Page 163 - CW E-Magazine (4-2-2025)

News from Abroad

EXPANSION
Wacker ramps up speciality silicones capacity in Asia

German chemicals firm, Wacker
Chemie, has started up two new pro-
duction facilities for speciality silicones
in Japan and South Korea.

The new plants, located in Tsukuba,
Japan and in Jincheon, South Korea,
will serve growing demand from the
automotive and construction industries
for these products. In total, Wacker has
invested an amount in the “double digit
million Euro range” in the capacity
expansions.
“With the expansion of our production
facilities in Japan and South Korea, we
are strengthening our position as a mar-
ket and technology leader for high-qua-
lity silicone solutions in the important
Asian growth market,” said Mr. Christian industry, where they provide effective Asahikasei Silicone (AWS) joint ven-
Kirsten, Wacker Executive Board mem- thermal management of electrical com- ture founded in 1999. Here, the group
ber responsible for the Group’s silicones ponents. The batteries in electric cars, also operates a technical centre and a
business, at the opening. for example, are embedded in silicone training centre for silicone applications.
encapsulants. This ensures controlled
“We generate more than 40 percent dissipation of the heat generated dur- Focus on sealants in South Korea
of our sales in Asia. Our business acti- ing operation and protects the traction At Jincheon, Wacker has been pro-
vities in Japan and South Korea are battery from overheating. As part of the ducing silicone sealants for the con-
major contributors,” emphasised Wacker’s global trend towards electromobility, struction industry since 2010 and spe-
executive board member, Ms. Angela demand for such speciality silicones ciality silicones, liquid silicone rubbers
Wörl, who is responsible for the Asia is also expected to increase in Asia. and silicone elastomers for the auto-
region. Japanese automotive suppliers are cur- motive and electrical industries since 2012.
rently investing heavily in this sector. The products are shipped to customers
Tsukuba: Focus on e-mobility “The industry is looking for opportu- throughout Asia. The silicone sealants
The capacity expansion at Tsukuba is nities to improve the design and per- production had already been expanded
targeting customers from the automotive formance of battery powered vehicles. as part of the site’s relocation in 2018.
industry, especially in the field of electro- Silicones are materials that enable new However, increasing demand for seal-
mobility. The newly built plant hosts and innovative solutions, ranging from ants put the plant to its limits. The new
a production line for manufacturing sili- hybrid cable systems and efficient thermal production line will increase produc-
cone-based thermal interface materials management to effective potting of tion capacity in Jincheon significantly.
(TIM). These materials are basically sili- power electronics and enhanced battery
cone elastomers modified with various safety. Our production line in Japan “This investment will play a key
additives and fillers during compounding will enable us to better support growing role in ensuring that we can meet the
to render them thermally conductive. demand for these high-end silicones in growing demand in Asia in the long
the region,” noted Mr. Kirsten. term. Jincheon now operates one of
Aside from the automotive indus- the largest, most modern and most effi-
try, silicone-based TIM also serve as Wacker produces silicone speciali- cient silicone sealant production sites
so called ‘gap fillers’ in the electronics ties in Tsukuba as part of the Wacker in Asia,” added Mr. Kirsten.

Chemical Weekly February 4, 2025 163

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