As part of its majority-owned joint venture DSL Japan, German chemical producer Evonik is expanding production capacity for its Sipernat specialty silica at Ako, Japan. The expanded capacity is due on stream in 2015. The jv partners are Evonik (51%) and Japan's Shionogi (49%).

The German group said the specialty silicas improve the properties of products such as batteries, silicones, engineered rubber items or coatings. Silicas of particularly high quality are also used in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, for example in toothpastes or in beer filtration.

The capacity expansion in Japan will continue to strengthen the specialty character of Evonik's silica business, said chief operating officer Patrik Wohlhauser. Johannes Ohmer, head of the inorganic materials business unit, said the group projects higher than average growth for this market segment.

Beyond Asia, Evonik said it is making "good progress" on expanding is expanding its global silica capacities. For 2014 alone, it projects an increase of around 30% against 2010. An expansion of precipitated silicas capacity is expected to go on stream later this year in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.

Evonik's management recently approved construction of a new silica plant in Brazil, due to start up in 2016. The expansion in North and South America follows that of Europe and Asia. A larger production facility became operational in Thailand in March 2014.