EANS-News: Wacker Chemie AG
POLYSILICON FACILITIES START UP AT WACKER´S
BURGHAUSEN SITE
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Plant Openings
Burghausen, April 21, 2010 (euro adhoc) - Additional polycrystalline-silicon production facilities officially came on stream at Wacker Chemie AG´s Burghausen site today. All "Expansion Stage 8" deposition reactors are already up and running. The plant´s full nominal capacity of 10,000 metric tons a year will be reached before the end of Q2 2010. WACKER is thus half a year ahead of its original, very ambitious schedule. Overall, WACKER is investing around EUR500 million in this expansion stage, thereby creating some 200 new jobs. Expanding output enables WACKER to meet rising global demand for hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. The new facilities can manufacture material for both the solar sector and the semiconductor market.
During the opening ceremony, CEO Rudolf Staudigl underlined the important role that the polysilicon business plays for WACKER. He explained that polysilicon has clearly become a mainstay of the entire Group over the recent years. "WACKER POLYSILICON maintains its position as a key driving force for our profitable growth," emphasized Staudigl. Expansion Stage 8 has increased WACKER´s annual polysilicon production capacity to over 25,000 tons. Thanks to this production capacity expansion, the Munich-based Chemical Group has solidified its position as the world´s second-largest manufacturer of hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. In addition, a further plant with a 10,000-ton annual polysilicon capacity is currently being built at WACKER´s Nünchritz site. In total, WACKER is investing some EUR2 billion in its capacity expansion program, which began back in 2000.
The current Expansion Stage 8 is fully linked with the Burghausen site´s integrated silicon production system. In this highly integrated material loop, by-products are recycled as feedstock for use elsewhere in the supply chain. This cuts costs, while conserving resources and strengthening the site´s competitiveness. In total, polysilicon expansion will create some 650 new jobs at the Burghausen plant by late 2010.
In his speech, Dr. Staudigl thanked everyone involved in the project - both in-house staff and partner firms - for their tremendous efforts. This, he said, was one of the main reasons WACKER can supply its customers with Expansion Stage 8 polysilicon several months earlier than planned. "Polysilicon made by WACKER is so successful thanks to our cost and quality leadership, which gives us a key competitive edge on international markets," he stressed.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of WACKER´s Executive Board. Although we assume the expectations in these forward-looking statements are realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual figures to differ considerably from the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among other things, changes in the economic and business environment, variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services, and changes in corporate strategy. WACKER does not plan to update the forward-looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do so.
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Further inquiry note:
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 (0)89 6279 1830
E-Mail: christof.bachmair@wacker.com
Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: Midcap Market Index, MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
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Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Original content of: Wacker Chemie AG, transmitted by news aktuell