AkzoNobel’s Pulp and Performance Chemicals business has announced its intention to increase capacity at several of its colloidal silica production sites.
The planned expansions – at facilities in Asia and Europe – should be completed in the latter half of 2014. Colloidal silica is used in a wide variety of everyday products, with the company’s main markets including electronics, paper, construction and coatings.
“As a leading world producer of colloidal silica, we have identified major growth potential for our colloidal silica products, particularly in Asia,” explained Lars Andersson, Director of Silica and Paper Chemicals. “We have therefore taken a strategic decision to increase capacity at our production plants in Taiwan, China and Germany.”
Added Ann Lindgärde, Director of Sales and Marketing for Colloidal Silica: “We are continuously strengthening our innovative product portfolio and these investments mean we will be well positioned to support the growth of our customers in two of our key markets.”
The planned investments are in line with AkzoNobel’s strategy of focusing on global leadership positions in pulp bleaching, paper chemicals, colloidal silica and expandable microspheres.
Silicon dioxide (SIO2) is abundant in nature. When treated chemically it can be used in the production of a number of everyday products, including paper, metals, electronics, paints, pharmaceuticals, food products, textiles, concrete and batteries.
One-quarter of the Earth’s surface is silicon dioxide. This is an enormous resource, which we at AkzoNobel are using to create products with unique and very specific characteristics that are of great value to a number of industries.
