Momentive Performance Materials Quartz & Ceramics business today kicked off an expansion of its specialty quartz production facility in Geesthacht, Germany, with a ceremony attended by government and business leaders, company officials and plant associates.

The $14 million expansion project at the Geesthacht manufacturing plant will enable Momentive to meet increasing global demand for its high-purity specialty fused quartz crucibles, used by the photovoltaic industry to produce solar wafers and the semiconductor industry in the production of computer chips. The company manufactures a variety of specialty products that are essential to the photovoltaic wafer and semiconductor microchip production, including fused quartz crucibles used to "grow" silicon ingots, large-diameter fused quartz tubing, rods, and solid ingot in which silicon wafers are processed to make microchips.

The Geesthacht expansion will enable the site to increase production of large diameter fused quartz crucibles by approximately 100%. These crucibles are used by customers as the vessels in which they produce monosilicon ingots, which are then further manufactured into silicon wafers. The expansion project is anticipated to be completed in late 2012. Earlier this year, the company also began expansion projects at two of its specialty quartz and ceramics plants in the United States.

"We are committed to growing our specialty quartz manufacturing capabilities to meet the ongoing needs of our global customers in the industries we serve," said Ray Kolberg, President, Quartz & Ceramics. "Global demand for high-purity quartz products continues to expand as the photovoltaic and semiconductor production increases, driven in turn by strong demand in these fast-growing markets."

The Geesthacht plant, located at Borsigstrasse 1-7, employs 97 people. An additional 25 full time jobs are anticipated to be created at the plant once the project is completed.

Momentive's quartz and ceramics business serves a diverse range of industries including the electronics, solar energy, LED and specialty lighting, and electric vehicle markets.

Together Momentive Performance Materials and its sister operating company, Momentive Specialty Chemicals operate 104 manufacturing plants and employ more than 10,000 associates around the world. In Germany, Momentive employs approximately 1,700 workers at various sites.