Wacker expands functional silicone production

At the performance silicones plant in Burghausen, the precursor siloxane and other raw materials are used to make highly specialized functional silicone fluids. They are important starting materials for antifoam, impregnating and release agents and for additives for the construction, coatings, paper, cosmetics and personal care industries.

With the expansion, which came on stream in early January, Wacker said it is meeting the rising global demand for specialty fluids and silicone emulsions in the coatings, paper, textile, cosmetics and personal care industries.

The expansion has increased the plant’s total production capacity by around 70 percent. Production processes have been optimized further also, with silicone fluids now able to be produced even more efficiently with even higher purity.

‘The completion of our polysilicon production site in Tennessee has essentially concluded our investment in full-scale plants for the manufacture of precursors. We are now focusing on plants for intermediates, sales products and specialty products,’ said Wacker president and CEO Dr Rudolf Staudigl.

‘Thanks to the expansion, we have sufficient production capacity in Burghausen to meet the rising global demand for versatile silicone fluids and emulsions.’

‘This plant is a key facility for us, and the most important intermediates for our product portfolio are manufactured here,’ said Dr Christoph Kowitz, head of the Performance Silicones business unit.

‘The added value that we can achieve here is tremendous. By expanding our production plant for functional high-performance fluids, we are laying another cornerstone for the sustainable growth of our business.’

Wacker is a globally-active chemical company with a network of 25 production sites, 21 technical competence centers and 48 sales offices.