Wacker Chemie AG is investing €85 million to expand the capacity of its silicon-metal site in Holla, Norway. The additional plant, expected to be completed in the first half of 2019, will help maintain the company's silicon-metal requirements and reduce its dependence on price fluctuations in raw-material markets. Silicon metal is a crucial raw material for Wacker, used in the production of silicones and hyperpure polysilicon. The company's CEO, Rudolf Staudigl, stated that the expansion is a key strategic step in sourcing raw materials.
Munich and Holla - Wacker Chemie AG is expanding the capacity of its silicon-metal site at Holla in Norway. The Munich-based chemical group is constructing an additional plant there, with world-scale annual capacity. Capital expenditures of around €85 million are budgeted for the capacity increase and for expanding local infrastructure. Completion of the plant is expected during the first half of 2019.
“Expanding our silicon-metal capacity at this site is a key strategic step in our sourcing of raw materials” said Wacker Chemie AG’s CEO, Rudolf Staudigl, as he explained the reasons behind the investment decision. “At present, Holla covers around a quarter of our silicon-metal requirements. Capacity expansion there is necessary to maintain this scale of coverage in the future. The fact that we produce silicon metal ourselves makes us more independent of price fluctuations on raw-material markets and, at the same time, boosts the reliability of our supplies during peak-demand periods,” the Group’s CEO pointed out.
Silicon metal is one of WACKER’s most important raw materials. It is needed for producing silicones and hyperpure polysilicon.
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.