Wacker Química do Brasil recently named Adriano Magalhães as executive director, taking the place of Danilo Timich, with responsibility for South America. Asked about his expectations for growth, Magalhães told CW that, “Recently, the economic environment in South America became rather difficult, with lower growth rates in many industry sectors. Still, Wacker was able to maintain a strong position in selected markets, and we continue to grow albeit at a single-digit rate in the region.”

Based in Sao Paulo, the company has developed its Wacker Academy in Brazil as its technology and product center, with successive investments to enable the facility to serve neighboring country markets. Magalhães commented, “Over the last years, we have been investing in our local site and technical center at Jandira in Brazil, near São Paulo, to continually improve our yields and enhance the quality of our products. Plus, we support our customers and partners in developing new products and applications adapted to the regional market requirements and climatic and environmental conditions. Our success in this approach proves us right, as we were able to enter new market segments and win new customers in spite of the challenging environment.

Among the products manufactured in Jandira are silicone fluids, emulsions, defoamers, resins and rubbers as well as several personal care products. Key markets for these products are the construction, automotive, coating, pulp and paper industry, the chemical and the process industry, cosmetics and health care as well as the power and the electro/electronic industry.

Future product growth will be more diverse, Magalhães suggested: “Altogether, South America remains a promising market for Wacker. Demand is increasing for our high-quality products, such as VAE (vinyl acetate ethylene) dispersions, dispersible powders and silicones, and we are further encouraged by the regions’ potential in the long run. That’s why we continue to invest in our local facilities to be prepared for future growth.”

At the August Concrete Show South America in Sao Paulo, the company touted its new Vinnapas 5518 H, a dispersable hydrophobic powder used in fine skim coat plaster.

In October, at the annual Abrafati show, Wacker introduced its Silres WH, a silicone resin emulsion for wood protection coatings that possesses hydrophobic properties. The emulsion, when added to paint or stains, protects wood outdoors against water and dampness. Wacker also showed its new Geniosil XT line, based on silane-modified polyether with a high density of crosslinkable silyl groups. This line and represents the first technically equivalent alternative to conventional polyurethane-based systems, the company claims. The new polymers are ideal for applications that repeatedly subject them to dynamic forces, which up to now required isocyanate-curing polymer systems, the company adds.

Other new products being marketed are in the Vinnapas line, including 5518 H a dispersible polymer powder that exhibits great workability, good adhesion to all substrates, greater flexibility and flexural strength. Another product in the line is VINNAPAS Dispersions for Intumescent Coatings, which provide special fire protection coatings which encase steel girders and swell (intumesce) in the event of a fire, thus delaying the melting or warping of the building’s supporting structure.