- Investment in Karlovy Vary site is in the low triple-digit million-euro range.
- Production of room-temperature curing silicones starts by end of 2025.
- High consistency silicone rubber production begins in 2028.
- The site will create 200 jobs in the first expansion phase.
Investment and Timeline
Wacker Chemie AG is constructing a new production site in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, to focus on silicone specialties. The investment is in the low triple-digit million-euro range. Production of room-temperature curing high-performance silicones will start by the end of 2025, and high consistency silicone rubber will be produced from 2028.
Job Creation
The new site will create 200 jobs in the first expansion phase, with further personnel requirements anticipated in later years. When fully operational, the site will supply over 20,000 metric tons of custom-made silicones per year.
Strategic Importance
The Karlovy Vary site complements WACKER’s existing production sites in Burghausen and Nünchritz, Germany, enhancing the company's integrated production setup in Europe. This will allow WACKER to better serve its customers both in Europe and globally.
Key Drivers
The demand for customized silicone elastomers is driven by megatrends such as electromobility, renewable energies, and the expansion of electricity grids. These silicones are essential where conventional materials fail to meet increasing requirements.
Construction Partners
WACKER is collaborating with U.S. real estate developer Panattoni, which is coordinating the construction work, and the Czech real estate group Accolade, which owns the property and the building. The 23,000 square-meter building will be erected in the coming weeks and months.
Location Benefits
Karlovy Vary was chosen for its proximity to Burghausen and Pilsen, relatively low energy costs, and availability of qualified staff, making it an ideal location for WACKER’s silicone production.
