Chinese manufacturer advances project to build silicone products plant

Wuxi, China – Jiangsu Keqiang New Materials has progressed a Yuan178.6 million (€24 million) project to establish a production facility for speciality high-performance silicone rubber-coated fabrics and sheets in Jiangsu province.

The Chinese rubber-products manufacturer has secured a 24,355-square-metre industrial site in Jiangyin for the development, according to an 18 Sept Beijing Stock Exchange filing.

The project will involve total investment of Yuan178.6 million, including Yuan120 million from previously raised funds.

At full operation, the first phase will produce 300,000 sq.m. a year of specialty high-performance silicone rubber products, according to Keqiang.

This will comprise 100,000sq.m./year of ultra-high-temperature flame-retardant silicone-rubber coated fabric, 50,000sq.m./year of lead-free flexible radiation-protection material and 150,000sq.m./year of functional silicone products.

The products will target applications including aerospace, medical equipment, nuclear facilities and other high-end manufacturing sectors.

Keqiang said demand was growing for “high-precision, high-stability and high-safety” polymer and rubber functional materials in areas including consumer electronics, aerospace and medical devices.

The 24-month project will include production and auxiliary workshops and 96 units or sets of equipment.

Keqiang is funding part of the development by redirecting proceeds originally allocated to a high-performance flame-retardant tarpaulin and sealing-materials project.

The company halted further investment in that project amid what it described as severe overcapacity and intensified competition in the photovoltaic sector