Wacker to Expand Silicone Production With New Czech Republic Manufacturing Site

As the megatrends of electromobility and renewable energies continue to rise, silicone elastomers are increasingly in high demand for their unique properties. WACKER Chemie AG reports that it is meeting the demand with an expansion in the Czech Republic.

WACKER plans to expand its silicone specialties business and is reorganizing its production operations in Europe. A new 23,000-square-meter production site for silicones is planned to be constructed in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The main drivers of this expansion are the megatrends of electromobility and renewable energies which require specialty silicones. Production is expected to start at the end of 2025. 

“Karlovy Vary will be an important pillar for our silicone activities in Europe, especially when it comes to the production of customized silicone compounds. With this project, we will be creating important conditions for further optimizing our production processes and making us even more flexible within our integrated production system comprising four locations. Our customers stand to benefit from specific product solutions – reliable, highly efficient, and top quality,” said WACKER Executive Board member Christian Kirsten.

The main drivers for the silicone business are electromobility, renewable energies, and the expansion of electricity grids. “Our grades of silicone rubber are in demand in all key growth markets,” added Kirsten. “Customized silicone elastomers are especially needed where conventional materials cannot or can no longer meet the high and ever-increasing requirements. In order to be able to meet the growing demand for such solutions in the long term, we need to lay the groundwork for it now.”

Source: WACKER Chemie AG