SBU Fluor: Foundation stone laid in Onsan
On the way to becoming number 1 in fluorine chemistry
At the beginning of May, SBU Fluor laid the foundation stone for a new plant in Onsan, South Korea. The soil turning was accompanied by fireworks, music and a traditional Gosa ceremony.
The first soil is turned for the new SBU Fluor plant.
Geographical expansion to become the world's number 1
Commissioning of the new plant is planned for 2007. Using proven technologies, 120 employees will then manufacture the inorganic fluorine products sulfur hexafluoride, iodine pentafluoride, elemental fluorine and NOCOLOK® in Onsan. Solvay has invested 50 million euros to develop the new and rapidly growing markets in Asia. This is part of the company's growth strategy of expanding in existing markets as well as in geographical terms.
The plant is located near important customers in the automotive and electronics industries. 'It is a significant milestone on the way to becoming the world's number 1 supplier of fluorine specialties,' says Dr. Bernd Wilkes, General Manager of SBU Fluor. 'Our commitment in Asia is clearly aligned to new markets. The activities will have no effect on existing production facilities.' The current production capacities for elemental fluorine, sulfur hexafluoride, iodine pentafluoride and NOCOLOK® in Solvay Fluor's plants are running at high utilization rates and cannot be readily expanded.
Speech by Site Manager S.B. Choi at the foundation stone laying ceremony in Onsan.
Inorganic fluorine products and applications
Elemental Fluorine (F2) is sold for direct fluorination applications, but is mainly used as a starting material – for example, to produce sulfur hexafluoride and iodine pentafluoride. New market opportunities for fluorine are arising in the electronic industries – for instance in cleaning processes for the manufacturing of microchips. Advantages of F2 compared to the common nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) are a higher cleaning efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a non-toxic inert insulating and cooling gas with high dielectric strength and thermal stability. SF6 is used as an insulating and arc-extinguishing medium in high and medium voltage engineering applications.
Iodine pentafluoride (IF5) is mainly used to manufacture perfluoralkyliodites which are used in the production of water repellent and waterproof textiles or surfaces.
NOCOLOK® is a non-corrosive flux for aluminium brazing. The NOCOLOK® brazing process is the technology of choice for the production of aluminium heat exchangers in the automotive industry.
More information:
www.solvay-fluor.com
Gosa ceremony for goodwill from the gods
In Korea the Gosa ceremony is performed for new businesses to ensure safety and the goodwill of the god from the heavens and the god of the earth. This was also the case at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the new Solvay plant. A table was laid out with various foods, such as fruit, dried fish, roast beef, vegetables, fish and rice. These were accompanied by pure water to symbolize the origins of life, a thread as a symbol of eternity and rice wine for the gods. A pig's head represents fertility and good fortune.
The traditional Gosa ceremony is performed to ensure the gods' goodwill.
The ceremony begins with an announcement by the ceremony master. After washing his hands and lighting candles, he lights joss sticks to summon the god from the heavens. By pouring a drink three times, he summons the god of the earth. Then, everyone who is present bows twice before the gods. Now the gods are served a drink three times and a prayer is said: '...the Onsan project team and partner companies hope to complete the plant with no misfortunes; protect and help us. We most devotedly offer up food and wine. Enjoy them and ensure the safety and development of the company.'
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