Evonik Opens Expanded Specialty Silica Production Facilities in Japan
ESSEN, Germany/TOKYO - On October 27, Evonik opened its expanded facilities in Ako, Japan, where the company will produce its SIPERNAT® and CARPLEX® lines of specialty silicas. The investment represents a roughly 50 percent increase in Evonik’s Japanese production capacity for specialty silicas, which the specialty chemicals company manufactures through DSL. Japan Co. Ltd. (DSL). Evonik maintains a 51 percent share in DSL, a joint venture with the Shionogi & Co. Ltd. in Japan.
“The expansion will allow us to continue providing exceptionally high-quality silica that will support the growth of our customers in sophisticated sectors such as the food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries,” explained Andreas Fischer speaking at the opening ceremonies. Fischer heads the Silica business line within the Resource Efficiency segment. Applications for SIPERNAT and CARPLEX include their use in beer filtration, as drug carriers in pharmaceuticals, and as flow aids in powdered foods and thickener for toothpastes. “We also anticipate new ideas for other industrial applications, such as paints and coatings or paper coatings,” Fischer noted.