On December 8, Elkem Silicones under Bluestar held a commissioning ceremony in Jiangxi, announcing the official opening of its new low-viscosity methyl silicone oil workshop. It also signed a strategic agreement with a well-known textile material supplier in the industry. Located in Elkem Xinghuo Silicones, the new production workshop will adopt the proprietary intellectual property technology to enhance localized supply capacity for the world’s upgrading personal care market as well as the world’s largest textile and leather market in the Asia-Pacific region, so as to assist customers in solving supply chain challenges, meet the difficulties in the sustainable development, expedite product innovation and increase growth rate. Hao Zhigang, Party secretary and chairman of Bluestar and chairman of Elkem, attended the commissioning ceremony.

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The new project to produce Mirasil? low-viscosity silicone oil series represents an essential action for Elkem Silicones to implement China’s strategy and expand the market for personal care, textile and leather. The new plant will further expand the production capacity of low-viscosity methyl silicone oil products such as 1.5CS, 2CS, 5CS and 10CS. It will offer flexible and robust supply services to our long-term international strategic customers such as L'OREAL and Johnson & Johnson, as well as small and medium-sized customers around the world. It will better respond to the current supply chain crisis and timely provide low-viscosity silicone oil products with leading standards and high quality for our Asia-Pacific customers in an effort to sharpen its competitive edge in brand.

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Elkem Silicones’ Mirasil? low viscosity silicone oil series is well compatible with other cosmetic ingredients and contains D4, D5 and D6 at a concentration of less than 0.1%, which meets the regulatory requirements and sustainability trend of ring formula under EU regulations. Highly volatile methyl silicone oil (1.5CS and 2CS) can meet the fast-drying needs of hair care essential oil, eyeliner, shadow, mascara and other products. Regarding volatility, Mirasil? DM1.5 is superior to cyclopentameric dimethylsiloxane. Its low surface tension can reduce the surface tension of other greases and improve the spread and usability of the formula. Therefore, it is widely used in skincare, sunscreen and makeup products.

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Hao Zhigang said: “The commissioning of a new plant for low-viscosity methyl silicone oil in Elkem Xinghuo Silicones marks another milestone for Bluestar Elkem to extend downstream. It is also the project for Bluestar to implement the Chinese market strategy of overseas enterprises, boosting the fast development of Bluestar’s global silicone business. An important bridgehead of Bluestar’s global silicone strategy, Bluestar Elkem Silicones will use this project as an opportunity to provide quality services for customers in R&D and customization of new products and continue to develop green, low-cost and high value-added products that feature mass production, functionality and materials compositing. As always, Bluestar will support Elkem, speed up the promotion of the Xinghuo Silicones Phoenix Project, and continue to strengthen the leadership position of the silicone business, so as to lay a solid foundation for China’s specialization strategy and business growth. "

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“The new silicone oil production plant was originally scheduled to be inaugurated in January 2022.” Senior Vice President Frederic Jacquin of Elkem Silicones said, “With the dedicated support of all involved and the local government, the workshop was put into production one month ahead of schedule, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak, which demonstrates our strong commitment to our customers.”

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“This project will empower Bluestar Elkem Silicones to serve as one of the global pacesetters in the production capacity of low-viscosity methyl silicone oil, a niche product.” said Zhang Lijun, vice president of Global Operations of Elkem Silicones, vice president of Elkem Silicones and Party secretary and general manager of Xinghuo Silicones. “It is of great significance to respond to EU and global SVHC regulations on low ring content and realize the coordination of upstream and downstream supplies in the textile and personal care markets after the Phoenix project is put into operation. The project is a concrete step in the specialization strategy of Elkem Silicones. It marks the starting of a series of downstream strategic projects of Bluestar Elkem Xinghuo. As we advance, there will be a growing number of strategic projects launched by Elkem Xinghuo. We will contribute to the development of Sinochem Holdings’ silicone industry Chain, the implementation of Bluestar Elkem Silicones’ strategy in China, and the formation of Jiangxi’s 100-billion-yuan silicone industrial cluster.”

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Sean Duffy, vice president of Global Fluids Business Unit and vice president of European Sales & Marketing Division of Elkem Silicones, said: “The official launch of the new silicone oil workshop is of strategic importance to Bluestar Elkem Silicones. Our ability to serve the personal care, textile and leather industries will be greatly enhanced after the expansion of production capacity. We will establish a long-term partnership with more customers.”