Wacker pilot reactor for dispersions begins operations in China

Wacker Chemie AG has officially started up its new pilot reactor for vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer (VAE) dispersions at its Nanjing site in China. The facility will allow Wacker to expand its local research and development activities in China and grow to its regional portfolio of product development, application technology and customer services. The investment needed for the pilot reactor amounts to around €2.4M. The Group’s goals for the project are to meet growing demand in China and Asia for high-quality polymeric binders and to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of VAE dispersions and dispersible polymer powders.

"Our objective is to work with our customers to develop first-class solutions adapted to local needs and, in that way, to contribute to Wacker’s growth going forward,” explained Peter Summo, president of Wacker Polymers. "Wacker is now one of the world’s few VAE manufacturers that can support customers in China from the development lab all the way up to large-scale production.”

Paul Lindblad, President of Wacker Greater China, emphasised: "The new facility will allow us to strengthen our role as a leading technology partner for numerous key industries and to underscore our long-term commitment to China.”

The pilot reactor serves as a research facility for custom-made VAE dispersions and dispersible polymer powders, which go on to be used in the construction, adhesives and coatings industries, among others. The experienced local technical team, supported by the state-of-the-art equipped Technical Center Shanghai, can now co-operate even better with Wacker’s customers to develop first-class products with consistent high quality, optimise production processes and shorten developing periods. In this way, Wacker will be able to meet rising demand for high-grade polymeric binders in China and Asia, while continuing to grow its local expertise, application technology and customer service.

Located at Wacker’s fully integrated polymer site in Nanjing, this ultramodern facility is state of the art, as it is home to a completely automated monitoring and control system. Wacker already manufactures its Vinnapas VAE dispersions and dispersible polymer powders in Nanjing – products are used, for example, for formulating high-quality adhesives, low-odour, environmentally-friendly interior paints and for energy-saving building solutions, such as external thermal insulation composite systems. Other applications include tile adhesives, plasters, paper coatings, carpet applications and technical textiles.