The new plant also closes material loops and improves the supply chain at the site. WACKER has been producing polysilicon in Charleston since 2016. The most important by-product of polysilicon manufacturing is tetrachlorosilane. This material can be either converted and fed back into the production loop, or it can be processed into pyrogenic silica, thus creating additional value for the company and for customers.

The facility is another milestone for Charleston, as the site is now able to run an integrated production based on the closed-loop system WACKER successfully operates at its Burghausen and Nünchritz sites. The network maximizes the site’s flexibility for processing tetrachlorosilane and eliminates the disposal of waste products, thus enhancing the viability of the integrated production network as a whole. “The pyrogenic silica facility is the next logical step in making Charleston a fully integrated silicon site in the world’s second largest chemical market,” said Staudigl, emphasizing the strategy behind the investment.

In addition to state-of-the-art dispensing and packaging systems, the new plant will also include test and development labs as well as training rooms for the company’s WACKER ACADEMY. Here, customers can participate in seminars, training sessions and hands-on exercises for an in-depth look at the wide array of applications when using pyrogenic silica. “The inclusion of laboratories supports customers throughout the Americas region with formulation refinements and new applications development. Our aim is to further enhance our customers’ product performance,” said David Wilhoit, President and CEO of Wacker Chemical Corp., during the ribbon cutting ceremony.