NEWS
Wacker opens silicone specialities site in Czechia
Wacker has officially opened a new silicone production site at Karlovy Vary, Czechia, which will make customised silicones for the automotive, household appliance, medical technology and energy sectors, plus room-temperature curing silicones and solid silicone rubbers. The first production line has been commissioned
This is also part of the reorganisation of Wacker’ s its silicone activities in Europe. The sites at Pilsen, Nünchritz and Burghausen in Germany will also supply silicone specialities, while Burghausen will also make liquid silicone rubber
CSG buys in UK
products. Pilsen will also make thermally conductive silicones and potting compounds for the automotive industry, plus silicone gels for wound care.
Earlier, Wacker sold about 7 % of its Siltronic business as part of a private placement to qualified and institutional investors. It will remain the largest investor, with a 24 % stake. Siltronic is one of the world’ s largest producers of hyperpure silicon wafers, with sites in Asia, Europe, and the US. The proceeds of the sale, about € 188 million gross, will be used to strengthen the company ' s financial position and invest in future growth.
Ireland’ s Chemical Solutions Group( CSG) has acquired UK chemical distributor Resource Chemicals. The company said that this forms part of a“ broader plan to develop a stronger, more capable UK platform through targeted investment and carefully selected acquisitions that enhance supply resilience, technical capability and customer service across essential industrial, water and environmental markets”.
CSG already owned GI Chemical Solutions UK and launched a bulk caustic distribution facility at Immingham in 2025. However, said CEO Kevin Quinn:“ This was always a first step and our long-term ambition is to build a meaningful presence in the UK and to continue to expand across Ireland”.
In January, the company had also announced its intention to acquire Celtic Water Care Solutions, a Cork-based wastewater and effluent treatment chemicals specialist serving private-sector customers across Ireland. These deals have brought its revenues to over € 100 million / year and it aims to reach more
Quinn – CSG will continue to grow in Ireland and UK than € 150 million / year by 2030.
IN BRIEF
Alumina expansion
Sasol International Chemicals will spend € 60 million to debottleneck and expand its alumina asset base in Brunsbüttel, Germany. All required construction approvals have been secured, the general contractor should be chosen in June and beneficial operation is targeted to begin in around 2029. The company supplies spherical alumina supports for advanced catalyst systems and other applications.
Semcorp in battery buy
China’ s Semcorp has agreed to acquire SK Battery Materials Technology( Jiangsu) from SK Innovation of South Korea. The deal is valued at $ 59.1 million, subject to adjustments based on such factors as cash, debt and working capital fluctuations on the date of closure. SK Battery Materials Technology produces lithium-ion battery separators and coated films using wet-process membrane manufacturing on eight production lines.
UPM in IP deal
Finnish giant UPM has reached an agreement with Avantium to acquire the IP related to Ray Technology, a process for the production of bio-based monoethylene and mono-propylene glycol from plant-based sugars. The company said that the strategic value of this deal lies in expanding its IP position in the field, while adding options for future process configurations as it scales its biobased chemicals business.
COIM: In a nutshell
The US arm of Brazilian specialty chemical manufacturer COIM Group has acquired an eight-hectare site at New Boston, Texas, including logistics infrastructure and a product line based on materials made principally from renewable cashew nutshell liquid. The firm said that this would complement its Isoexter line of polyester polyols. It plans to add 45,000 tonnes / years of capacity by mid-2027
MAY / JUN 2026 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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