Wacker plans new production site in the Czech Republic
Wacker intends to further expand its silicone specialties business and is reorganizing production in Europe for this purpose. A new production site for silicones is to be built in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. The main drivers for the expansion are megatrends such as electromobility and renewable energies, which require silicones. Production is expected to start at the end of 2025. As a first step, the Group would create up to 200 jobs. The investment volume is in the low three-digit million euro range.
The new production site in Karlovy Vary will complement the existing German Wacker Verbund sites in Burghausen and Nünchritz as well as the site in Pilsen. The main drivers for the silicone business are megatrends such as electromobility, renewable energies and the expansion of power grids. The new site in Karlovy Vary will focus on the production of room-temperature-curing specialty silicones. Production is scheduled to start at the end of 2025.
High-temperature-curing silicone compounds will also be produced there at a later date. The Group plans to invest a total sum in the low three-digit million euro range for this and create around 200 jobs by 2028. Further personnel requirements in subsequent years cannot be ruled out. When fully operational, Karlsbad will be able to deliver over 20,000 tons of custom silicones per year.
Polymers, fillers and additives
The raw materials required for production – polymers, fillers and additives – will be supplied from Burghausen and blended into ready-to-use silicones, known as compounds, in Karlsbad. “By bundling our compound production capacities in Karlsbad, we can make even better use of our fully continuous plants in Burghausen, further increase our efficiency and accelerate the planned automation of our processes,” emphasizes Thomas Koini, head of the Wacker Silicones division.
The chemical company is cooperating with US real estate developer Panattoni on the construction of the new site in Karlsbad. Work to develop the site will begin shortly. Construction work on the building is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2024, subject to approval by the authorities. The owner of the 23,000 square meter site and the future production building on the outskirts of Karlovy Vary is the Czech real estate group Accolade.
