Dow Corning

The Dow Corning Inc. is a multinational chemical company with headquarters Midland ( Michigan), United States. The company is a specialist in silicon and silicone chemistry. Dow Corning is equally owned by Dow Chemical and Corning, Inc. (formerly Corning Glass Works ).

History

During the war, with technological advances in aviation the condensing and freezing at high altitudes humidity of engines and instruments to a large obstacle and led to numerous accidents. Around 1942 Shailer Bass developed the first product of Dow Corning, a simple silicone grease (Dow Corning # 4 Compound) with which the problem was solved. Dow Corning was formally established in the following year in 1943 to specifically investigate the application potential of silicones and use. In 1945, the plant in Midland, Michigan is opened. In the following years the product range another plant for final products in Greensboro (North Carolina) is expanded and opened. 1959 may be the first time high-purity polysilicon produced - Hemlock (Michigan) is the site of the first polysilicon plant. 1964 Alpha Molykote is bought, a company that had specialized in lubricants. The properties of Molykote and silicones can be combined to produce improved lubricants. In 1966 Dow Corning joint venture with Toray Silicone and Shin -Etsu Handotai to extend its activities to Japan. In the following years, Dow Corning developed numerous medical applications, but also materials that are used in space travel and the automotive industry. 1995 needs to Dow Corning 's Chapter 11 sign - thousands of lawsuits and claims for damages related to breast implants threaten the viability of the company. After establishment of a guarantee fund of several billion U.S. dollars and the reinsurance by the mothers Dow Chemicals and Corning Dow Corning 2004 is released from Chapter 11. A direct relationship between Brustkrebes or autoimmune diseases and silicone implants can not be detected. Xiameter, a new brand for mature products, which are distributed through an online platform, was founded in 2002. Dow Corning thus offers innovations under its own company name. Products that mature over time and are bought rather due to low production costs, are distributed over Xiameter. Dow Corning expands in the coming years, especially China and India.

Hemlock Semiconductor

Hemlock Semiconductor is a large majority ( 63.25 %) of Dow Corning held tenens companies. Co-owners are Shin-Etsu with 24.5% and Mitsubishi Materials with 12.25%. Hemlock was founded in 1960 and began in 1961 the production of polycrystalline silicon in Midland. Hemlock supplies the semiconductor industry and the solar industry, and is the largest producer of polysilicon in front of Wacker Chemie AG.

Dow Corning in Germany

In Germany, the company has currently (2010) about 350 employees, the headquarters of the Dow Corning GmbH in Wiesbaden in Hesse.

Products

Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 different products worldwide. The range includes silicone- based sealants, adhesives, elastomers, lubricants, insulation materials, impregnating agents, pharmaceutical and particularly dermatological applications, liquid silicone rubber and silicone waxes. The products are sold under the brand name of Dow Corning and Xiameter - sold - an online platform for standard products.