India: Wacker Metroark Chemicals has officially opened a 6000t/day hydrosilylation plant for manufacturing functional silicone fluids at Amtala near Kolkata. The plant cost Euro6m. The expansion is Wacker’s response to growing regional demand for specialty silicones for use in the textile, personal care, rigid and flexible polyurethane foam and agrochemical sectors. Polyurethane foams produce at the unit will be used to make insulation materials and other products.
“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 Soumitra Mukherjee, Managing Director of Wacker Metroark Chemicals.
Wacker Metroark Chemicals is a joint venture between Germany’s Wacker and Metroark. The company is responsible for all marketing and sales activities in the India relating to Wacker silicones. Wacker owns a 51% share in the joint venture, which was set up in 1998.
