Wacker Chemie Co., Ltd. further expanded its polymer business in China and invested approximately US$100 million to build a vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) copolymer emulsion reactor and a VAE based on the existing equipment at the Nanjing production base. Spray drying equipment for redispersible latex powder.
The new reactor and spray drying equipment are scheduled to be put into operation in the second half of 2022. After completion, it will be the largest production facility of its kind in the world.
The construction of the new equipment has been approved by the local government, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 30. Shi Mingde, President of the China-Germany Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to Germany, Dr. Ou Zhen, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Shanghai, Luo Qun, member of the Standing Committee of the Nanjing Municipal Committee, and full-time deputy secretary of the Jiangbei New Area Party Working Committee, member of the Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Party Working Committee and Management Committee Chen Yunmei, deputy director of the meeting, and Chen Jianning, director of Nanjing Jiangbei New Material Technology Park, were invited to attend the ceremony. Fan Jinlong, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, met with WACKER representatives before the ceremony.
The expansion project will more than double the production capacity of WACKER’s Nanjing production site, which can better meet the growing demand for high-quality adhesives in China`s booming construction industry.
The emulsions and redispersible latex powders produced by WACKER can be used to formulate high-quality tile adhesives, energy-saving exterior wall insulation systems, and low-odor, low-volatility interior wall coatings in the fields of construction, coatings and adhesives. In addition, The product is also suitable for carpet, textile and paper coating.
WACKER produces VAE emulsions, redispersible latex powders and polyvinyl acetate solid resins at an integrated production base located in Nanjing Jiangbei New Material Science and Technology Park. The solid polyvinyl acetate resin sold by WACKER under the VINNAPAS® brand can be used as a binder or additive for adhesives and sound insulation pads, or as a low-profile additive. Concentrating polymer production in China to the same production base can bring synergies to WACKER: economies of scale can be achieved through infrastructure sharing and centralized energy supply. In addition, it also helps to improve transportation and logistics efficiency.