Wacker Opens New Functional Silicone Fluids Facility Near Kolkata

German chemicals group, Wacker Chemie’s Indian joint venture –Wacker Metroark Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. – has expanded its existing silicone production at its Amtala site near Kolkata with a new hydrosilylation plant for manufacturing functional silicone fluids. The company said the investment for the 6,000 metric tons per annum plant amounted to around Euro 6-mn (Rs. 48-crore).

The expansion is Wacker’s response to growing regional demand for speciality silicones for use in the textile, personal-care, rigid and flexible polyurethane foam and agrochemical sectors.

“With this expansion of our production, we are broadening our product portfolio and can thereby open up new markets in the growth regions of India and Southeast Asia,” explained Mr. Christian Hartel, Executive Board member at Wacker Chemie with responsibility for Asia, at the plant opening ceremony. “This investment underscores the commitment of Wacker to the Indian market and shows that our company is continuously growing its technical expertise and capacities in Asia,” he added.

Hydrosilylation is a chemical process in which organofunctional groups, such as glycols, olefins or ketones, are “docked” onto the periphery of silicones. This is done in order to modify the properties of the end product and render a silicone fluid, for example, hydrophobic (water-repellent) or hydrophilic (water-attracting).

Hydrosilylation silicone products reduce the incompatibilities between oils and water, thereby improving the compatibility with organic systems. The second application area of the new products manufactured in Amtala are polyurethane foams, in which functional silicone fluids serve as additives for adjusting the cell structure. Such foams are used in car interior trim and insulation materials. Silicone fluids and emulsions are also used in personal care products (e.g. shampoos), in softeners for the textile industry and in agricultural applications.

“Our new hydrosilylation plant enables us to address promising new markets where we haven’t been represented in India and Southeast Asia until now – for example the market for silicone functional fluids with its many sales opportunities,” said Mr. Soumitra Mukherjee, Managing Director of Wacker Metroark Chemicals.

Wacker Metroark Chemicals has its registered office and production facilities near Kolkata, while sales are headquartered in Mumbai. The company is responsible for all marketing and sales activities in the Indian subcontinent relating to Wacker silicones.