MUNICH—In response to a growing market, Wacker Chemie A.G. is expanding production of specialty silicones in Japan and South Korea for e-mobility and construction applications, respectively.
The expanded capacity for Wacker Silicones, a business division of the overall group that sees more than 40 percent of its sales come from Asia, began this month at production sites in Tsukuba, Japan; and in Jincheon, South Korea.
While the Japanese location expanded a production campus with a greenfield project, the South Korean location expanded with a new specialty silicones production line in an existing manufacturing facility.
"With the expansion of our production facilities in Japan and South Korea, we are strengthening our position as a market and technology leader for high-quality silicone solutions in the important Asian growth market," said Christian Kirsten, Wacker executive board member and director of Wacker Silicones. "The additional capacity will help us meet growing demand, especially from the local automotive and construction industries.
"By doing so we continue to drive our specialties strategy in the silicones sector."
Wacker said the total investment at both locations was in the "double-digit millions of dollars."
"Our business activities in Japan and South Korea are major contributors," said Angela Worl, an executive board member and director of the Asia region for Wacker Silicones. "The new production lines in Tsukuba and in Jincheon support our strategy to locate our manufacturing capabilities close to our customers in the region."