AkzoNobel's Eka Chemicals Opens New Colloidal Silica Plant in Guangzhou   

AkzoNobel's Pulp and Paper Chemicals business, Eka Chemicals, celebrated the start-up of its new production plant for colloidal silica at the company's Guangzhou site in Guangdong province on April 15.
   The new plant will help meet rapidly growing local demand for Eka Chemicals' retention and dewatering system, Compozil. The system is already being used to improve the operational efficiency of some of the world's largest paper machines - many of which are located in southern China.
   This latest investment will help to meet growing demand and will contribute to AkzoNobel's ambition to double its revenue in China to US$3 billion by 2015, AkzoNobel said.
   China is the fastest growing paper production country in the world and Eka Chemicals' Compozil colloidal silica nano-particle systems provide customers with a range of sustainability benefits, decreasing consumption of wood fiber and energy.
   The plant will incorporate the latest process control system and leading edge technology designed to meet future market demand for the next generation of colloidal silica products. The Guangzhou site is strategically located close to several future large paper mill projects in southern China.
   The latest forecasts for paper and carton board indicate that the Chinese market is continuing to expand by almost 10% annually. Virtually all net growth over the next five years will be generated in the growth markets and China leads the way, accounting for 45 million tons of projected growth up until 2015.
   Eka Chemicals, with 2 550 employees in 28 countries in 2010, is a leading supplier of bleaching chemicals, paper chemicals and systems to the pulp and paper industry throughout the world, and supplies certain special chemicals to the pharmaceuticals industry, water treatment, the electronics industry etc. Turnover 2010 amounted to Euro 1044 million.