The tenant will be the Wacker company, which focuses on refining silicone compounds. The new production plant will also include laboratories and testing facilities. The new building aspires to one of the highest ratings in the BREEAM New Construction international sustainability certification, at the Excellent level.
For the German company Wacker, this is the second operation in the Czech Republic, it has been operating in Pilsen since 2008. The group focuses on manufacturing specialty products for use in a wide range of fast-growing markets, including photovoltaics, electronics, automotive, construction, electrical engineering, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and household and personal hygiene products. In the first phase of the project, Wacker will create up to 200 jobs in the new production, research and development plant.
"Karlovy Vary will become a new and important pillar of our activities in Europe and will strengthen our position as a leading manufacturer of silicone products. With today's ceremonial laying of the foundation stone, we have reached our first milestone," says Wacker Board Member Christian Kirsten.“Our silicone rubber is in demand in all key markets. The main driving forces are megatrends such as electromobility, renewable energy sources and the expansion of energy networks. In order to be able to meet this demand in the long term, we need to lay the foundations for our future growth now. In Karlovy Vary, we are now opening a new chapter in the success story of our silicones."
In Karlovy Vary, the Wacker company will deal specifically with the modification of silicone mixtures for further processing into final products, such as insulating elements for electric car batteries, sealing elements for electronic components, as well as silicones for medical and healthcare use. By processing mixtures for the production of final components in all the above-mentioned areas, the company will actively contribute to the fulfillment of the Net Zero Industry Act of the industrial plan of the European Union Green Deal for Europe.
"I am very happy that the first tenant of the new Panattoni Park Karlovy Vary will be the Wacker company, which brings value-added production, research and 200 jobs, mostly for qualified employees," states Pavel Sovička, CEO of Panattoni for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. According to him, the entire project proves that the Karlovy Vary region has great potential to attract top investors.
"The Karlovy Vary Region was one of the locations where we started investing in the construction of industrial areas. We have gradually become the biggest investor here, but this park is our first venture right in Karlovy Vary. I am pleased that after years of negotiations and preparations in close cooperation at the city and regional level, the project is now entering the implementation phase. I believe that the Wacker company with its sophisticated production will provide a great economic impetus to the entire region," says Jiří Stránský, head of Development in the Accolade group.
The project also stands out for its excellent transport connections. It is located near the D6 motorway at exit 125 and the European road E442, which ensures a quick connection to Germany and Slovakia. Thanks to this, you can get from the new hall to Pilsen in only 70 minutes and to Prague in 90 minutes. The proximity of the main railway station of Karlovy Vary at a distance of only two kilometers and the strategic location in relation to the surrounding towns of Sokolov and Cheb are other key benefits.
"Karlovy Vary is open to new business opportunities. We appreciate the start of the construction of the new Panattoni Park Karlovy Vary industrial park with tenant Wacker, which will bring not only production, but also research and a number of qualified jobs, and we look forward to the completion of the project as early as 2025," adds Andrea Pfeffer Ferklová (ANO), the mayor of the city Carlsbad.Employees will also be able to get to the campus using public transport, as the bus stop is within a short walking distance.
The building will be equipped with advanced technologies that reduce energy consumption and ensure a high level of environmental friendliness. These include, for example, heat pumps, photovoltaics, heat recovery or gentle treatment of rainwater.
