital strategic step in this direction," emphasizes Degussa's Executive Vice President Dr. Carl Voigt. Examples of applications of NTECH technology include optical fibers, special glass mold bodies for the semiconductor industry, and optical applications. Novara's technology is based on the so-called sol-gel process. This enables the processing of highly refined powder-like AEROSIL® fumed silica into compact, flawless, bubble-free molded articles from high-purity silica glass that is also used in optical data transmission systems for the telecommunications industry. Novara Technology's patented process makes it possible to produce glass bodies of the highest purity, which combine high geometric precision with high transparency. Production and investment costs for NTECH customers are lower compared to previous processes. In addition, the time needed to build a NTECH process plant is shorter. The new company's market outlook is very favorable, and Novara Technology is already working together with numerous well known manufacturers.

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