MOSES LAKE - REC Silicon is planning to move its silicon productions headquarters from Norway to Moses Lake following the separation of the company's solar and silicon business.

Sharon Palmerton, head of community affairs at REC Silicon, confirmed Thursday all corporate office functions for silicon operations will relocate to Moses Lake.

Last month, the REC ASA Board of Directors approved splitting the Singapore wafer/cell/module operations from the U.S. based silicon operations creating two "pure play" organizations, Palmerton said. Pure play is defined by business analysts as a company that invests its resources into one line of business.

The solar operations in Singapore is now REC Solar ASA and the Renewable Energy Corporation ASA has changed to REC Silicon ASA. Fully owned U.S. based subsidiaries, including REC Silicon Inc. and REC Solar Grade Silicon LLC will remain unchanged.

"This separation allows us to focus on silicon product lines and markets," Palmerton said. "REC Silicon continues to be an industry leader in silicon materials manufacturing. What our Moses Lake and Butte (Mont.) communities will notice soon, however, is our brand platform is changing to be more aligned as a 'pure play' organization."

REC Silicon will be rolling out a new logo, corporate colors and website soon, Palmerton said.

The REC Silicon Board of Directors also appointed Tore Torvund as president and CEO, effective Dec. 1, after current president and CEO Ole Enger decided to step down after heading the company for about four years.

REC Silicon employs more than 900 people at its Moses Lake and Butte plants.