German chemical producer Wacker has inaugurated a new production line for silicone elastomers at its Zhangjiagang, China, site. The company said the “several thousand” t/y facility, which cost in the “lower double digit million range” will improve the availability of high consistency silicone rubber (HCR) in the Asia Pacific region.

With start-up of the new line, Paul Lindblad, president of Wacker Greater China, said the Munich-based company is significantly expanding its global production capacity for HCR. He added that the investment “shows our determination to further serve and develop local and regional market.” The expansion of the silicone elastomer plant is yet another example of the company’s ongoing investments into its Chinese facilities, he added.

Pointing to a “growing need” for silicone specialties and high quality silicone rubber, Christian Gimber, Wacker’s vice president of engineering silicones, said high consistency rubbers are expected to continue on their growth path, with demand for solid silicone elastomers rising quickly, especially in China. The country is the single largest market for silicone elastomers in the world.

Looking at technical specifications, Wacker said the new facility’s kneaders are currently the largest of their kind in the industry. The plant’s mixing and screening equipment, and the state-of-the-art waste treatment process are also “setting industry standards in terms of productivity and sustainability.”