Dow Corning and Wacker to build siloxanes facility in China

Dow Corning Corporation and Wacker Chemie AG have announced that their manufacturing joint venture company Dow Corning Co., Ltd received official approval from the Chinese government to build a world-class siloxanes manufacturing facility in China.

The new complex will be located in the Jiangsu Yangtze River Chemical Industrial Park, Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province. Land preparation and early construction tasks are under way. It will benefit the growth of the silicone industry in China by providing a stable and quality supply of silicone basic materials, ‘building blocks’ for many different products that are used by various industries. Dow Corning and Wacker also established another joint venture company to build and operate a fumed silica plant on this integrated manufacturing site. 

The chemical park in Zhangjiagang provides distinct advantages, especially superb port facilities, and access to quality local talent. Both companies very much appreciate the cooperation and support of Chinese government at local, provincial and central levels to help identify and approve construction of the new plant at this strategic location.

Under the joint venture agreement, Dow Corning will be responsible for the construction and development of the joint siloxanes production facility, and Wacker for the joint fumed silica plant. The silica plant is already under construction. Siloxane is a key starting material for the production of silicones. Major silicone application industries include construction, chemicals, cosmetics, textiles, automotive, paper and electronics.

Fumed silica is used as an active filler in silicone elastomers, as a viscosity-adjusting agent in coatings, printing inks, adhesives, unsaturated polyester resins and plastisols or as a flow aid, for example in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food-processing industries.

Dow Corning and Wacker each view the Asia region and China as a high priority geography with the potential for immense growth over the next several years. Investing in a state-of-the-art integrated siloxane and fumed silica facility will help each of the companies to better serve their own downstream customers in this important region.

Dow Corning and Wacker will continue independently to serve their respective customers. Both companies will develop and operate separately their manufacturing facilities for finished products.