With some 600 companies employing around 13,000 people, the plastics and chemicals cluster is one of the state of Brandenburg’s industrial mainstays. There is virtually no other branch of industry in Brandenburg that is as closely interwoven with other economic sectors.

As a supplier of many starting products, the plastics and chemicals industry plays a key role in innovative development of the medical technology/pharmaceuticals, power engineering, information and communications technology, optical, automotive engineering and many other sectors. Brandenburg products, such as fibers, films, tires, domestic appliances and wind turbine components, as well as polyurethane base products, pesticides, water-based coatings and technical plastics, have made the region around the German capital famous far and wide.

Networking within the sector and the value-added chains, as well as constant use of existing know-how in associated scientific institutions, are essential for long-term success. Targeted activities are intended to integrate participants in the cluster, as well as across clusters and states, closely into the network, actively support the transfer of knowledge and technology and thereby generate added value for participants.

Fountain Town of Neuruppin

The district capital of Neuruppin is synonymous with diversity and development. As a regional growth center, it offers a highly productive economic infrastructure. It is home to the Neuruppin-Treskow industrial and commercial area and Temnitzpark, offering optimum conditions for innovation and cooperation. Regional market leaders and global plastics industry players are already based at this location. Ruppiner Papier- und Folienwerke (papers and films), REA Plastik Tech, ESE Industrie and Atotech Deutschland have also established themselves here in addition to PAS Deutschland, the leading developer and manufacturer of white goods cabling and faceplates. One major reason is the good supply of labor. Innovation plays an important role here: in recent years, PAS Deutschland has won the Brandenburg Innovation Award for Plastics and Chemicals on several occasions.

The fountain town of Neuruppin is extremely close to research institutions and universities, renowned medical facilities and a comprehensive range of cultural and leisure services. The region is an attractive location for innovation and industry due to the favorable strategic location between the Hamburg and Berlin conurbations and because of the good transport infrastructure.

Industriepark Schwarze Pumpe (ISP)

Businesses will find perfect framework conditions here, in the heart of a united Europe, where the traditional developed markets in the west and the growth markets of Eastern Europe - in particular Poland and the Czech Republic - intersect.

One particular feature of the location is the Industriewasser Competence Center, which bundles expertise in cross-cluster project development, support and implementation for research, development and innovation. ISP offers cutting-edge technology and extensive experience in the area of water supply and waste water disposal.

More than 120 businesses employing in the region of 4,400 people in production and development benefit from the opportunities offered by ISP for cooperation and from the potential for synergy which ensues from the proximity to many other innovative companies. The area’s biggest employer is Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG (LEAG), which also drives innovation and cooperation in ISP.

Another major advantage of the site is its proximity to the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), a university which focuses on the practical applications of its research.

Industriepark Premnitz

Premnitz can thank the development of artificial fibers for its reputation as an industrial base. This industrial park offers superb conditions for chemicals companies as a result of its modern technical infrastructure and innovative entrepreneurs on site.

Märkische Faser is still manufacturing here today. Alongside this long-established company, there are two companies from the Blücher Group on this site: Adsor-Tech and SmarTex, both active in the field of high-performance materials and fibers. A branch of DOMO Engineering Plastics, representing technical plastics, and south German plastics recycler, Vogt-Plastics, are also here.

Schwarzheide Chemicals Hub

The historic town of Schwarzheide is located in the heart of Lausitz. It has been a home to industrial firms for more than 80 years, with BASF leading the way since 1990.

The chemicals hub features a rail network which joins the main Deutsche Bahn network. Shipments can be transshipped from rail to road, and vice versa, at STR Tank-Container-Reinigung’s sophisticated intermodal transport terminal. Raw materials and goods are shipped from the North Sea to the Black Sea, from the Iberian Peninsula to Asia, via the logistics hub at Schwarzheide. Companies which benefit from this include Feurer Febra, Proseat Schwarzheide and Ineos Styrolution Schwarzheide.

BASF Schwarzheide promotes the region on an ongoing basis and accepts its social responsibility. As a structurally important company, it contributes to positive development of the environment, from training to location. There are scientific institutions close by, including BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg on the doorstep.

The Fraunhofer Biopolymer Technical Processing Center in Schwarzheide, an outpost of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymers (IAP) in Potsdam-Golm, represents a powerful research and development institution in a practical field of industry which supports SMEs and, in this way, facilitates market access for bioplastics. Cooperation with local universities has been intensified and a supply of junior employees for the plastics processing industry ensured through appointment of the head of the Technical Center by the Fraunhofer IAP and BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

Industriepark Schwedt (IPS)

Schwedt industrial park lies to the north-east of Berlin, beside the frontier river of the Oder. The PCK refinery means that Schwedt is one of the largest industrial sites in the state of Brandenburg.

Schwedt industrial park is strategically and conveniently located in the north-east of the Berlin-Brandenburg area, on the Berlin-Szczecin axis, right next to the Polish border. It is an ideal launch pad for the Eastern and Central European markets, Scandinavia and the Baltics. The industrial park is next door to the PCK refinery and is one of Brandenburg’s largest industrial areas. It is home to the petrochemical industry.

North Brandenburg is becoming a leading region in the field of renewable energies and sustainable raw materials, primarily photovoltaics, wind power, biogas and biofuels. A bioethanol plant, biodiesel plant and wood pelleting plant are already in production. This makes it possible to exploit potential synergies. The PCK refinery uses biofuels for production. The production of second-generation biofuels offers prospects for interesting and innovative developments. The conditions already exist in the region for continuous availability of agricultural biomass. The interface between traditional industry, agriculture and forestry offers diverse opportunities for new product development. North-east Germany offers great potential for biomass cultivation. Contact with industrial partners in Poland also offers additional opportunities to access new sites for biomass cultivation. The lengthy, successful cooperation with Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development is another plus in the field of biogenic raw materials.

Industrial Town of Guben

The attractiveness of Guben: trilbies and nappa leather were invented in Guben. Until 1945, the town was the most important base in Germany’s hat-making industry and thereafter played a major role in the production of chemical fibers until reunification. Nowadays, the companies based there mainly develop and produce high-tech plastics and high-performance textiles.

As a result of this expertise, Guben has developed into a modern, fully developed industrial area. German and foreign chemicals and plastics companies now determine the economic profile.

In addition to the long-established company Trevira, which operates in the fibers industry, other major employers include Grupa Azoty ATT Polymers from Poland and Megaflex Schaumstoff. The speciality yarns produced by Trevira are used in car interior furnishings, amongst other things. Potential uses for these fibers are constantly being expanded as part of a joint venture with external institutions and the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg. One result of the development work at Trevira is dual-component fibers, which can be used, amongst other things, to create three-dimensional, sound-absorbing surfaces. These can be used as sun protection, for example, or as wall panels, and can be printed digitally. There is also a permanently inflammable version available of the yarns used.

Wildau - an Industrial and Scientific Center

The attractive industrial and scientific center of Wildau, which offers great quality of life, also primarily serves as a gateway to Northern Europe from its heart.

The city of Wildau has an industrial heritage which dates back more than one hundred years. Since the 1950s, Wildau has developed into a center of learning and research. The Aerospace Technology Center (ATC) - a site with attractive halls and offices - has become an innovative environment for high-tech firms and start-ups on the former heavy engineering site. The Technical University of Applied Sciences and Technologie- und Gründerzentrum (TGZ) are also based here. The TGZ provides attractive opportunities for start-ups, technology companies and research establishments.

Even now, the Fraunhofer IAP, which undertakes research into polymers and composite PYCO, and Wildau Technical University of Applied Sciences act as magnets for new businesses and, as a result of new research cooperations, will expand further through the future “Competence Center for Energy and Resource-efficient Lightweight and Composite Materials”.

More than 60 companies have already relocated to Wildau, with its heavy concentration of lightweight materials technologies, and they will work closely with recognized technological research experts to promote this location’s continued dynamic development.

The Zentrum für Zukunftstechnologien (ZFZ) will be constructed next door to the Wildau Technical University of Applied Sciences and a walk away from the ATC. The four-story building, covering approximately 7,000 m² of offices, halls and workshops, should be ready by 2020.