The chemical region of Bitterfeld-Wolfen celebrated its 125th anniversary with a special ceremony

We live chemistry. The slogan of the festival year was celebrated today in Chemistry Park Bitterfeld-Wolfen by guests from politics and business, representatives of the company in the chemistry park, and visitors from all over Germany and abroad. Guests enjoyed a varied programme with film sequences, conversations with witnesses of the past and a panel discussion. In this, they looked back on the varied history of the chemical region and received new and exciting insights into the here and now and the changes that the area has undergone.

In his celebratory speech on the occasion of the 125-year-old founding year of the chemical site, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt, spoke about the chemical site’s importance for the economy of Middle Germany and the whole Federal Republic and emphasised the positive development: “The site prospers thanks to efficient management, reorganised infrastructures and exemplary modernisation. The chemistry park has strengthened the region sustainably and given the people new and reliable prospects.” The gala and other activities in the anniversary year point the way into the future and show that the site is characterised by strong dynamism “Chemistry is the future”, this message is meant to reach the upcoming generations in particular.

The two managing directors of the chemistry park company, Patrice Heine and Dr. Michael Polk, representing the many partners who joined forces in the anniversary year, led characters through the gala and the development history of the chemical site.

“Now, after 125 years, the chemistry park is a strong network of highly efficient producing companies with a very modern infrastructure and multi-faceted service companies in an innovative environment”, emphasised Dr. Michael Polk. With an area of 1,200 hectares, the Chemistry Park Bitterfeld-Wolfen is one of the biggest chemical sites of Europe. In total, more than 300 companies have settled here, with more than 12,000 employees.

Their guests on the stage were personalities who influence and help shape life and work in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, and give the region a face. For example, Uwe Holz, Director of the Industrial and Film Museum Wolfen and Bitterfeld District Museum, who, as a history expert, gave a short outline of the chemical region’s history and in particular the progress of the industrial site.

Ingrid Weinhold, Acting Partner of MABA Spezialmaschinen GmbH, gave a presentation on the subject of transformation and innovation. With her personal experiences, she outlined how the region changed after German Reunification and spoke about the difficulties and challenges that she has successfully mastered as an entrepreneur.

In the discussion on the subject of the environment and ecology, Dr. Harald Rötschke, Managing Director of MDSE (Middle German Renovation and Disposal Company), spoke about how the region handles environmental remediation and clearing up of the landscape, what has been done so far, and what tasks coming generations will have to solve.

Dr. Heiko Mammen showed how chemistry determined his life. The former managing director of ICL-IP Bitterfeld GmbH worked in the chemistry park for more than 40 years in research and managerial positions, and reported on his experiences and the altered site. He said that companies can here find optimal conditions and can thus concentrate on their core business: chemistry.

The Lord Mayor of the town Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Armin Schenk, Lena Anton, Trainee Mechatronic Technician at Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co.KG, and Ulrich Weitz, Chairman of IBU-Tec AG, which has recently settled in the chemistry park, gathered for a panel discussion. In interplay with the moderators, the guests discussed the role of state and regional policy, training options, prospects, and site advantages from the perspective of a newly settling company.

The round of discussions with the experts and the subsequent panel discussion was accompanied by short film sequences, which at the same time gave a foretaste of the documentary film produced on the occasion of the anniversary: “Original Bitterfeld. A Day of 125 Years.” This 70-minute film is a love letter to the region and shows a previously unknown picture. Entrepreneurs and factory managers open their factory gates and talk about their work in chemistry at the site Bitterfeld-Wolfen, they talk about the processes and procedures, of requirements and peculiarities, and finally also give their own very personal view of the region and the developments of the last few years. In autumn, the film is to be shown in regional cinemas and on television. A yearbook was also published for the anniversary, which will be available in book shops from late summer.

The week of celebrations will continue until 10 June. On Saturday and Sunday, 9 and 10 June, the Industrial and Film Museum Wolfen, together with the partners of the chemical region, will be inviting visitors to family days, from 10 am to 4 pm each day. In the special exhibition for the anniversary “We here. Living and working in the chemical region Bitterfeld-Wolfen” young and adult visitors can find out more about the region’s multi-faceted 125-year history.

WE LIVE CHEMISTRY.
Behind the anniversary activities there is a strong alliance of companies in the chemistry park, supported by the city of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, the administrative district Anhalt-Bitterfeld, and numerous friends and partners in the whole region.

More information and impressions at: www.125-Jahre-Chemieregion.de

The chemistry park is growing – four new major investments at the site
On the 125th anniversary of the chemical site Bitterfeld-Wolfen, several companies are making investments at the location. Heraeus is carrying out the biggest extension. The manufacturer of ultra-pure quartz glass is building a third factory for around 70 million euros. The number of employees will rise by 70 to 600. Wafer-thin fibre-optic cables are made from quartz glass. The Heraeus factory in Bitterfeld supplies a quarter of the world demand.

Ibu-tec, an industrial service provider from Weimar, is constructing a new production plant at the chemistry park. There, raw materials are to be manufactured for battery materials and chemical catalysts. Production there is to be started in the current year 2018.

The Bayer medicine factory will, according to its own statements, be investing around 90 million in new plant by the end of 2020.
In the direct vicinity of the chemistry park, in the economically strong town of Sandersdorf-Brehna, the Progroup will start work upon the construction of a new paper factory for corrugated paper. For this, 375 million euros are being invested and 140 new jobs created.

Managing director Michael Polk expects further settlements in his industrial estate in the coming months. “We use specialised suppliers in fine and special chemistry, who cater to customers around the world”, said Polk. The demand for space in the chemistry park, for expansion or settling, has risen, especially among foreign investors. 120 hectares of different-sized parcels of land ready for building, all necessary resources and services, various energy carriers and chemical raw materials are available.

Press Contact:
Annekatrin Lacroix
Marketing und Kommunikation Chemiepark Bitterfeld-Wolfen GmbH
Phone 03493-72252
E-Mail: annekatrin.lacroix@chemiepark.de

Source: www.125-jahre-chemieregion.de