EANS-News: WACKER Expands Polysilicon Production in Burghausen and Nünchritz
- Debottlenecking increases capacity by a total of 10,000 metric tons per year - Investment volume totals some 130 million - Start of production expected in 2012 - CEO Rudolf Staudigl: Thanks to our extensive technological expertise and our experienced engineering and production teams, we can implement this expansion quickly and cost-effectively.
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Company Information
Subtitle: - Debottlenecking increases capacity by a total of 10,000 metric tons per year - Investment volume totals some 130 million - Start of production expected in 2012 - CEO Rudolf Staudigl: Thanks to our extensive technological expertise and our experienced engineering and production teams, we can implement this expansion quickly and cost-effectively.
Munich (euro adhoc) - March 14, 2011 - Wacker Chemie AG has decided to expand its production facilities for hyperpure polysilicon at its Burghausen and Nünchritz sites in Germany. The Munich-based chemical company announced the decision today. By taking debottlenecking measures within its integrated production network, it will increase annual quantities at each site by 5,000 metric tons. Thus, Burghausen´s annual capacity will rise from some 32,000 metric tons now to about 37,000. At Nünchritz, the polysilicon facility currently under construction and due to come on stream by year-end was to have a production capacity of around 10,000 metric tons per year. Now, its capacity is increasing to 15,000 metric tons annually. First volumes from these expansion measures are expected to be available in 2012. The debottlenecking involves investments totaling some EUR130 million.
As already reported, WACKER is also building a new polysilicon-production facility in Cleveland, Tennessee (USA) with an annual capacity of 15,000 metric tons. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Thus, WACKER´s total hyperpure-polysilicon production capacity will increase to 67,000 metric tons by 2014.
The expansion will enable WACKER to meet the continued rising global demand it expects for hyperpure polycrystalline silicon. WACKER has concluded a series of high-volume, multiyear contracts that also involve advance payments by customers for future deliveries. Thus, polysilicon from ongoing production in Burghausen and originally planned capacities in Nünchritz and Tennessee are essentially under contract until 2014.
"This expansion is necessary for us to continue meeting our customers´ demand for top-quality and highly efficient solar-grade polysilicon in the years to come," explains Wacker Chemie AG CEO Rudolf Staudigl. "Thanks to our extensive technological expertise and our experienced engineering and production teams, we can implement this expansion quickly and cost-effectively."
WACKER manufactured over 30,000 metric tons of hyperpure polysilicon in 2010, making it one of the top producers worldwide. With the two polysilicon facilities currently under construction in Nünchritz and Cleveland, WACKER is strengthening its position as a leading supplier of high-quality semiconductor- and solar-grade silicon.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimates of WACKER´s Executive Board. Although we assume the expectations in these forwardlooking 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 forwardlooking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do so.
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Contact:
Christof Bachmair
Media Relations & Information
Tel.: +49 (0)89 6279 1830
E-Mail: christof.bachmair@wacker.com
Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
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Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard