Wacker expands silicones production capacity at Asian sites

Munich, Germany – Wacker Chemie AG has this week started up two new production facilities for specialty silicones, in Tsukuba, Japan and Jincheon, South Korea.

The expansions will meet growing demand from the automotive and construction industries in Asia, said Wacker's 23 Jan announcement, which put the overall investment in the “double-digit-million Euro" range.

At Tsukuba, Wacker has started up a new line for silicone-based thermal interface materials (TIM), which are used in e-mobility applications, such as heat-dissipating gap fillers for cooling power electronics and traction batteries.

TIM products are essentially silicone elastomers modified with various additives and fillers during compounding to render them thermally conductive.

“The additional capacity will help us meet growing demand, especially from the local automotive and construction industries,” said Christian Kirsten, Wacker executive board member responsible for the group’s silicones business.

Wacker produces silicone specialties in Tsukuba as part of the Wacker Asahikasei Silicone JV and also operates a technical centre and training facility for silicone applications there.

In South Korea, Wacker’s Jincheon facility has been producing silicone sealants for the construction industry since 2010 and specialty silicones, LSRs and silicone elastomers for the automotive and electrical industries since 2012.

While silicone sealants production had already been expanded with a relocation of the Korean unit in 2018, increasing demand has “put the plant to its limits,” said Wacker.

According to Kirsten, the Jincheon facility “now operates one of the largest, most modern and most efficient silicone sealant production sites in Asia.”

“The new production lines in Tsukuba and in Jincheon support our strategy to locate our manufacturing capabilities close to our customers in the region,” added Angela Wörl, Wacker executive board member, responsible for the Asia region.

According to Wacker, the group generates more than 40% of its sales in Asia, to which the business activities in Japan and South Korea are major contributors.

Image: Wacker