Major Sales Markets and Competitive Positions (unaudited section)
The competitive positions of WACKER’s three biggest divisions by sales were unchanged in 2019.
Competitive Positions of WACKER’s Divisions
WACKER SILICONES is No. 2 globally and leads the market in Europe. In building-protection silicones, WACKER is the global market leader. Silicones are used in every major industry due to their versatile properties. The greatest growth potential is in Asia.
WACKER POLYMERS is the world’s largest producer of VAE dispersions and dispersible polymer powders. We are the only company in the market with a complete supply chain for dispersions and dispersible polymer powders in Europe, the Americas and Asia. At this division, too, we see Asia as the region with the greatest growth potential.
WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS is the global market leader not only for cyclodextrins and cysteine made from vegetarian-grade raw materials, but also for polyvinyl acetate solid resins used in gumbase. We hold a small but promising market position as a producer of bacterial pharmaceutical proteins, and are continually expanding that position.
WACKER POLYSILICON’s business is characterized by intense competition. This primarily results from solar-industry demand for polysilicon and from the market environment facing the solar industry worldwide. According to in-house analyses, WACKER POLYSILICON is global No. 1 in terms of production volumes for both polysilicon supplied to the semiconductor sector and monocrystalline polysilicon used in the solar sector.
General term used to describe compounds of organic molecules and silicon. According to their areas of application, silicones can be classified as fluids, resins or rubber grades. Silicones are characterized by a myriad of outstanding properties. Typical areas of application include construction, the electrical and electronics industries, shipping and transportation, textiles and paper coatings.
Dispersions
Binary system in which one solid component is finely dispersed in another. VINNAPAS® dispersions are vinyl-acetate-based copolymers and terpolymers in liquid form. They are mainly used as binders in the construction industry, e.g. for grouts, plasters and primers.
Dispersible Polymer Powders
Created by drying dispersions in spray or disc dryers. VINNAPAS® polymer powders are recommended as binders in the construction industry, e.g. for tile adhesives, self-leveling compounds and repair mortars. They improve adhesion, cohesion, flexibility and flexural strength as well as water-retention and processing properties.
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule made up of smaller molecular units (monomers). It contains between 10,000 and 100,000 monomers. Polymers can be long or ball-shaped.
Cyclodextrins
Cyclodextrins belong to the family of cyclic oligosaccharides (i.e. ring-shaped sugar molecules). They are able to encapsulate foreign substances such as fragrances and to release active ingredients at a controlled rate. WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS produces and markets cyclodextrins.
Cysteine
Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid. It belongs to the non-essential amino acids, as it can be formed in the body. It is used, for example, as an additive in foods and cough mixtures. Cysteine and its derivatives are a business field at WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS.
Polysilicon
Hyperpure polycrystalline silicon from WACKER POLYSILICON is used for manufacturing wafers for the electronics and solar industries. To produce it, metallurgical-grade silicon is converted into liquid trichlorosilane, highly distilled and deposited in hyperpure form at 1,000 °C.
