KuCK – Plastics and Chemistry Cabinet

The Plastics and Chemistry Cabinet, KuCK for short, has been hosting a small, changing exhibition on everyday objects made of Bakelite since 2012. The latter is the first fully synthetic, industrially produced plastic in the world. The chemical industry in Erkner and the region is also addressed. A permanent exhibition is located in the museum courtyard at Sonnenluch.
 
The exhibition is supervised by ChemieFreunde Erkner eV. Founded in 2003, the circle of friends aims to use its work to commemorate the history of chemistry, particularly that of plastics, and its impact on the development of Erkner.
 
The Belgian-American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented Bakelite in 1907. He found the raw material for its production in Julius Rütgers' "tar product factory" in Erkner. Rütgers AG and Baekeland then founded Bakelite GmbH in Erkner in 1910, thus starting the world's first industrial production of a plastic. Erkner is thus the "cradle of the plastic age".
 
The KuCK is located opposite the town hall and is therefore in the center. The nearest bus stop is Erkner - City Center, and the Erkner regional and suburban train station is not far away. The central bus station is also located there. Other sights are within walking distance from here.