Wacker Constructs Plant for Specialty Monomers at its Burghausen Site

Wacker Chemie AG is currently building a new plant for specialty monomers with an annual capacity of 3,800 metric tons at its Burghausen site. Wacker has budgeted approximately €8 million for this. The specialty monomers vinyl neodecanoate and vinyl laurate are key raw materials for the manufacture of specific dispersible polymer powders. The plant is scheduled for start-up in the second quarter of 2015. This new development allows Wacker to meet increasing demand for high-quality polymeric binders and strengthens its position as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of dispersible polymer powders.

Specialty monomers are key raw materials for the manufacture of specific dispersible polymer powders. With the construction of the new plant, Wacker is strengthening its position as a market and technology leader in this field.

Wacker says it aims to meet the globally rising demand for its dispersible polymer powders, which is driven by worldwide trends such as urbanization, renovation and energy efficiency. With the construction of the new plant for specialty monomers, the Munich-based chemical Group is creating the necessary capacity to independently secure the supply of key raw materials for the manufacture of the powders at its Burghausen site over the long term. The specialty monomers vinyl neodecanoate and vinyl laurate confer special properties on Wacker’s dispersible polymer powders, such as hydrophobicity.

“The construction of the new plant for specialty monomers is an important strategic step,” said Christoph Riemer, head of dispersible polymer powder business at Wacker Polymers. “It makes us more independent of raw-material price fluctuations and boosts supply security during peak-demand periods. In addition, it strengthens the  position of specialty products in our dispersible polymer powder portfolio.”