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WACKER enters ‘stage 8’ of polysilicon production expansion |
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Jun 15, 2007 at 01:50 PM |
 The continued demand for polysilicon coming primarily from the solar cell industry has led to WACKER's starting ‘stage 8' of polysilicon production expansion at its Burghausen, Germany site by an additional 7,000 metric tons to a total of 21,500 metric tons per year.
At a capital cost of around €400 million, the new plant is scheduled to reach full capacity in 2010 and generate 200 extra jobs directly.
"Today's expansion decision reflects the continuously strong demand of our polysilicon customers," said Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker, the Group's president and CEO. "We are already the world's second-largest polysilicon producer. By heavily increasing our capacities, we intend to keep narrowing the gap on the market leader. Also, we consider this project a major contribution to accelerate growth in the solar industry," added the CEO.
"Thanks to its advanced infrastructure and integrated production systems, Burghausen proved to be the best location for this capacity expansion - from both an economic and technical point of view," explained Ewald Schindlbeck, President of WACKER POLYSILICON. "An especially important factor in Burghausen's favor," he added, "is the short time needed to complete the new facility there."
First material for sale from the new ‘stage 8' is expected to be available in Q4 2009.
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Materials & Gases 
