Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation’s Mapleton Site Celebrates 50th Year Anniversary

Fifty years ago, John F. Kennedy was president, “How the West Was Won” was a hit movie, Brad Pitt was born, and Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation’s Mapleton, Ill., site began production.

Today, the facility celebrated its 50th year anniversary.

During a two-hour ceremony, Evonik executives praised the hard work of employees and thanked the local community for continuous support, noting these factors as key to the site’s success.

“We could not have achieved this result without our dedicated employees in Mapleton,” Patrik Wohlhauser, executive board member of Evonik Industries, told employees during the ceremony today. “As an important production site of Evonik’s Consumer Specialties Business Unit, Mapleton makes an essential contribution to the company and consumers. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the employees of this site for their dedication and commitment to Evonik and the community.”

Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation purchased the facility in 1999 and has been the longest owner of the site. The products manufactured in Mapleton are used to make common consumer products such as fabric softeners, soaps and toothpaste as well as industrial chemicals used in the construction, mining, oil drilling, lubricants and agriculture markets.

“I am proud of our accomplishments here in Mapleton,” said Dr. Reinhold Brand, president of Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation. “Achieving success at this site required a lot of hard work, but our relentless efforts finally paid off as the business and the Mapleton site is more competitive than ever. Our Mapleton team is like a family, one that has lived through hard times and good times but always joined together. And the Mapleton family gains strength every year.”

Evonik Goldschmidt Corporation currently employs about 170 people at the Mapleton site. More than 60 percent of employees have 20 or more years of service.

“Out of our many accomplishments, the one that holds a special place in my heart, is what we have achieved by working with local organizations to improve the community where we live,” said Jeff Seppa, site manager. “We could not have reached our 50th anniversary without the support from the people of Mapleton and surrounding towns. I am very proud of our continuous involvement with many local community organizations and events.”

Each year, Mapleton site employees raise funds for the Heart of Illinois United Way and the Pekin United Way. Site employees are also involved in the Science Screen Project, which donates educational materials for students from Limestone community School District 3310, Canton School District 66 and Illinois Bluffs School District.

Local dignitaries attending the event included Illinois Senator David Koehler, Illinois State Representative Michael Unes, Emergency Manager Dwain Deppolder of the Peoria Fire Department, Director Vicky Turner and Assistant Director Carolyn Hayes of the Peoria County Emergency Management Association.

For additional information about Evonik in North America, please visit our website: www.evonik.com/north-america. Please visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvonikNorthAmerica. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EvonikN_America.