WACKER ACADEMY: International Training & Competence Centers Broaden Their Scope

Munich, WACKER, the Munich-based chemical group, is expanding the curriculum of its international training & competence centers and will offer more interdisciplinary courses this year. The ongoing content-specific and strategic changes are reflected in the centers’ new name: the WACKER ACADEMY. These centers are not only an ideal platform for advanced training, but also for sector-specific networking between customers, distribution partners and WACKER specialists. WACKER ACADEMY sites have already opened in Germany, Russia, China and India, with more to follow in 2010.

“Learning from the past for the future.” This is the WACKER ACADEMY’s motto as it integrates the Group’s vast wealth of knowledge and expertise into a unique concept for specialized training courses. The emphasis remains on comprehensive construction-chemicals training which, in addition to polymer chemistry, now also covers subjects related to silicone applications. The expanded program has more interdisciplinary training such as seminars on energy-efficient building and masonry protection. In addition, the new concept plans to offer specialized chemistry courses for other sectors, including the cosmetics and paints industries. The course program is rounded out by an introduction to business administration, intercultural cooperation and the productive use of e-business tools.

In early 2007, WACKER first officially opened such a training center under the name VINNAPAS® ACADEMY. Its purpose was to offer an array of advanced training courses related to VINNAPAS® dispersions and dispersible polymer powders for employees, customers and partners. Because demand for these courses is rising, WACKER has decided to broaden the centers’ curriculum to include other areas of Group expertise. As a market leader, WACKER set up the new WACKER ACADEMY to convey its many years of knowledge and expertise in research, development and product applications. The WACKER ACADEMY is also an ideal platform for sharing expertise, cultivating contacts and creating new networks. Seminars will be held by in-house and external experts, as well as university lecturers.

All WACKER ACADEMY training & competence centers are directly affiliated with a WACKER technical center. The proximity to develpoment and test laboratories promotes the active exchange of expertise and gives participants access to on-site tours and testing. In addition, the collaboration with in-house research facilities, universities and institutes ensures that the seminars always reflect the very latest scientific findings. WACKER ACADEMY sites have already opened in Burghausen (Germany), Moscow (Russia), Beijing (China) and Mumbai (India). More training centers are set to open in 2010, including locations in Singapore, Dubai (United Arab Emirates) und Allentown (USA).

For more information, check out our website at www.wacker.com.