WACKER, the Munich-based chemical company, has successfully completed the expansion and relocation of its technical center and offices in Dubai. The new facility serves as a development and testing lab for construction-chemistry applications and helps tap the region's fast-growing construction industry. WACKER thereby supports the exchange of expertise with regional customers and partners, and promotes internationally recognized construction-industry quality standards.
Practical test at the Technical Center Dubai: A lab technician examines the shear strength in the end product (using a Zwick testing machine), which is significantly increased by adding VINNAPAS® polymer powders and dispersions. The state-of-the-art equipped laboratories allow for various test procedures such as transverse deformation, tensile or compressive strength (photo: Wacker
Chemie AG).
WACKER's technical center and new offices are located at the "Dubai Silicon Oasis" (DSO) technology park. Spanning nearly 13,000 m2, the offices house WACKER's subsidiary for the Middle East sales region. In addition, the Dubai technical center, which supports construction-sector customers, is has been extended and furnished with state-of-the-art equipment.
"The new site at the DSO technology park is a key milestone in consolidating our leading Middle East market position in construction and other promising growth segments," says Dr. Stefano Iannacone, managing director of Wacker Chemicals Middle East.
The expanded technical center supports WACKER POLYMERS and WACKER SILICONES customers in the development of new products and applications for the region's markets. In doing so, consideration is given to local raw materials and environmental conditions. The ultramodern labs are accredited to ISO 17025 and facilitate the testing of construction materials in accordance with international standards such as ISO, EN and DIN. The focus is on formulations of VINNAPAS dispersions and polymer powders to be used in polymer-modified dry-mix mortars for the regional construction industry. Other focal points include silicone products and applications for the construction sector, as well as for textiles.
Bundling sales and technical centers under one roof enables closer collaboration of the sales and development teams, leading to optimal customer support. Next year, a training center is planned for holding construction-application customer seminars. The construction sector is currently one of WACKER's core businesses in the Gulf region.
WACKER has been operating its own sales office in Dubai (Wacker Chemicals Middle East) since the year 2000. Plus, a technical center has been established for regional customers and partners in 2002. From Dubai, the subsidiary serves customers from the United Arab Emirates, the Near and Middle East as well as Africa.