MUNICH, Germany (April 3) — Wacker Chemie A.G.'s Wacker Silicones unit will expand its capacity for ready-to-use silicone rubber compounds by adding a finishing plant in Plzen, Czechoslovakia.
Operated by the firm's Czech subsidiary, Wacker Chemie s.r.o., the plant is scheduled to start up in the next few weeks and employ about 20, the company said. The facility will help the firm focus on low-volume orders and provide an alternative to the large-scale operations at Wacker's Burghausen and Nunchritz, Germany, sites.
The Czech site will produce an increasing share of the compounds previously made in Burghausen, and Wacker said it plans to raise capacity gradually, ensuring the high quality of the ready-to-use silicone rubber grades.
No investment details were given for the project.