Rudolf Staudigl, CEO, Wacker Chemie AG.
The debottlenecking will increase capacity by a total of 10,000 metric tons per year. Investment volumes will total some € 130 million and start of the production is expected in 2012. Due to their technological expertise and experienced engineering, the company can implement this expansion quickly.
MUNICH, GERMANY: Wacker Chemie AG will expand its production facilities for hyperpure polysilicon at its Burghausen and Nünchritz sites in Germany. 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 € 130 million. Overall, 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. “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. Thanks to our extensive technological expertise and our experienced engineering and production teams, we can implement this expansion quickly and cost-effectively,” said Rudolf Staudigl, CEO, Wacker Chemie AG. WACKER manufactured over 30,000 metric tons of hyperpure polysilicon in 2010, making it one of the top producers worldwide.
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