en.Wedoany.com Reported - Wacker Chemie (Wacker) has officially commenced production at its new silicone base in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. After two years of construction, the first production line at the site is now operational, producing customized silicone products for the automotive, home appliance, medical technology, and energy sectors. This new base is a key step in Wacker's restructuring of its European silicone business, and will collaborate with sites in Plzeň, Nünchritz, and Burghausen to supply specialty silicone customers. Under the new layout, liquid silicone rubber production will be concentrated in Burghausen; thermally conductive silicones, potting compounds for automotive applications, and silicone gels for wound care will be produced in Plzeň; while Karlovy Vary will be responsible for manufacturing room-temperature-curing silicones and solid silicone rubber.
Christian Kirsten, member of Wacker's Board of Directors, stated at the inauguration ceremony that the Karlovy Vary base makes Wacker's integrated production network in Europe more flexible and efficient. The site employs state-of-the-art production technology aimed at enhancing efficiency and quality to better serve customers. Kirsten believes that Karlovy Vary marks a new chapter for Wacker's silicone business.
The main drivers supporting Wacker's silicone business growth come from trends such as electric vehicles, medical technology, renewable energy, grid expansion, and digitalization. Customized silicone elastomers are widely used in these fields, for example, in thermal management for electric vehicles, wound care, and power engineering.
The Karlovy Vary base covers an area of 25,000 square meters and is located in the Karlovy Vary Business Park. The land and buildings are owned by the investment group Accolade, with Wacker operating under a lease; the building shell was constructed by real estate developer Panattoni; and the production facilities and laboratory equipment were designed by Wacker.
Jiří Zita, Commercial Director of Panattoni Czech Republic, stated that the project's goal was to deliver industrial facilities of the highest global quality and to drive local economic development. Milan Kratina, CEO of Accolade, also expressed appreciation, noting that Wacker's operation is the reward of years of preparation and represents a significant strengthening of industrial development in the Karlovy Vary region.
Wacker has been operating in the Czech Republic since the 1990s, and in 2008 began operating a silicone production base in Plzeň, producing thermally conductive silicones and silicone gels. In 2023, a Center of Excellence was established in Plzeň. Starting in 2026, Wacker's business activities in the Karlovy Vary region will further expand. By 2028, the base will create up to 200 jobs, to be filled by qualified local talent.
Petr Kubis, Governor of the Karlovy Vary Region, stated that cooperation with Wacker creates new opportunities in innovation, education, and sustainable industry, enhancing the region's attractiveness. Mayor Andrea Pfeffer Ferklová also believes that Wacker's addition is a significant expansion of employment opportunities and the business environment in Karlovy Vary.
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