Solvay starts building silica plant in South Korea

Brussels - Solvay has started construction of its highly dispersible silica (HDS) production plant in Gunsan, South Korea, to meet growing demand in Asia for energy-saving tires and to develop new HDS grades.

Solvay officially broke ground for the construction of the plant on 27 April. The plant, with an annual capacity of more than 80 000 tonnes, is expected to be operational in the next two years.

Solvay’s Silica global business unit (GBU) will produce high performance silica grades including Efficium – a recently introduced product, designed to increase productivity and flexibility in producing tire compounds.

“This new production platform will be dedicated to silica innovations for Asia. Together with the Silica research facility, part of Solvay’s new R&I Centre at the Ehwa University Campus in Seoul, we are well placed to speed up innovations in close cooperation with our regional customers,” said An Nuyttens, -resident of Solvay’s Silica GBU.

The facility in the Saemangeum zone, close to Gunsan city in Jeollabuk-do province, will over time replace a significant part of the current capacity at Solvay’s Silica site in Incheon, which is located in area designated for future residential development.

The investment in South Korea, added Solvay, is another step in offering innovative solutions and in expanding its global footprint to serve customers.