Christian Kullmann, chairman of the executive board of Evonik, formally inaugurated a new plant in Shanghai, China on September 5 for production of a wide range of organically modified specialty silicones. Organically modified specialty silicones form part of specialty additives and are one of four growth engines for which the Essen-based industrial group reportedly sees above-average potential for growth and margins.
Evonik has operated in China for decades, according to the company. With the takeover of the specialty additives business of Air Products at the beginning of 2017 and the opening of new plants in Nanjing, Evonik reports that it has significantly extended its activities in Asia. Construction of the two plants took about a year and featured more than 700 employees working 1.3 million hours, laying about 23 kilometers of piping and 430 kilometers of wiring harnesses over an area of 30,000 square meters, according to the company.
“We’re strengthening our presence in some of the world’s most dynamic markets with high growth rates. This gives us the opportunity to spot regional trends earlier and to develop innovative solutions in collaboration with our customers,” says Hans-Josef Ritzert, managing director of Evonik’s Nutrition & Care Segment.
The new plant has reportedly simplified Evonik’s supply chain. “Because we now produce many specialty silicones locally, we no longer need to ship them from Europe or North America to Asia,” says Claus Rettig, chairman of the management board of the Resource Efficiency Segment. “This enables us to react faster to requests and increases our flexibility.”
For more information, visit: www.evonik.com
