WACKER Increases Silicone Sealant Production

WACKER Expands Silicone Sealant Production WACKER is expanding production and cartridge-filling capacities for silicone sealants at its Nünchritz facility in response to rising demand. The capacity increase will enhance the company's ability to supply ready-to-use silicone sealants for direct sales to customers who have concluded contracts with WACKER. Approximately EUR 20 million has been allocated for new production lines scheduled to begin operation in autumn 2024. Construction is expected to commence before the end of this year, subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities. The expansion project will create new jobs in the area. Construction silicones are experiencing strong demand. Silicone sealants provide quick, reliable and long-lasting sealing of doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms and walls, while protecting building components from water, dust and moisture ingress. In an era of rising energy costs and continually increasing demand for energy efficiency, silicone sealants are frequently used in buildings to provide comfortable interior environments and minimize heat loss. In recent years, alkoxy silicones in particular have shown dynamic growth. These single-component, neutral-curing silicone sealants release alcohol upon crosslinking, making their use safe. These silicones can also be applied to sensitive building materials such as natural stone and metal. Alkoxy silicones are therefore versatile sealants for interior and exterior applications and are expected to achieve significant growth rates in the coming years. Auguste Willems, Member of the WACKER Board of Management, stated: "WACKER is among the leading manufacturers of consumer-friendly silicone sealants. Expanding production at Nünchritz will enable us to enter new markets and strengthen our position as a key sealant manufacturer in Europe." The investment demonstrates the company's commitment to products that contribute to sustainable, innovative applications and solutions. Willems added: "We have made it our goal to more actively promote products that support energy-efficient, climate-friendly and sustainable construction methods. Our alkoxy silicones play an important role here." The project plan at the Nünchritz facility envisions construction of a fully continuous compound facility for silicone sealants, including expansion of the cartridge-filling plant. The new production lines will be built adjacent to existing facilities. Jutta Matreux, Site Manager at Nünchritz, stated: "We will integrate the facilities into our production process by fully utilizing the existing filling capacities and logistics on site." The expansion project will significantly increase WACKER's production capacity for silicone sealants and cartridges at Nünchritz. Depending on quality, the new filling line will have filling capacity of up to 30 million cartridges per year. The new facilities, pending regulatory approval, are scheduled to commence operation in autumn of the following year. Source