15-08-2013

Evonik to significantly expand its oil additives capacity in Singapore

Evonik Industries has announced a significant expansion of its Jurong Island, Singapore oil additives plant, to be completed in early 2015. With ongoing improvement and debottlenecking projects scheduled to be finalized during the first half of 2014, these optimizations and the planned expansion will nearly double the capacity of the oil additives plant in Singapore. Evonik’s initiative is a response to the above-average growth in the oil additives market due to expanding mobility and increasing demand for high-performance lubricants with higher additive content in Asia.

"As a market and technology leader in high-performance additives, we’re strengthening our position in Asia. Our expansion strategy supports the growth of our customers directly from a modern, efficient local production center, with logistics that make a contribution to resource efficiency at the same time," says Dr. Thomas Haeberle, Executive Board member of Evonik with responsibility for the company’s Resource Efficiency segment. From 2015, the plant in Singapore will be the largest of six oil additive production sites owned by Evonik.

Evonik markets its oil additives under the brand name VISCOPLEX®. Designed to improve productivity and fuel efficiency, they are a key component of formulated finished lubricants used in the automotive industry and other industrial applications. The specialty chemicals company supplies its customers with customized additive solutions designed to achieve higher levels of resource efficiency.
 
Evonik began operating the oil additives plant in Singapore in 2008. "Then and now, our goal is to supply our customers with innovative products and technical expertise. Evonik stands for quick and on-time delivery, high quality, and flexibility," affirms Dr. Ulrich Küsthardt, the head of the Coatings & Additives Business Unit. Factors that weighed heavily in favor of expansion at the existing Singapore location included excellent supply chain logistics, existing infrastructure, strong IP protection, and a skilled workforce, as well as local support from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

The Coatings & Additives Business Unit, of which the Oil Additives Business Line is part, is a leader in the development of technologies for the production of lubricant additives, including the brands DYNAVIS® and VISCOBASE®, in addition to VISCOPLEX®. These high-performance additives increase both productivity and fuel efficiency. The contribution they make to resource efficiency is a primary focus in many of the application areas served by the business line. Regional technology centers, modern global manufacturing centers, and a secure and reliable supply chain worldwide enable Evonik’s continuous development of customized solutions for customers anywhere in the world.