MEMC temporarily closes Pasadena, Texas, facility for pending Ike

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. temporarily shut down its plant in Pasadena, Texas, starting today in preparation for Hurricane Ike.

The O’Fallon, Mo.-based company, which makes silicon wafers for electronic applications and solar batteries, said today that it expects operations to restart early next week. MEMC expects production will be affected for a total of five days, including the time it takes to shut down and restart the facility. Pasadena is about 15 miles southeast of Houston, an area vulnerable to Ike.

MEMC spokesman Bill Michalek said the company has not quantified how much the shut down will reduce the plant’s output of polysilicon. Polysilicon is the main ingredient in silicon wafers. But MEMC has not changed the third-quarter revenue targets it announced in July and reaffirmed on Sept. 2.

The company said it expects to report revenues of $560 million to $620 million when it announces its third-quarter performance next month.