Page 155 - CW E-Magazine (29-7-2025)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

ENHANCING DOMESTIC SOURCING EXPANSION
SK On inks lithium hydroxide supply deal with EcoPro Wacker commissions new semiconductor-grade

South Korean supplier of batteries polysilicon production line in Germany
for electric vehicles, SK On, will secure
additional lithium hydroxide domestically, Wacker Chemie has commissioned demands of the semicon-
with a new supply contract with South the ‘Etching Line Next’, its new pro- ductor industry, but also to
Korean battery materials fi rm, EcoPro. duction line for the manufacture of achieve an exceptionally
ultra-pure semiconductor-grade poly- high product quality and
The company said the move will silicon, at its Burghausen production a very high level of sta-
help increase purchasing competitive- site in Germany. bility in production pro-
ness through diversifi cation of its sup- cesses. Thanks to our new
ply chain and respond proactively to “Ultra-pure polycrystalline silicon line, we can consistently
the US Infl ation Reduction Act (IRA). is the purest man-made material. produce polysilicon that
Through the contract, SK On will Everything regarding the semiconduc- will enable developers and
receive up to 6,000 tonnes of domesti- tor industry and, consequently, digital manufacturers to come up
cally produced lithium hydroxide from transformation revolves around this with even more powerful
Ecopro by the end of this year. This key raw material,” said Wacker’s CEO more stringent purity requirements logic and memory chips for the most
amount corresponds to approximately Christian Hartel during the opening of the semiconductor industry. In demanding applications, such as arti-
100,000 electric vehicles and will be cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode tiveness for US batteries as it meets the ceremony. “We are the only company the polysilicon business for over 70 fi cial intelligence.”
supplied to SK On’s US factory via the materials. SK On plans to enhance sup- criteria for the US IRA Advanced Manu- in Europe and the largest in the world years, chemical company Wacker is
domestic cathode materials plant. ply chain stability and improve pricing facturing Production Credit (AMPC). who manufactures ultrapure polysili- the world’s leading producer of this With a total expenditure of over
competitiveness through the procure- con for the semiconductor industry. key raw material in the semiconductor €300-mn, the new line is currently the
South Korea is primarily depen- ment of domestic raw materials. Domes- SK On also signed a supply contract The Etching Line Next allows us to industry. German group’s largest investment
dant on China for the supply of lithium tically produced lithium hydroxide for domestic lithium hydroxide with further consolidate our position as a project. Construction work began in
hydroxide, a key raw material for nickel- plays a key role in securing cost competi- Posco Future M in November last year. global quality and technology leader,” Compared to 2024, the company fall 2022. Commissioning took place
he added. aims to double its sales to semicon- in stages from fall 2024. The plant
CHEMICAL REGULATION ductor customers by 2030. “The recently went into operation and is
Polysilicon in the highest grade new production line is a key project already producing its fi rst consignments.
European Commission unveils ‘plan for stronger of purity is indispensable for produc- for our growth,” said Mr. Hartel. By virtue of the new production line,

chemical industry’ ing high-performance chips required, “Today, every second computer chip is Wacker is increasing its production
for example, in artifi cial intelligence made from polysilicon delivered by capacity for products that comply with
applications or supercomputers. Very Wacker. ‘Etching Line Next’ will not the highest semiconductor-grade stand-
The European Commission has pre- ensure fair competition. The plan is accompanied by a simpli- few companies are able to meet the only allow us to meet the growing ards by more than 50 percent.
sented an action plan for the chemicals  Affordable energy and decarboni- fi cation package, the so-called 6th
industry to strengthen its competitive- sation: swiftly implementing the Omnibus, to further streamline and NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH
ness and modernisation. ‘Affordable Energy Action Plan’ to simplify key EU chemicals legislation.
help reduce high energy and feed- This includes simplifying hazardous PCI Pharma Services gets funding boost from Bain
The ‘European Chemicals Industry stock costs. chemical labelling rules, clarifying EU
Action Plan’ addresses key challenges –  Lead markets and innovation: high- cosmetics regulations, and easing regis- Capital, Kohlberg, and Mubadala
high energy costs, unfair global com- lighting fi scal incentives and tax tration for EU fertiliser products. These
petition, and weak demand, while pro- measures to boost demand for clean measures should save at least €363-mn PCI Pharma Services, a US-based investment. Financial terms of the initiatives, including expanding its suite
moting investment in innovation and chemicals. annually for the industry. The European biopharma-focussed contract develop- private transaction were not disclosed. of services and geographic reach. Lever-
sustainability.  Taking action on per- and poly- chemicals industry action plan builds ment and manufacturing organisation aging global growth trends in biologics
fl uoroalkyl substances (PFAS): on the Competitiveness Compass and (CDMO), said it received a strategic Kohlberg and Mubadala, both of and specialised drug therapies, PCI’s
It proposes the following measures: minimising PFAS emissions through Clean Industrial Deal, while the simpli- investment co-led by Bain Capital and which initially invested in PCI in 2020, future investments will include expan-
 Resilience and level playing fi eld: a robust, science-based restriction, fi cation package delivers on European existing lead investor Kohlberg, and and Bain Capital are partnering with sion of existing sterile fi ll-fi nish of in-
establishing a ‘Critical Chemical while ensuring continued use in Commission President Ursula von der supported with signifi cant reinvestment PCI’s management team, led by CEO jectables and high potent and specialised
Alliance’ to address the risks of critical applications under strict Leyen’s commitment to simplify EU by Mubadala Investment Company. Salim Haffar, to accelerate the company’s manufacturing capacity. The investment
capacity closures in the sector and conditions where no alternatives are laws and cut administrative burdens, Partners Group will also continue to growth trajectory. PCI will primarily will also enable the company’s conti-
applying trade defence measures to available.. helping businesses innovate and grow. support the company with a minority focus on organic and inorganic growth nued investment in the US.

154 Chemical Weekly July 29, 2025 Chemical Weekly July 29, 2025 155

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