Construction of new Park Karlovy Vary commences: the modern industrial zone to serve as a manufacturing site for WACKER
The investment group Accolade and the German chemical company WACKER, in collaboration with the industrial developer Panattoni, have officially commenced the construction of a new industrial complex, Park Karlovy Vary. The new park, covering an area of over 23,000 square metres, is being built on the northeastern outskirts of Karlovy Vary, with completion scheduled for spring 2025. The tenant will be WACKER, which specialises in refining silicone compounds. The new manufacturing plant will also include laboratories and testing facilities. The building aspires to achieve one of the highest ratings in the international BREEAM New Construction sustainability certification, at the “Excellent” level.
For WACKER, this will be their second operation in the Czech Republic, having been established in Pilsen since 2008. The group focuses on producing advanced specialty products for rapidly growing markets, including photovoltaics, electronics, automotive, construction, electrical engineering, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and household and personal care products. In the first phase of the project, WACKER plans to create up to 200 jobs in the new manufacturing, research and development facility.
“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,” said Christian Kirsten, a member of WACKER’s Executive Board. “Our silicone rubber is in demand in all key markets. The main drivers are megatrends such as electromobility, renewable energies and the expansion of energy grids. 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, WACKER will specifically focus on processing silicone compounds for further manufacturing into final products, such as insulating components for electric vehicle batteries, sealing elements for electronic parts, and silicones for medical and healthcare applications. By processing compounds for the production of final components in all these areas, the company will actively contribute to fulfilling the Net Zero Industry Act of the European Union’s Green Deal for Europe industrial plan.
“The Karlovy Vary Region was one of the locations where we started investing in the construction of industrial complexes. Gradually, we became the largest investor in the region, but this park in Karlovy Vary is our first venture. I am pleased that after years of negotiations and preparations in close cooperation at the level of the city and the region, the project is now entering the implementation phase. I believe that WACKER, with its sophisticated production, will give a big economic boost to the whole region,” said Jiří Stránský, Head of Development at Accolade Group.
“I am very happy that WACKER will be the first tenant to occupy the new Panattoni Park Karlovy Vary, bringing value-added manufacturing, research and 200 jobs, mostly for skilled workers. The whole project proves that the Karlovy Vary Region has a huge potential to attract really top-quality investors,” says Pavel Sovička, Panattoni’s Managing Director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The project also stands out for its excellent transport connections. It is located close to the D6 motorway at exit 125 and the European E442 road, which provides fast connections to Germany and Slovakia. From the new hall, Pilsen can be reached in just 70 minutes and Prague in 90 minutes. The proximity of Karlovy Vary’s main railway station, just two kilometres away, and the strategic position relative to the neighbouring towns of Sokolov and Cheb are other key benefits.
“Karlovy Vary is open to new business opportunities. Along with the tenant WACKER, which will bring not only production, but also research and a number of qualified jobs, we appreciate the start of construction of the new Panattoni Park Karlovy Vary and look forward to the completion of the project as early as 2025,” adds Andrea Pfeffer Ferklová (ANO), Mayor of Karlovy Vary.
Employees will have the option to travel to the complex using public transport, as a bus stop is within a short walking distance.
The building will be equipped with modern technologies that reduce energy consumption and ensure a high level of environmental friendliness. These include heat pumps, photovoltaics, heat recovery and the environmentally friendly treatment of rainwater.