Elkem Solar plans to step up to full production at its plant in Kristiansand, Norway due to the increase in orders for Elkem Solar Silicon®.

Due to the weak market in the solar industry during the end of last year, the company decided to partially reduce production of solar grade silicon for a period. 120 out of 275 employees were affected by temporary layoffs.

In the latest weeks, demand for solar grade silicon has slightly increased. Elkem Solar is currently experiencing an increase in orders for its product and could recently announce plans to gradually ramp up to full production, starting from Q2 2012.

“During the production slowdown period, Elkem Solar has invested heavily in improving its competitive edge by increasing capacity and by carrying out various improvement projects. We are now in an even stronger competitive position than we were six months ago,” says Trond Sæterstad, Senior Vice President of Elkem Solar.