ESSEN, Germany - Evonik Industries, Essen, Germany, has started basic engineering for a production plant for precipitated silica in Brazil. Subject to the approval of the responsible bodies, Evonik hopes to complete the plant in 2015. The facility will create precipitated silica for South America from local production. The planned facility in Americana would be Evonik’s first silica production in South America. Silica marketed under the ULTRASIL^® brand name is used in tires, while the silica sold as SIPERNAT^® is applied in the feed and food industry, as well as the coatings industry.