(June 5, 2026) According to our report, in June 2026, several domestic silica producers are accelerating the implementation of intelligent production line transformation projects. Relying on automated batching, online particle size monitoring, and intelligent wastewater reuse systems, they effectively reduce production costs and stabilize product quality. Intelligent manufacturing is becoming a key lever for cost reduction and breakthroughs in the silica industry.
Previously, traditional silica production lines relied heavily on manual feeding and intermittent control, resulting in large fluctuations in raw material ratios, inconsistent finished product specific surface area and oil absorption indicators, a high rate of defects, and persistently high losses of water glass and sulfuric acid raw materials. Since the beginning of this year, leading manufacturers have successively launched full-process DCS intelligent control systems, automating control of the entire process from raw material conveying, synthesis reactions, washing and filtration to drying and crushing. The system fine-tunes reaction temperature, pH value, and feeding rate in real time, significantly improving the stability of various product physical and chemical indicators.
According to on-site measurements by the company, the production line that completed intelligent upgrades reduces comprehensive raw material loss by 8%~12%, the product defect rate drops from the original 4% to below 1%, and labor and energy costs per ton of product have simultaneously decreased. After the intelligent water recycling device was launched, the recycling rate of production wastewater exceeded 90%, meeting environmental pollution control requirements while significantly reducing fresh water procurement costs.
Small and medium-sized manufacturers, constrained by financial constraints, find it difficult to complete full-line intelligent upgrades in one go. They are adopting phased upgrades, prioritizing the upgrading of online inspection equipment in key production sections, relying on refined control to improve product quality and break free from price competition. Downstream buyers are increasingly strict, and at the same quotation, they prefer to buy silica products from intelligent manufacturing lines, forcing small and medium-sized factories to accelerate equipment upgrades.
According to market feedback, modified silica produced by intelligent factories has stronger bargaining power in rubber, silicone, and coating fields, with order renewal rates significantly higher than those of ordinary sources. Foreign trade buyers also use the level of production intelligence as one of the supplier entry assessment criteria, and the advantage of intelligent enterprises in obtaining overseas orders continues to expand.
Industry research data shows that in the first half of 2026, domestic planned and under-construction silica intelligent retrofit capacity will exceed 700,000 tons, with the proportion of intelligent capacity for the year expected to exceed 42%. Industry insiders analyze that under the triple environment of high raw material prices, stricter environmental protection, and downstream quality upgrades, intelligent manufacturing is the only way for white carbon black companies to improve profitability and consolidate market share. In the future, industry capacity competition will gradually shift into a contest of intelligent production capabilities.
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