Success Story: WACKER & Nordmann Partnership

About a year ago, Nordmann and WACKER launched their strategic partnership in the field of silicone elastomers in Europe. Since then, numerous projects have been initiated in various countries, and the collaboration has gained significant momentum. The focus is not only on the products and their applications, but above all on the people involved, their motivation, and their shared commitment to actively driving these initiatives forward. Close daily collaboration, pooled expertise, and a deep understanding of local market requirements define the partnership—a partnership of equals.

1. Robert, what has happened since we began working together last year?

Robert: Since we launched in April 2025, the Czech Republic has quickly emerged as an active and highly application-oriented partner within our European collaboration. The market is characterized by a high level of industrial expertise and customers who place particular value on reliability, stable processes, and long-term performance. 

This is also reflected in concrete results: Already in the first year, we were able to successfully integrate a broad portfolio of WACKER silicone elastomers into our SAP system and actively place a wide range of different products, taking benefit and synergies from WACKER´s portfolio at its best. Today, we are working with a wide range of customers on specific applications – a clear sign that the partnership has taken root in the market and is being reflected in real-world projects. 

2. How would you describe the project work?

Robert: I really appreciate that we’re involved in our customers’ projects from the very beginning. Often, we don’t just supply a material; instead, we support our customers as early as the concept phase and work together to develop the right solution. 

Together with WACKER, we provide support for key decisions—such as selecting the appropriate silicone elastomer and the right processing technology, whether it’s HCR compression molding or injection molding, LSR processing, or textile coating. Through this close coordination from the very beginning, we can optimally align material, processing, and application. This reduces risks in development and shortens the path to series production. It is precisely this approach that is very well received by our customers in the Czech Republic and is clearly evident in the projects we are working on. 

3. What are typical areas of focus?

Robert: The Czech market is clearly dominated by industrial applications and medical technology. 

A key focus is on industrial applications using high-consistency rubber (HCR). A representative example is a project using ELASTOSIL® 573/70 HCR, in which the components must withstand high mechanical stresses and temperatures. In such applications, material robustness, long-term stability, and reliable processing are particularly crucial. These projects confirm the continued importance of high-quality HCR solutions in demanding industrial environments. 

A second focus is medical technology, which is growing increasingly in the Czech Republic. Projects based on the LSR 3003 series target applications that require high purity, biocompatibility, and reproducible injection molding processes. Thanks to early technical collaboration with our customers, material selection, mold concepts, and regulatory requirements can be coordinated as early as the design phase—this offers customers greater certainty and facilitates the path to series production. 

4. Are there any interesting applications beyond this core business?

Robert: Yes, a good example is a textile coating project for hot-air balloon envelopes based on WACKER’s CT 51 product. Even though this application isn’t part of our core business, it impressively demonstrates that silicone solutions can deliver outstanding performance—even under extreme conditions—thanks to their high heat resistance, flexibility, and durability. At the same time, the project illustrates how good collaboration helps bring even unconventional ideas to fruition.

5. Would you like to venture a look ahead?

Robert: WACKER’s decision to invest in the production facility in Karlovy Vary sends a strong signal to the Czech market. This underscores the company’s long-term commitment to both the region and Europe as a whole. 

Looking ahead, the outlook for the Czech Republic is very positive. Through strong involvement in industrial and medical projects, targeted innovative applications, and close collaboration starting in the early project phases, the partnership between Nordmann and WACKER continues to evolve—pragmatically, sustainably, and characterized by mutual respect. 

A quote from Peter Drucker sums this up perfectly: 

„Nejlepší způsob, jak předpovědět budoucnost, je ji vytvořit.“

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Thank you very much, Robert, for the interview.