Wacker opens silane technology center

Wacker and Chinese specialty silane producer and joint-venture partner SICO Performance Material have opened a new application development center for organofunctional silanes in Jining, China.

The approximately 2,300 sqm facility features several laboratories where high-performance additives for the plastics, coatings and adhesives industries will be developed. The technology center acts as an interface between research, technical support and production. SICO's production and scale-up resources, which are likewise located in Jining, can be fully leveraged for development work. The technology center enables the rapid market launch of new products. Investments in the Wacker SICO Application Development Center facility total a mid-six-figure euro sum.

'As a provider of innovative silicone specialties, we can use this development center to achieve a key milestone for our business in China. Our focus is on high-margin specialty silanes, for which demand in China is rising continuously. This investment together with our partner SICO strengthens our presence and commitment to the region,' stated Tom Koini, president of Wacker's silicones business division.

Wacker and SICO Performance Materials have decades of experience in organofunctional silanes. They are used as adhesion promoters for the production of high-performance adhesives, sealants and coatings, as binders for composite materials or as additives to enhance plastics. Because specialty silanes improve the mechanical and chemical properties of products, demand for such hybrid polymers has been rising for many years.

'The opening of our Application Development Center in Jining enables us to strengthen our position as a specialties manufacturer in China. In partnership with SICO, we can now support customers even better in the development and marketing of innovative products,' Koini added.

Kevin Qu, general manager of SICO Performance Material, praised the new laboratories as an investment in the future and the cornerstone of a new era of cooperation between Wacker and SICO.

'We can now pool all of our silane expertise here at our application development center. This know-how ranges from chemical product properties and supply chain matters through to questions of process engineering and current marketing trends. We will leverage this in-depth knowledge to develop forward-looking innovations for our customers. This marks a new chapter of success in the history of our joint venture,' Qu commented.

The application development center is located in Jining, not far from SICO Performance Material's own production site. The center's focus is on the development of additives, adhesion promoters and stabilizers based on organofunctional silanes and functional silicone fluids. Such specialty silanes make it possible to formulate high-quality adhesives and sealants, coatings and plastic products, which in turn are used in sectors such as electromobility, electronics, power engineering, telecommunications and coatings.

Wacker has held a majority stake in SICO Performance Material since 2022.