Press release
Silica
October 14, 2021

New fumed silica plant by Evonik and Wynca goes on stream in Zhenjiang, China

  • Evonik’s first fumed silica production facility in China starts operation
  • The plant fulfills local market’s demands for silicones, coatings, adhesives, sealants and many other industrial applications
  • Recycling of production resources and materials contributes to circular economy

Zhenjiang, China. The joint venture between Evonik and the Chinese company Wynca - Evonik Wynca (Zhenjiang) Silicon Material Co., Ltd. is starting-up of its new fumed silica plant. Located in the Zhenjiang New Material Industry Park in Jiangsu province, the plant is Evonik's first fumed silica production site in China. It will produce fumed silica marketed under the brand name AEROSIL®. More than 150 participants, including employees from Evonik and Wynca, partners, government and media representatives, attended the opening ceremony.

Fumed silica is an important functional material. With features such as thickening, thixotropy, anti-precipitation, and matting, it has been widely applied in industrial applications such as silicones, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. The demands for fumed silica in the Chinese market is growing steadily. Evonik is a leading global supplier of silica with its products widely used in many high-growth markets.

The joint venture will combine Evonik's product technology with Wynca’s silicone industry chain, producing high-value fumed silica products through the comprehensive use of monomer by-products, methyltrichlorosilane and chlorosilane from Wynca. Meanwhile, the by-product hydrochloric acid will also be fully utilized as a raw material for Wynca Zhenjiang Site. This production loop is expected to contribute to synergies among silicone monomer, chlorosilane and fumed silica production, and ultimately to a circular economy. With this new joint venture, Evonik is well positioned to build a complete global supply chain of fumed silica for customers in China and Asia.

Dr. Claudine Mollenkopf, head of Evonik Silica business line said: “I am excited to witness the cooperation between Evonik and the Chinese partner Wynca. The joint venture will be a strong complement to Evonik’s global presence in fumed silica. We expect win-win results through leveraging the expertise of both parties in silicon materials.”

“The partnership allows both sides to realize integration and complementarity in the supply chain of fumed silica and the recycling of materials. The improved value chain will enable us to deliver premium services and products to customers in China and Asia,” said Jianhua Wu, chairman of the Wynca Group.

Fuliang Xia, president of Evonik Greater China, said in his speech at the opening ceremony: “Since the plant broke ground in December 2019, we’ve completed the construction work on schedule with high quality and safety standards. We live up to our commitment to the customers. Evonik continues to develop its global footprint and focus on providing local customers with tailor-made products and services. We are also looking forward to joining forces with Wynca, our strong partner in China, to drive the growth in the Chinese market.”

 

Company information

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €12.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.91 billion in 2020. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. More than 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.

Asia Pacific is a strong driving force of the global economy and an important source of innovation. Consequently Evonik endeavours to further grow its business in the region. Sales reached €2.84 billion in 2020 and the company employs over 5,000 people at more than 50 production sites in Asia Pacific.

ABOUT SMART MATERIALS

The Smart Materials division includes businesses with innovative materials that enable resource-saving solutions and replace conventional materials. They are the smart answer to the major challenges of our time: environment, energy efficiency, urbanization, mobility and health. The Smart Materials division generated sales of €3.24 billion in 2020 with about 7,900 employees.

About Wynca

Located in Hangzhou, China, the Wynca group was founded in 1965 and listed in the Shanghai Stock Exchange in Sep. 2001. As one of the top 500 Chinese chemicals company and one of the top 20 global enterprises in agricultural chemistry, Wynca’s main businesses are crop protection products and silicone materials. Wynca is selected as the Most Valuable Listed Companies in China for many years continuously.

With the advanced recycling technology for chlorine, phosphorus and silicon, Wynca is a pioneer of circular economy in the industry. The company covers the whole value chain in the silicone industry and focuses on developing downstream segments. The products of Wynca are widely applied in agriculture, biotechnology, aeronautics & astronautics, health care, building materials, electronic & electric industry, as well as new energy industry. Wynca has subsidiaries in North America, South America and Africa and markets its products in many countries in the world.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.