WACKER expands silicone, VAE capacity and R&D in China
- WACKER has earmarked €20 million for production and R&D expansion projects in China.
- A new production line in Zhangjiagang will add several thousand metric tons of solid silicone rubber capacity.
- Process improvements at the Nanjing site will increase VAE dispersion capacity by up to 30,000 metric tons annually.
- Shanghai technical center will gain new R&D labs (silicone fluids/resins, pyrogenic silica, room‑temperature‑curing elastomers and a food application lab) and headcount will grow by a double‑digit percentage.
Overview
WACKER will expand production capacities for silicones and polymer products in China and strengthen regional R&D, with a total investment of €20 million. The measures target sites in Zhangjiagang and Nanjing and an enlargement of the Shanghai technical center.
Capacity expansions
At Zhangjiagang, WACKER will build a new production line to add several thousand metric tons of solid silicone rubber capacity. At the Nanjing polymer site, process‑engineering improvements for vinyl acetate‑ethylene (VAE) copolymer dispersions are expected to boost annual production capacity by up to 30,000 metric tons. The debottlenecking and expansion measures are scheduled for completion in the second half of 2018.
R&D expansion in Shanghai
WACKER will expand its Shanghai technical center by year‑end 2018, adding R&D labs for silicone fluids and resins, pyrogenic silica, room‑temperature‑curing silicone elastomers (adhesives and sealants) and a food application lab for BIOSOLUTIONS products. The company says local R&D staff will continue to grow by a double‑digit percentage in the coming years.
Regional position
Greater China is WACKER’s largest single market, accounting for about one quarter of Group sales; in 2016 the company generated sales of over €1.1 billion in the region. WACKER operates multiple production sites, two technical centers and seven sales offices in China.
Source: wacker.com
