Wacker Polysilicon's lead chemical operators, who have been training for six months at Chattanooga State Community College, leave for an additional six months of work in Germany this week.

At Wacker's Burghausen, Germany, plant, the 51 employees will train with their professional counterparts.

"We are invested in our employees," said Konrad Bachhuber, site manager for Wacker's Cleveland, Tenn., plant that is to open in late 2013.