WACKER Expands Silicone Elastomer Production in China
Munich/Zhangjiagang, Jun 10, 2019
Today, WACKER inaugurated a new production line for silicone elastomers at its Zhangjiagang site in China. With an annual capacity of several thousand metric tons, the facility will help support WACKER’s future growth path in China and improve the availability of high consistency silicone rubber (HCR) in the Asia-Pacific region. The plant’s cutting-edge equipment includes world-class kneaders which are essential for manufacturing high quality HCR grades. The expansion measure – a lower double digit million investment – underscores WACKER’s commitment and technological leadership in the silicone rubber industry.
“Today’s event not only is another milestone in WACKER’s efforts to expand its operational footprint in China, but also shows our determination to further serve and develop local and regional markets,” said Paul Lindblad, President of WACKER Greater China, at the inauguration ceremony. The expansion of WACKER’s silicone elastomer plant is yet another example of the company’s ongoing investments into its Chinese facilities. “The new manufacturing line will contribute significantly to our silicone rubber production capacity. This will enable us to improve our service to customers and business partners, who are willing to grasp the opportunities in today’s ever-changing and increasingly sophisticated marketplace”, Lindblad said.
Christian Gimber, Vice President of Engineering Silicones, emphasized the growing need for silicone specialties and high quality silicone rubber. “High consistency rubbers are widely used, and we expect them to continue on their growth path,” he said. Over the last decades, the demand for solid silicone elastomers has grown quickly, especially in China. “Today, the country is the single largest market for silicone elastomers in the world.”
WACKER’s new production line is located in a new building complex covering 2,000 square meters. The facility’s kneaders are currently the largest of their kind in the industry. The plant’s mixing and screening equipment and the state-of-the-art waste treatment process are also setting industry standards in terms of productivity and sustainability. The new production line will enable shorter lead times, speed up market response, and improve overall customer experience.
WACKER in China
WACKER has been operating its own subsidiary in Greater China for over 25 years and has greatly expanded its regional activities since then. The company not only maintains seven sales offices in all the country’s key economic regions, but also two technical centers and three production sites. The Group produces silicones and polymers in Zhangjiagang and Nanjing. Both sites are located in Jiangsu province. The plants are the largest of their kind in China. In 2018, WACKER generated sales of over €1 billion in the Greater China region, including Taiwan.
With almost 67 years of experience in silicone elastomer manufac-turing, WACKER offers around 1,000 silicone rubber products today. High consistency silicone rubber (HCR) is crosslinked at temperatures over 100 °C. The resulting silicone elastomer is characterized by its high-temperature resistance and a high degree of elasticity. HCR grades are used in various industry sectors such as the automotive, medical, electrical and electronics industry.
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