Wacker has officially opened a new silicone production site in the Czech Republic. After two years of construction, the first production line was launched in Karlovy Vary. The site will manufacture silicones tailored to the needs of customers from the automotive, household appliances, medical technology and energy sectors. As Christian Kirsten, member of Wacker’s Executive Board, emphasized during the opening ceremony, the Karlovy Vary facility is important for the company’s silicone business in Europe and is a key element of its specialties strategy. He also added that, with the new site, the company is strengthening its position as a solution provider for customers in key industrial sectors.
The launch of the new site is linked to a reorganization of Wacker’s silicone activities in Europe. Karlovy Vary, together with the sites in Plzeň, Nünchritz and Burghausen, will be responsible for supplying customers with specialty silicones. In the future, liquid silicone rubber will be manufactured in Burghausen, while thermally conductive silicones, potting compounds for the automotive industry and silicone gels for wound care will be produced in Plzeň. In Karlovy Vary, production of room-temperature-curing silicones and solid silicone rubber has been located.
Christian Kirsten assessed that the new location will increase the flexibility, agility and efficiency of the company’s integrated European production network. He noted that the site complements existing locations and, thanks to modern production technology, creates the conditions for achieving very high efficiency and quality. According to him, this is expected to translate into better customer service through high-quality and innovative products. "Karlovy Vary is an important pillar of our silicone business in Europe and a central element of our specialties strategy. With the new site, we are expanding our position as a solution provider for customers in key industries. Karlovy Vary will increase the flexibility, agility and efficiency of our integrated production network in Europe. With Karlovy Vary, we are beginning a new chapter in the success story of our silicones."
The new site and specialty silicones market growth
According to Wacker, the main drivers of the silicone business are megatrends such as electromobility, medical technology, renewable energy, power-grid expansion and digitalization. Customized silicone elastomers are particularly needed where conventional materials do not meet high and continuously increasing requirements. The company points here, among other things, to applications related to thermal management in electric vehicles, wound care and power engineering.
The new site is located in Business Park Karlovy Vary, an industrial park with an area of 25,000 square meters, situated in the northern part of the city. The land and the building, which Wacker leases, are owned by the investment group Accolade. The building shell was completed by the development company Panattoni. The production installations and laboratory equipment were designed by Wacker.
During the official ceremony, Jiří Zita, Commercial Director at Panattoni in the Czech Republic, said: "We are proud to have been able to build a business facility in Karlovy Vary that goes beyond the region’s traditional spa, energy and coal industries. From the very beginning, our goal was not only to deliver a modern industrial facility of the highest global quality, but also to create an impulse for the further development of the local economy."
At Wacker’s new Czech production site in Karlovy Vary, the company will manufacture silicones for the growth markets of electromobility, medical technology and power-grid expansion. Source: Wacker
Importance of the investment for the region
The project was also positively assessed by partners involved in the investment. Accolade CEO Milan Kratina stated: "The moment when we stop talking about the potential of our investments and begin to see how it materializes in practice is the best reward for years of preparation. The Karlovy Vary site is now entering exactly this phase, as Wacker starts operations and gains modern development and production facilities. For the Karlovy Vary region, this means a significant strengthening of industrial development, and for us, confirmation that the right location will always find the right tenant." He also added: "I would like to thank the entire team working on the project, the region and the city of Karlovy Vary for their long-term cooperation, and the tenant Wacker for the trust they have placed in us."
Wacker has been present in the Czech Republic since the 1990s. In Plzeň, the company has operated a production site for ready-to-use silicones since 2008. Thermally conductive silicones and silicone gels are now also manufactured there. In 2023, an Excellence Hub was also launched in Plzeň, providing services for the entire Group. Since 2026, Wacker has also been active in the Karlovy Vary region. Up to 200 jobs are to be created there by 2028 and are to be filled by qualified specialists from the region.
During the signing of a cooperation agreement between Wacker, the city and the district, Karlovy Vary Region Governor Petr Kubis said: "Our goal is to create the conditions for quality jobs, the development of regional infrastructure and a long-term competitive economy. The signing of this memorandum therefore represents an important step and a catalyst strengthening economic development in the Karlovy Vary Region. Our partnership with Wacker opens up new opportunities in the areas of innovation, education and sustainable industry, and increases the attractiveness of the region for further investment."
Karlovy Vary Mayor Andrea Pfeffer Ferklová also positively assessed the commitment of the project partners. "The arrival of a strong international partner such as Wacker represents an important expansion of the portfolio of job opportunities and the local business environment for Karlovy Vary. The memorandum will allow us to leverage further synergies in the development of the city and its infrastructure, as well as in engaging the local community. I expect that our cooperation will increase the attractiveness of the city both for current and future residents and for other investors."
