In its four biggest sales-generating divisions, WACKER continues to rank among the world’s top three suppliers. And we are the global market leader for some products, such as VINNAPAS® dispersible polymer powders for the construction industry. The key sales region for our products is Europe (including Germany), followed by Asia and the USA.
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WACKER’s Competitive Positions |
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WACKER SILICONES |
Dow Corning |
Momentive |
WACKER | |||
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WACKER POLYMERS |
WACKER |
Akzo (Elotex) |
Dairen | |||
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WACKER POLYSILICON |
Hemlock |
WACKER |
OCI | |||
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SILTRONIC |
Shin-Etsu |
Sumco |
SILTRONIC |
Market Positions of WACKER’s Divisions
In the silicones market, WACKER SILICONES ranks number 3 and, in the masonry-protection silicones segment, we are global number 1. WACKER holds a leading position in Europe, where we generated sales of €850.2 million in 2010. Due to their wide-ranging product properties, silicones are used in every major industry. The largest growth potential lies in Asia, where ever-higher living standards are boosting demand for silicone products.
WACKER POLYMERS is the world’s largest producer of vinyl acetate/ethylene-based dispersions and dispersible polymer powders. Importantly, we are the only company in the market to offer a complete supply chain for dispersions and polymer powders in Europe, the Americas and Asia. Once again, the largest growth potential lies in Asia, where we maintain an integrated production site for dispersions and polymer powders at Nanjing (annual capacity: 30,000 metric tons). Beside the construction industry, WACKER POLYMERS also supplies the textile, adhesive, paint and surface-coating sectors.
WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS is the global market leader in cyclodextrins and cysteine, and in polyvinyl acetate solid resins for chewing gum base. In the field of bacterial pharmaceutical protein production, we hold promising market positions, which we are continuing to expand.
WACKER POLYSILICON is experiencing strong growth, fueled by increasing solar-industry demand for polysilicon. Through capacity expansion and substantial productivity gains, we have reinforced our position as the second-largest producer of hyperpure polycrystalline silicon for electronic and solar applications. Thanks to the complete ramp-up of expansion stage 8 in Burghausen and productivity increases, hyperpure-silicon production grew by 12,400 metric tons to 30,500 metric tons in 2010 (2009: 18,100 metric tons).
Siltronic remains the world’s third-largest manufacturer of silicon wafers and other products for the semiconductor industry. Its customers include all the major global semiconductor companies, which account for over 80 percent of our sales in this segment.