Wacker Opens New Production Facility for Specialty Silicones
Wacker has opened a new silicone production facility in Czechia. After just two years of construction, the first production line in Karlovy Vary was officially put into operation.
In Karlsbad, custom-made silicones are manufactured for the automotive, home appliance, and medical technology industries, as well as for the energy sector. “Karlsbad is a key pillar of our silicone operations in Europe and a central component of our specialty strategy,” said Wacker Executive Board member Christian Kirsten at the opening ceremony, attended by about 100 guests from the political and business communities. “With this new site, we are expanding our position as a solutions provider for customers in key industries.”
With the launch of the new site, Wacker is reorganizing its silicone operations in Europe. Customers will now be supplied with specialty silicones in coordination with the sites in Pilsen, Nünchritz, and Burghausen. Liquid silicone rubber products will come from Burghausen in the future, while thermally conductive silicones and potting compounds for the automotive industry, as well as silicone gels for wound care, will come from Pilsen. Room-temperature-curing silicones and solid silicone rubbers will be consolidated in Karlsbad.
“With Karlsbad, our production network in Europe will become significantly more flexible, agile, and efficient,” emphasized Wacker Executive Board member Kirsten in his keynote address. “Karlsbad complements our existing sites and, thanks to state-of-the-art production technology, creates the conditions for maximum efficiency and quality. This will enable us to serve our customers even better in the future with high-quality and innovative products. With Karlsbad, we are opening a new chapter in the success story of our silicones.”
Megatrends Drive Wacker’s Silicone Business
The silicone business is driven primarily by megatrends in the fields of electromobility, medical technology, renewable energy, grid expansion, and digitalization. Custom-engineered silicone elastomers are needed above all where conventional materials cannot meet the high and ever-increasing demands—for example, in the thermal management of electric vehicles, in wound care, or in energy technology.
The new production site is located on a 25,000 m2 industrial lot in northern Karlsbad. The property and building are owned by the investment group Accolade, and construction was carried out by the real estate developer Panattoni. Wacker designed the production facilities and laboratory equipment.
“We are very proud of this site in Karlovy Vary, as it offers new prospects for a region with a long tradition in the spa, energy, and coal industries. From the very beginning, our goal was not only to create the conditions for an industrial facility meeting the highest quality standards, but also to provide impetus for the further development of the local economy,” said Panattoni’s Sales Manager Jiří Zita at the ceremony.
Accolade CEO Milan Kratina also praised the project. “Days when we no longer talk about potential but about the fruits of our investments are the greatest reward for the many years of preparation,” said the executive. Today, he noted, marks precisely such a turning point. For the region, the Karlovy Vary site represents a significant boost to industrial development. At the same time, Kratina added, this confirms that they have found the right tenant for the site. “I would like to thank the entire project team, the region, and the city of Karlovy Vary for their long-standing cooperation, as well as our tenant, Wacker, for the trust they have placed in us.”
Production in Karlovy Vary: Wacker’s Second Site in Czechia
Wacker has been present in Czechia since the 1990s. Since 2008, the company has operated a production site in Pilsen for ready-to-use silicone compounds; it now also manufactures thermally conductive silicones and silicone gels there. In 2023, Pilsen also became the headquarters of an Excellence Hub that provides services for the entire group. With the opening of another production site, Wacker is now also doing business in the Karlovy Vary region. By 2028, approximately 200 jobs are expected to be created there and filled by qualified professionals from the surrounding area.
“I very much welcome Wacker’s arrival in the Karlovy Vary region. We strive to attract companies that bring significant added value to the region, and that is exactly the case here,” said Governor Petr Kubis during the signing of a cooperation agreement between Wacker, the city, and the district, which took place on the sidelines of the celebrations. Mayor Andrea Pfeffer Ferklová also praised the commitment of the project partners. “The city has long been working to attract companies to the region. In Wacker, we have found a partner that brings prosperity, attractive jobs, innovative products and technologies, and sustainable production to Karlovy Vary, which we greatly appreciate.”
