TAGS: Sustainability / Natural Adhesives Sealants
WACKER chemical group is planning to expand its production capacity for silicone sealants and cartridge filling at the Nünchritz site to meet demand. In this way, even customers who do not have their own facilities and who have silicone sealants produced and filled by WACKER for their own sales can be supplied to an even greater extent. Investments of around €20 million are planned for the new production lines.
Commissioning is planned for autumn 2024. Construction is expected to start before the end of this year, subject to the approval of all authorities involved in the approval process. The expansion measure will create almost a dozen new jobs at the site.
Construction silicones are very popular. Doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms and walls can be sealed quickly, reliably and permanently with silicone sealants. This not only protects critical parts of the building against splash water, dirt and moisture. In times of rising energy costs and ever-increasing demands on the energy efficiency of buildings, the use of silicone sealants is also the method of choice for a good indoor climate and a reduction in heat loss.
Development of Sustainable and Innovative and Solutions
The market for alkoxy silicones has developed particularly dynamically in recent years. Such sealants can also be used indoors without hesitation. These are one-component silicone sealants that crosslink neutrally and release alcohol in the process. Alkoxy silicones are considered a versatile sealant for indoor and outdoor use and can also be used for sensitive building materials such as natural stone or metal. Significant growth rates are expected here for the next few years.
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WACKER is one of the leading manufacturers of user-friendly silicone sealants. With the expansion of our production in Nünchritz, we are opening up new markets and strengthening our position as one of the most important sealants manufacturers in Europe,” said WACKER executive board member Auguste Willems. In his words, the investment also demonstrates the Group's commitment to products that enable the development of particularly sustainable and innovative applications and solutions. “
We have set ourselves the goal of promoting more products for energy-efficient, climate-friendly and sustainable construction. Our alkoxy silicones make an important contribution to this,” added Willems.
The project plan envisages the construction of a fully continuous compounding plant for silicone sealants and the expansion of cartridge filling at the Nünchritz site. The new production lines will be built next to the existing facilities. "
We will integrate the companies into production in such a way that the filling capacities and the existing logistics at the site can be optimally used," emphasizes the manager of the Nünchritz plant, Jutta Matreux.
The expansion measure will significantly increase WACKER's production capacity for silicone sealants and cartridges in Nünchritz. Depending on the product, up to 30 million additional cartridges per year can be filled in the new filling line. The commissioning of the new systems is planned for autumn next year, provided that the official approvals for this are granted in a timely manner. The expansion measure will create almost a dozen new jobs at the site. They should preferably be filled with specialists from the region.
About Silicone Sealants
Silicone sealants that crosslink at room temperature solve a wide range of sealing, bonding and coating tasks. Construction silicones are used, for example, to seal sanitary facilities, windows and doors, wall and natural stone joints or in the construction of aquariums. Silicone sealants consist of polydimethylsiloxane, a crosslinker, fillers and additives. After application, crosslinking begins with the release of cleavage products. Depending on the type of crosslinker, small amounts of an amine, acetic acid or - in the case of a neutral compound - alcohol or oximes are released during vulcanization. Alkoxy silicones are among the neutral-crosslinking sealants and release alcohol when curing.
Since 2020, WACKER has also been offering biomethanol-based silicone sealants under the ELASTOSIL® eco brand name. Such types differ from classic sealants only in the origin of the raw materials used. All product features are otherwise identical. ELASTOSIL® eco sealants are certified according to the REDcert2 standard. This ensures the traceability of renewable raw materials throughout the entire manufacturing process - from the production of important preliminary products to the ready-to-use silicone sealant. The fossil raw materials required for production are replaced by sustainably certified biomass. This makes ELASTOSIL® eco the first generation of sealants that does not require raw materials produced from petrochemicals.
View All ELASTOSIL® Grades from WACKER
Source: WACKER