Buna-Werke

(Buna Chemical Plants), one of the largest chemical industrial combines in the German Democratic Republic.

Buna-Werke was founded in 1936 in Schkopau (near Merseburg) as a plant for manufacturing synthetic rubber. By the end of World War II the plant had still not attained its planned capacity; during the years of the people’s power it has been constantly expanding. The total number of employees is 21, 000 (1969). Buna-Werke’s production program, 90 percent of which is based on the complex utilization of calcium carbide, also includes such important aspects of chemical output as synthetic rubber, plastics, solvents, and auxiliary materials for the textile industry. A considerable portion of the concern’s production is exported.