Dow Epoxy Systems' Local Manufacture of Formulations for Wind Energy in China and South Korea
Year:2009 ISSUE:9
COLUMN:M & A, BUSINESS & TRADE
Click:209    DateTime:Mar.26,2009
Dow Epoxy Systems' Local Manufacture of Formulations for Wind Energy in China and South Korea     

Dow Epoxy Systems (DES) announced March 13th that it has established an on-the-ground manufacturing facility in China by utilizing a state-of-the-art site from another Dow business. In addition, DES will also start producing blends in a Dow Epoxy site in South Korea, putting DES in a uniquely competitive position to supply and support its customers in China and the Asia Pacific region.
   The manufacturing site in Wuhan, Hubei province is well equipped to provide customers with differentiated, solution-based products with multiple reactors which can handle also very high viscosity formulations. The asset will be used for the multiple market segments that DES is targeting, in particular composites, wind and infrastructure.
   "Coupled with our world class R & D capability in Shanghai, our facilities in Wuhan and Gumi will differentiate - and accelerate - our already successful growth in China and the Asia Pacific region, particularly in two key target markets - wind energy and infrastructure. What sets us apart from competition is our on-the-ground capability to provide customized solutions to our customers," said Pepe Carnevale, global business director, Dow Epoxy Systems.
   According to the Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA), the Chinese wind energy market doubled in size in 2008 compared to 2007, reaching over 12 GW of total installed capacity. In 2009, new installed capacity is expected to nearly double again. At this rate, China would be well on its way to overtake Germany and Spain to become world number two in terms of total wind power capacity in 2010.   
   Meanwhile, investments in rural infrastructure and infrastructural projects such as highways and railways have been an integral part of the Chinese government's RMB4 trillion (or US$586 billion) stimulus package, announced in November 2008, in a bid to revitalize the country's slowing economy amid the global financial downturn.
   With plants strategically located in Brazil, US, Europe, China and South Korea, DES is now  capable of  effectively supplying  customers anywhere in the world with the highest level of service.