German chemical company WACKER will expand its U.S. operations into Ann Arbor next year, when it opens a new research and development facility for silicones at the
Michigan Innovation Headquarters (MI-HQ) co-work community.
The new R&D labs are scheduled to officially open in the first half of 2017 and will be run by Wacker Chemical Corporation (WCC), WACKER’s longstanding Adrian, Mich.-based subsidiary for North, Central, and South America. Project work will focus on health and medical care applications, coatings and paints, silicone-based softeners and personal care products, and silicone-based product solutions for electronic devices.
With more than 3,000 specialized products, WACKER silicones is a leading silicone manufacturer worldwide. Michigan has been a good home base for the firm's U.S. operations, according to WCC spokesperson William Toth.
"WACKER has had a presence in Adrian serving global and domestic customers since 1969," Toth says. "Since then our site and business has grown, and we have become associated with the local community, which offers a good quality of life and employment resources."
Ann Arbor's proximity to both Adrian and the University of Michigan, as well as its highly skilled talent pool, all played a part in the decision to locate here. WACKER will join over 30 other companies at MI-HQ's 90,000-square-foot West Side space.
The company is looking for team members with expertise in silicone and polymer chemistry. It will staff the Ann Arbor site through new hires as well as from within, although Toth would not indicate how many new positions will be created.
Eric Gallippo is an Ypsilanti-based freelance writer.
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