12.01.17
CHINA: Wacker Chemie AG will expand its production capacities for silicone and polymer products in China and continwue to reinforce its research and development capability in order to further strengthen its market position in the region.
The company is expanding its solid silicone rubber manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang as well as its production capacity for vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) copolymer dispersions at its plant in Nanjing. Wacker’s technical center in Shanghai will also expand, including new R&D labs for silicone fluids and resins, pyrogenic silica and room-temperature-curing silicone elastomers. A food application lab for products from the Wacker Biosolutions division is also scheduled.
A total investment of €20 million , or approximately $23.5 million, has been earmarked for these expansion projects.
“Greater China is one of our most important business regions. With annual sales of well over one billion euros, it is Wackers’s largest single market and stands for one-fourth of Group sales,” said CEO Rudolf Staudigl, speaking to customers in Shanghai.
“The demand for silicones and polymer products in China has been growing steadily for years. However, due to high plant capacity utilization, additional volumes are almost impossible. That is why we are now expanding capacities at our Chinese sites in Zhangjiagang and Nanjing. This will help us support our customers’ growth and strengthen our market position in the region long term,” added Staudigl.
Paul Lindblad, president of Wacker Greater China, also announced an expansion of the company’s R&D facilities in Shanghai. Wacker already operates a technical center there.
By year-end 2018, Shanghai will have additional silicone labs for the development of new products and applications in areas such as coatings, construction and consumer care.
The expansion project also includes the R&D lab for room-temperature-curing silicone elastomers which develops adhesives and sealants for construction and industrial applications.
A new application lab catering to the growing needs of the local food industry will also be built.
Wacker—which has been operating its own subsidiary in Greater China for more than two decades—currently has seven sales offices, two technical centers and three production sites in the country.
The company is expanding its solid silicone rubber manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang as well as its production capacity for vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) copolymer dispersions at its plant in Nanjing. Wacker’s technical center in Shanghai will also expand, including new R&D labs for silicone fluids and resins, pyrogenic silica and room-temperature-curing silicone elastomers. A food application lab for products from the Wacker Biosolutions division is also scheduled.
A total investment of €20 million , or approximately $23.5 million, has been earmarked for these expansion projects.
“Greater China is one of our most important business regions. With annual sales of well over one billion euros, it is Wackers’s largest single market and stands for one-fourth of Group sales,” said CEO Rudolf Staudigl, speaking to customers in Shanghai.
“The demand for silicones and polymer products in China has been growing steadily for years. However, due to high plant capacity utilization, additional volumes are almost impossible. That is why we are now expanding capacities at our Chinese sites in Zhangjiagang and Nanjing. This will help us support our customers’ growth and strengthen our market position in the region long term,” added Staudigl.
Paul Lindblad, president of Wacker Greater China, also announced an expansion of the company’s R&D facilities in Shanghai. Wacker already operates a technical center there.
By year-end 2018, Shanghai will have additional silicone labs for the development of new products and applications in areas such as coatings, construction and consumer care.
The expansion project also includes the R&D lab for room-temperature-curing silicone elastomers which develops adhesives and sealants for construction and industrial applications.
A new application lab catering to the growing needs of the local food industry will also be built.
Wacker—which has been operating its own subsidiary in Greater China for more than two decades—currently has seven sales offices, two technical centers and three production sites in the country.