Siltech boost for silicone surfactants

By David Reed, UT EditorToronto, Canada-Siltech Corp, a leading manufacturer of silicone surfactants and specialty silicones, has just completed a "significant" expansion at its Toronto facility. The firm said it uses a novel manufacturing process that does not require a platinum catalyst, thereby eliminating the post-treatment process, while yielding more consistent and higher quality products.The move gives the firm capacity for more than 10 000 tonnes per year of silicone compounds and speciality surfactants for the personal care, polyurethane foam, inks and coatings, textile and other industrial markets, according to a 9 March note from sales manager Henry Perek.This new capacity allows Siltech "to continue to serve its growing worldwide market," Perek said, adding that it coincides with the appointment of several distributors for the European and Asian markets.No financial details were released, but the expansion included the installation of several 6000-gallon (22 700-litres) high-temperature reactors, a 4000 gal (15 150-l) glass-lined reactor, and numerous smaller reactors, Perek said. A thin-film evaporator and expanded bulk storage facilities were also part of the move, and the new facility also houses the manufacturing and R&D functions, he added. Siltech has offices in Toronto and Atlanta, Georgia, and has recently secured the services of "renowned European PU expert, Roy Brooks of PUR Products Ltd," to market its silicone surfactants to the PU industry in Europe, as well as appointing several distributors for the Asian market."