Dr. Konrad Bachhuber
Dr. Konrad Bachhuber has been appointed vice president of Wacker Polysilicon NAFTA. Dr. Bachhuber, who is responsible for the overall site management of Wacker’s Charleston, Tn. polysilicon plant now under construction, officially begins his active on-site managership Dec. 1.
In an announcement made by Dr. Ingomar Kovar, president and CEO of Wacker Chemical Corporation, Dr. Bachhuber, formerly vice president of operations for Wacker Chemicals Greater China, will be directly responsible for the plant’s overall production and operational processes. Of primary importance and focus will be oversight of the start-up production phase following completion of the plant’s construction scheduled for Q4 2013.
Dr. Bachhuber begins his role as Wacker Polysilicon NAFTA vice president and site manager in Charleston, having spent 22 years with Wacker in management positions.
After receiving a chemistry degree, and doctorate in physical chemistry in 1989 from the University of Regensburg, Germany, he joined Wacker as laboratory manager at the company’s Burghausen plant. In 1994 he progressed to plant manager for the central pilot plant and in 1998 was promoted to director of central chemical services and basic chemicals. In 2002 he was named director of production polysilicon and held that responsibility until 2006 when he was appointed vice president of production polysilicon.
In 2009 through November 2011, Dr. Bachhuber was vice president of operations for Wacker Chemicals Greater China before his appointment to Wacker Polysilicon NAFTA vice president and site manager.
“We are extremely delighted and fortunate to have someone of Dr. Bachhuber’s caliber join Wacker’s management team here in North America,” said Dr. Ingomar Kovar, president and chief executive officer of Wacker Chemical Corporation. “He already has extensive experience and involvement with four of our company’s polysilicon expansion projects.
"His 12+ years of practical hands-on experience as a manager of highly complex and large scale production units is absolutely essential in getting the plant successfully off the ground and on solid footing. Supplying the world’s solar energy industry’s demand for hyperpure polycrystalline silicon with a plant so large and with such a sophisticated production process is a formidable challenge for anyone. Dr. Bachhuber is certainly well-equipped and extremely well-prepared to take on such a challenge.”
Dr. Bachhuber and his wife have two children who are away at college. He will soon relocate to Tennessee to begin his tenure as vice president and site manager at the $1.5 billion dollar manufacturing complex.
“I am looking forward to working with our very professional and highly motivated project team,” said Dr. Bachhuber. “The strong support we are receiving from the local community and state is instrumental in making our project a success. It is with confidence I can say this is the beginning of an impressive success story for both Wacker and for the citizens of the great state of Tennessee. I am excited and privileged to be part of it.”