Wacker Polysilicon North America is supporting three new apprenticeship programs at Chattanooga State Community College which will begin this fall.
Students who qualify and are selected for the programs will participate in paid on-the-job training at the Wacker polysilicon plant in Charleston, Tenn., the company said today.
Of the almost 100 operators and laboratory technicians already employed with Wacker, all have gone through a Wacker Institute program.
The company plans to hire an additional 80 chemical operators in the coming months, and will give first consideration to qualified, eligible graduates of a Wacker Institute program.
"This is a logical next step for us in working with Chattanooga State," said Dr. Konrad Bachhuber, vice president and site manager at Wacker Polysilicon North America, in a statement. "Students who successfully complete an apprenticeship program will have high-quality training and work experience. This is not only attractive for Wacker, but to the other chemical companies and manufacturers in the region."