Wacker-Chemie is an international chemical company with headquarters in Munich, Germany. Its products are used in end-user sectors such as photovoltaics, electronics, pharmaceuticals and household and personal care products. It has 15,922 employees around the globe and generates annual sales of about Euro4.3bn (2008). Wacker has 22 production sites in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
History
The company was founded in 1914. In April 2006, Wacker completed an initial public offering (IPO) of the company.
In August 2005, the Wacker family gained 100% ownership of Wacker-Chemie following its purchase of Hoechst's 44.4% holding in the German specialty chemicals company.
On 25 November 2005, Wacker Chemie completed its conversion from a private limited company into a stock corporation.
Company movements
In September 2009, Wacker agreed to transfer all of its shares in the joint venture Wacker Schott Solar to its joint venture partner Schott Solar. For more on this please see Wacker Chemie exits solar wafers; Q3 pre-tax profit to be hit on ICIS news.
In January 2008, the European Commission (EC) cleared Wacker’s takeover of two joint ventures with Air Products. This included full control of Wacker Polymer Systems (WPS), a producer of powders based on vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), and Air Products Polymers (APP), a producer of dispersions based on VAM. The deal was previously announced in December 2007.
Wacker-Chemie's core areas are:
Wacker Polymers - The company claims to be the global market leader in high-quality binders and polymer additives. Its product portfolio includes construction chemicals and functional polymers for surface coatings and other industrial applications, as well as base chemicals (acetyls).
Its powders, dispersions, solid resins, powder binders and surface coating resins are used in the construction, automotive, paper and adhesives industries, as well as by manufactures of printing inks and industrial paints.
Wacker fine chemicals - Provides worldwide tailored solutions for its customers in the life sciences and consumer care industries. It focuses on organic fine chemicals, exclusive synthesis and biotechnology.
The range of products includes complex organic intermediates, organosilanes, chiral active ingredients, cyclodextrins, cysteines and unnatural amino acids, as well as various chemical starting materials, such as building blocks.
Wacker Silicones - The division claims to be one of the world's leading silane and silicone producers offering a wide range of producers with a variety of properties.
Wacker Polysilicon - Produces hyperpure silicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaics industries.
As one of the major manufactures of polycrystalline silicon worldwide it supplies leading wafer and solar-cell companies. Production capacities are currently being boosted at its Burghausen site to meet expected growth in polycrystalline silicon demand.
Siltronic - Produces hyperpure silicon for the semiconductor industry.
Wacker Chemie
Strategy & Financial Highlights
Wacker will continue to focus on technologically advanced products and solutions that will assist its customers in optimising business. Another strategic focus for Wacker includes innovative applications and dynamic markets offering above-average growth prospects. (Edited from annual report and company website). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Wacker Chemie Strategy & Financial Highlights
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