Wacker Chemie AG

Wacker Chemie AG has been a fixture in the specialty chemicals world since 1914, when Alexander Wacker founded the company in Munich. More than a century later, the Wacker family still holds over 50 percent of the shares, a rare continuity in an industry that has seen countless consolidations. The company's largest production site remains in Burghausen, a Bavarian town that has been central to its operations from the very beginning.

Today, Wacker operates over 25 production sites across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, selling its products in more than 100 countries. Its portfolio spans silicones, polymer products like ethylene vinyl acetate redispersible powder, hyperpure polysilicon for semiconductors, and biotech ingredients such as cyclodextrins. These materials show up in everything from tile adhesives and car parts to personal care and pharmaceuticals.

The company has also weathered recent headwinds. In Q2 2026, group sales rose about 7 percent year over year to €1.52 billion, with EBITDA before special pension effects jumping 53 percent, helped by cost savings and a one-time gain. Yet its polysilicon division has struggled amid a solar market downturn, forcing a broader restructuring announced in April 2026. Wacker lifted its full-year guidance after the strong quarter, signaling cautious optimism despite ongoing demand weakness in some sectors. [edit]