W.R. Grace Unveils New Colloidal Silica Plant

Specialty chemicals firm W.R. Grace & Co announced the opening of a new 8,200-sq-m colloidal silica plant at its existing manufacturing and R&D site in Worms, Germany. The move doubles the company’s global capacity for LUDOX brand colloidal silica and expands its ability to supply the product to customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. 

“This will enable Grace to continue to meet global demand in a thriving specialty silica segment, where there is attractive innovation that enables future growth for key industries,” the company said in a release. 

LUDOX colloidal silica has narrow particle size distribution and can be customized for a variety of uses, according to Grace. The product’s applications include catalysts, investment casting binders, coatings, and refractory additives. 

“Our new advanced plant enables us to better support our customers and partners and allows us to remain aligned with customer demand,” said Sandra Wisniewski, president of Grace Materials Technologies, in a statement. “This expansion, combined with our existing manufacturing facilities, talented and experienced employees, and best-in-class technologies, are evidence of exciting growth at Grace and our dedication to our LUDOX colloidal silica customers worldwide.”

25 new manufacturing jobs will be added to the Worms site as a result of the expansion. Grace also operates a colloidal silica plant in East Chicago, IN that serves the Americas region.