Polysilicon Facilities start up at Wacker´s Burghausen Site

23-Apr-2010 - Germany

Additional polycrystalline-silicon production facilities officially came on stream at Wacker Chemie AG’s Burghausen site. 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 schedule. Overall, Wacker is investing around €500 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. 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 €2 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.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/116672/polysilicon-facilities-start-up-at-wackers-burghausen-site.html