Wacker Chemie is expanding its Chinese polymer activities by investing around €40 million in building two new production facilities at its Nanjing site. As announced by the Munich-based chemical group, it is expanding the site's existing facilities for vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions by adding a new reactor with an annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons.

This measure will double Nanjing's VAE dispersion capacity to approx. 120,000 metric tons per year, making the complex one of the biggest of its kind in China. The new reactor is scheduled to come on stream in mid-2013.

At Nanjing, Wacker is also building a new plant to produce polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) solid resins with an annual capacity of 20,000 metric tons. This plant is due for completion in early 2013.

"These expansion measures are necessary to keep pace with our customers' robust demand for VAE dispersions and high-quality polyvinyl acetate solid resins in the future," explains Auguste Willems of Wacker Chemie's Executive Board.

Wackers's fully integrated plant at Nanjing already produces vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer dispersions and dispersible polymer powders for the construction, coating, adhesive, and other industries. By bundling its Chinese polymer activities at a single site, the company expects to gain decisive advantages and synergies - achieving economies of scale through a common infrastructure and energy supply.