WACKER opens new production site in S. Korea

Wacker Chemie AG has opened a new production site for silicone elastomers in South Korea. The plant is located around 100 km southeast of Seoul at Jincheon, where the Group has already been producing silicone sealants since 2010 and speciality silicones for the electronics industry since 2012. In moving to the new site, WACKER is significantly expanding its production and therefore its position as a leading silicone manufacturer in the region. Some €15 million have been invested in the new production site.

“The opening of our new plant is a milestone for us and sends a signal to our customers that we want to continue growing in Asia and in South Korea especially,” said Executive Board member Christian Hartel at the opening ceremony, which was attended by high-ranking officials and business partners. Asia is already one of the Group’s most important sales regions. “We generate around 40 per cent of our sales in Asia. Our operations in South Korea play a key role here”, said Hartel. “Our new production site enables us to strengthen and expand our position in the region over the long term.”

WACKER has produced silicone sealants in Jincheon since 2010 and has also manufactured speciality silicone elastomers there for the electronics industry since 2012. “Due to the strong growth in demand for our silicones, production was increasingly being stretched to its limits”, explained Executive Board member Auguste Willems. As it was not possible to expand the facilities on the existing premises, WACKER decided to move sites. “Our new plant in Jincheon is four times as big as the old one and provides enough space for future capacity expansions”, he said.

The centrepiece of the new site is a 13,000 square meter production building. Silicone sealants for the construction industry and speciality silicone elastomers for electronic applications will be manufactured in separate facilities. The production lines have been equipped with cutting-edge manufacturing technology that enables fully automatic and therefore highly efficient production processes. Hyperpure silicones are produced and packaged in a dedicated cleanroom – a service that is becoming increasingly important for customers from the electronics industry in particular.

“Jincheon offers the space and technical facilities we need to meet the rising demand for silicones in the region long term. That applies both to our sealants and to our high-performance silicones, which our customers use to produce automotive displays or use in other demanding electronic applications”, emphasized Willems. “With this investment, we can broaden the regional scope of our silicones business continuously and strengthen our presence as a leading silicone manufacturer in South Korea and Asia.”