WACKER Starts Up New Silicon-Metal Production Facility in Norway

Munich / Holla, November 15, 2019 – Wacker Chemie AG’s new silicon-metal production plant officially went on stream at the Holla site in Norway today, following two and a half years of construction. The new furnace is one of the largest of its kind in the world and increases the Holla site’s total capacity by more than 40 percent. The silicon produced in Holla now covers about one third of the demand at WACKER’s German sites. A total of around €100 million was invested in the new plant. Its state-of-the-art design makes the facility particularly efficient, requiring little maintenance.

"The silicon-metal capacity we’ve added at this production site is a key strategic step in our sourcing of raw materials," said Rudolf Staudigl, President & CEO of Wacker Chemie AG, as he explained the reasons behind the investment decision. "Expansion of captive production makes us more independent of price fluctuations on raw-material markets and enhances our supply security, both during times of peak demand and whenever problems might arise in relation to mounting trade barriers worldwide," he emphasized.

The Munich chemical company acquired the Holla site, close to the city of Trondheim, in 2010. It has been producing silicon metal there to meet its own needs ever since. Silicon metal is one of WACKER’s most important raw materials. It is needed for producing silicones and hyperpure polysilicon. WACKER employs around 200 people in Holla.

Företaget i överblick: WACKER är en globalt verksam kemikoncern med cirka 14.500 anställda och en årsomsättning på cirka 4,98 miljarder € (2018). WACKER har 24 produktionsanläggningar, 22 technical competence centers och 50 försäljningskontor över hela världen.

WACKER SILICONES Silikonoljor, silikonemulsioner, silikongummi och silikonhartser, silaner, pyrogena kiselsyror, termoplastiska silikonelastomerer

WACKER POLYMERS Polyvinylacetat och vinylacetat ko/ter-polymerer i form av dispersionspulver, dispersioner och fasthartser

WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS Bioteknologiska produkter såsom cyklodextriner, cysteiner och biologiska produkter liksom finkemikalier och PVAc fasta hartser

WACKER POLYSILICON Polysilicium för halvledar- och fotovoltaikindustrin