Wacker Chemie

What Wacker Chemie does

Wacker Chemie AG is a publicly listed German multinational specialty chemicals company (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: WCH) founded in 1914, headquartered in München with major integrated production at Burghausen and Nünchritz. The company manufactures silicone-based and polymer-based chemicals, plus bio-based ingredients, organized around proprietary brands including VINNAPAS (dispersible polymer powders and dispersions for construction chemicals), SILRES (silicone-based powder additives and impregnating agents), ELASTOSIL (silicone elastomers, including ceramifying grades for EV battery safety), POWERSIL (silicones for power transmission and distribution), BELSIL and BELNEXT (silicone and bio-based personal care ingredients), SEMICOSIL (thermal interface materials for electronics), and GENIOSIL (silane-terminated polymers for waterproofing). The silicones division alone accounts for approximately 50% of group sales, with the remainder in polymers, biotechnology, and other specialty segments. In FY2025, the company generated EUR 5.5 billion in revenue but reported a EUR 805 million net loss including valuation adjustments and a Siltronic AG stake writedown.

WACKER serves enterprise customers across automotive and electric vehicles, construction materials, electronics, personal care and cosmetics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and power grid infrastructure. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales with a global distributor network (e.g., IMCD) and a digital e-business platform (My Account portal, EDI integration, delivery forecast, e-invoicing). The company operates 22 Technical Competence Centers and 14 WACKER ACADEMY locations worldwide, delivering 800+ training events annually to 10,000 participants, and maintains presence at major industry trade shows (e.g., NYSCC Suppliers' Day, IEEE PES T&D, in-cosmetics, Tape Week). Revenue is primarily transactional product sales with select licensing/royalty streams (BELNEXT) and contract services (Wacker Biotech contract manufacturing for nucleic acid pharmaceuticals).

The company is in a deliberate turnaround posture: it has suspended the 2025 dividend, launched the PACE cost reduction program targeting EUR 300 million in annual savings by 2027-2028, and is simultaneously investing in growth platforms. Recent moves include the June 2026 inauguration of a new silicone production facility in Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic) with up to 200 jobs by 2028, the 2024 acquisition of Bio Med Sciences Inc. (silicone-coated medical devices), the April 2026 expansion of the Amyris bio-based ingredients partnership under the BELNEXT brand, the June 2026 launch of ELASTOSIL CM ceramifying silicones for EV battery safety, and the May 2026 launch of PFAS-free silicone materials for AI smart glasses. Q1 2026 EBITDA rose 45% year-over-year and FY2026 sales guidance was raised to high single-digit growth.

Name

Wacker Chemie

Legal name

Wacker Chemie AG

Website

https://wacker.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Wacker Chemie AG is a German specialty chemicals company (founded 1914) producing silicones, polymer binders, and bio-based ingredients for automotive/EV, construction, electronics, personal care, medical, pharmaceutical, and power grid customers across 22 global Technical Competence Centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Adhesives & Sealants Chemicals (IMAEABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ), Flavors, Fragrances & Aroma Chemicals (IMAEABAE), Electronic & High-Purity Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAD), Water Treatment & Process Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAN)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals manufacturing
• Silicones and polymers
• Construction chemical additives
• EV battery materials
• Personal care ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Silicones Division: Produces silicone-based products including sealants, elastomers, fluids, and specialty silicones for automotive, construction, electronics, medical technology, and other industrial applications. Accounts for approximately 50% of total company sales.
2. Polymers Division: Produces polymer products including dispersible polymer powders (VINNAPAS®), polymer dispersions, and polymer binders for construction, adhesives, coatings, and other industrial applications.
3. Bio-based Ingredients (BELNEXT): Bio-based functional ingredients for personal care industry developed through partnership with Amyris, combining biomanufacturing capabilities with WACKER's formulation expertise under the new BELNEXT brand.
4. Contract Manufacturing (Wacker Biotech): Contract manufacturing services for nucleic acid-based pharmaceuticals including pDNA, RNA, and lipid nanoparticles, with GMP manufacturing capabilities from Munich Biotechnology Center.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wacker Chemie AG manufactures and sells specialty chemicals based on silicone and polymer chemistry, including dispersible polymer powders, polymer dispersions, silicone elastomers, silanes, and bio-based ingredients. Its products serve construction chemicals, automotive/EV battery safety, personal care, electronics, power grid infrastructure, and pharmaceutical contract manufacturing customers globally.

Product overview

Wacker Chemie AG is a global specialty chemicals company with a diversified portfolio organized around silicone chemistry and polymer chemistry. The core product families include: (1) VINNAPAS polymeric binders (dispersible polymer powders and polymer dispersions) for cementitious construction materials including tile adhesives, grout mortars, waterproofing membranes, and self-leveling compounds; (2) SILRES silicone-based products including POWDER additives for hydrophobic treatment and BS impregnating agents; (3) ELASTOSIL ceramifying silicones and potting compounds for EV battery safety; (4) POWERSIL silicone technologies for power transmission and distribution; (5) GENIOSIL silane-terminated polymers for waterproofing; (6) BELSIL and BELNEXT silicone and bio-based ingredients for personal care; (7) SEMICOSIL thermal interface materials for electronics; (8) ETONIS and VINNEVA modifiers for concrete and construction. The portfolio spans construction chemicals (tile adhesives, waterproofing, insulation), EV/battery materials, personal care ingredients, and pharmaceutical contract manufacturing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WACKER ACADEMY: Global training forum for customers and partners offering over 800 events per year with 420 experts worldwide
• My Account
• BELNEXT
• VINNAPAS
• SILRES
• POWERSIL
• ELASTOSIL
• GENIOSIL

Products and services

• VINNAPAS Dispersible Polymer Powders and Polymer Dispersions Polymeric binders (dispersible polymer powders and polymer dispersions) used to modify cementitious building materials including tile adhesives, grout mortars, waterproofing membranes, and self-leveling compounds. Improves adhesion, flexibility, cohesive strength, and workability. Sold to construction chemicals manufacturers globally.
• SILRES Silicone-Based Powder Additives Silanes and silicone-based powder additives for building protection and hydrophobic treatment of dry-mix mortars. Forms water-repellent silicone network that reduces moisture absorption and increases stain resistance. Includes SILRES POWDER A (active agent on inorganic carrier surface) and SILRES POWDER D/E (encapsulated active ingredients). Sold to dry-mix mortar manufacturers.
• ELASTOSIL CM Ceramifying Silicone Ceramifying silicone product line for EV battery safety. Transforms into ceramic structure at temperatures above 600°C, reducing radiant heat from 1,300°C flame to below 150°C in thermal runaway testing. Meets European regulations requiring five minutes of thermal containment. Sold to EV battery manufacturers.
• ELASTOSIL RT 7616 TC and RT 7624 TC Potting Compounds Addition-curing silicone potting compounds with thermal conductivities of 1.6 W/mK and 2.4 W/mK respectively. Designed for EV battery chargers, DC/DC converters, and inverters with optimized rheology to prevent thermal filler sedimentation during storage.
• POWERSIL Silicone Technologies for Grid Infrastructure Silicone technologies for transmission and distribution grid infrastructure, including materials for insulators, arresters, bushings, cable joints, and coatings addressing aging infrastructure, weather resistance, and reliability demands. Sold to utilities and power engineering professionals.
• BELSIL Personal Care Silicones Silicone technologies for personal care applications including hair care, skin care, sun care, and color cosmetics. Sold to personal care brands and formulators.
• BELNEXT Bio-Based Personal Care Ingredients Bio-based functional ingredients for personal care industry developed through partnership with Amyris, combining biomanufacturing capabilities with WACKER's formulation expertise. Sold to personal care brands and formulators.
• PFAS-Free Silicone Materials for Smart Glasses (SEMICOSIL and LUMISIL) PFAS-free silicone materials for AI smart glasses including SEMICOSIL 993 TC and SEMICOSIL 9910 TC heat-dissipation materials, LUMISIL 530 display protection, and optical bonding materials. Targets next-generation wearable market as global PFAS regulations tighten. Sold to global device manufacturers and big tech companies.
• WACKER Contract Research Services (CRS) for Nucleic Acid Pharmaceuticals Contract research services for nucleic acid-based pharmaceuticals provided by Munich-based Biotechnology Center. Supports preclinical studies for biotech and biopharmaceutical clients with services including production of pDNA, RNA, and lipid nanoparticles, with options for initial research and scalability to GMP manufacturing.
• GENIOSIL Silane-Terminated Polymers Silane-terminated polymers for formulating liquid waterproofing membranes that can be applied under unfavorable conditions, dry very fast, and contain no solvents or isocyanate.
• ETONIS Concrete Modifiers Modifiers for concrete used in water management and tunneling applications.
• Bio Med Sciences Silicone-Coated Medical Products Silicone-coated healthcare products and medical devices for wound care dressings and medical applications requiring prolonged skin adherence. Acquired through Bio Med Sciences Inc. acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thin-bed tiling with VINNAPAS® saves 90% sand and cement and 75% working time compared to thick-bed method
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bio Med Sciences Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 May 2026Acquisition of US-based medical device manufacturer specializing in silicone-coated medical products, enhancing WACKER's capabilities in silicone-coated adhesive technologies and skin-friendly stick-to-skin applications for healthcare and medical device markets.
• AmyriscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Strategic partnership to jointly develop bio-based functional ingredients for the personal care sector, combining WACKER's silicone chemistry and formulation expertise with Amyris's precision fermentation and biological chemistry capabilities. Products will be marketed under the new BELNEXT brand targeting the growing bio-based cosmetics market expected to outpace conventional counterparts. Both companies contribute scalable production methods and global sales networks.
• IMCDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal specialty chemicals distributor utilizing WACKER My Account platform for interactive product catalog, technical information, order processing and customer service support for their customers.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Shin-Etsu Chemical: World's largest silicones producer and a leading PVC/semiconductor silicon wafer supplier. Shin-Etsu is WACKER's closest direct competitor in silicones and polymer chemistry, with overlapping customer bases in electronics, automotive, construction, and personal care, and similar specialty-chemical business model.
• Momentive Performance Materials: Specialty silicones and additives producer serving automotive, electronics, construction, and personal care. Momentive competes head-to-head with WACKER in silicone elastomers, fluids, and ELASTOSIL-type products across similar applications and customer segments.
• Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals peer with overlapping product lines in silicones, specialty additives, and construction/personal care chemistry. Comparable European footprint, similar customer mix (automotive, construction, cosmetics), and comparable mid-cap specialty chemicals business model — though Evonik is broader and more diversified.
• Elkem ASA: Norwegian-headquartered silicones and silicon materials producer (including Elkem Silicones division). Directly comparable to WACKER's silicones franchise in sealants, elastomers, and release coatings for construction, automotive, and personal care applications.
• Arkema SA: French specialty chemicals company with a strong silicones platform (acquired through Bostik and upstream integration), plus adhesives and advanced materials. Direct overlap with WACKER in specialty silicones, construction adhesives, and personal care/polymer specialties.

Broad incumbents

• Dow Inc. US-headquartered diversified materials giant with a sizable silicones franchise (formerly Dow Corning) and broad polymer/chemicals portfolio. Dow overlaps with WACKER in silicones, construction chemicals, and electronics materials but competes from a much larger, commodity-tilted platform rather than specialty focus.
• BASF SE: World's largest chemical company and WACKER's German neighbor, with overlapping portfolios in polymers, construction chemicals, automotive materials, and personal care ingredients. BASF is far larger and broader but competes with WACKER in many of the same application areas.
• Covestro AG: German polymers and high-performance materials maker (now under ADNOC ownership), competing with WACKER in polymer dispersions, adhesives raw materials, and construction chemicals. Comparable German specialty-chemicals orientation and customer base.
• 3M Company: US diversified industrial conglomerate with significant specialty adhesives, tapes, and electronics materials businesses. Comparable in industrial customer base and innovation model to WACKER, particularly for ELASTOSIL/SILRES-grade products sold into automotive, electronics, and healthcare end markets.
• DuPont de Nemours: US specialty chemicals/materials company with overlapping positions in electronics materials, construction chemicals, and personal care specialties. DuPont competes with WACKER in semiconductor-grade silicones, advanced polymers, and PFAS-substitute chemistries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WackerChemie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wacker-chemie-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/wacker_global
• Xx.com/wackerchemie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wacker Chemie