The WACKER Group’s Prospects

Based on our assumptions, we expect the global economy to grow in 2021. The strength of this growth will chiefly depend on how effectively the pandemic is contained. While most momentum will come from Asia, we also anticipate growth in the USA and Europe.

Investment Spending and Production

Like last year, our capital expenditures in 2021 will concentrate on production plants for intermediates and downstream products. At around €350 million, capital expenditures will be markedly above the year-earlier level, but below depreciation/amortization. The investment focus is WACKER SILICONES, which will account for more than 40 percent. The division’s investment projects include a new plant for hybrid polymers in Nünchritz. In the course of the year, WACKER POLYMERS will continue expanding its production facilities in Nanjing.

Future Products and Services

WACKER SILICONES is leveraging diverse applications in the construction, electronics, automotive and personal care industries. In the construction sector, there are new opportunities for silane-modified hybrid polymers, e.g. as sealants and adhesives, and in wear-resistant protective coatings for concrete floors. Plenty of potential is offered by our new, silane-based cement additives, which save energy during cement production. They also improve the cement’s storage stability and increase the performance and durability of cement products. Another focus is the development of new fiber composites. Made from carbon or glass fiber and silicone resins, these are mainly used in thermally stable or refractory components for lightweight construction. We are seeing growing demand for specialty silanes for microelectronics as well as for silicones made using renewable raw materials. Such products are increasingly found in cosmetics and personal care, in release coatings, in surface and fabric care, and in construction. In our electronics focus field, we developed not only printable elastic electrode materials made from silicone for use in sensors, but also resin-filled, optically transparent silicone systems for optical bonding applications. In electromobility, thermally conductive silicone elastomers are increasingly gaining ground. We are currently working on low-density and surface-modified formulations. Such products contribute significantly to cooling and thus to the thermal management of electrical storage modules and electronic components. Our electroactive silicone laminates support the development of innovative touchscreens with tactile feedback functions for the automotive, entertainment and medical industries.

WACKER POLYMERS continues to intensify its activities in polymeric binders for sophisticated construction, coating and bonding applications. A key trend here is rising customer demand for sustainable, environmentally compatible solutions. WACKER POLYMERS is actively seizing these market opportunities and developing corresponding product lines. For instance, the division is able to supply – on a commercial scale – a line of dispersions based on vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymers that incorporate renewable raw materials, such as biobased acetic acid. We use mass balance accounting to help reduce CO₂ emissions. The portfolio also includes dispersions for preservative-free applications. Our biocide-free powder paints enable paint quantities to be precisely measured, reducing material consumption and surpluses. Moreover, in tile laying, we are helping to cut cement consumption and thus reduce CO₂ emissions through the switch from thick-bed to thin-bed techniques.

The pharma and food markets offer growth potential for WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS. The pharma market is steadily shifting toward bioengineered medicines. As a CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) for biopharmaceuticals, we are meeting demand growth through our sites in Jena, Halle and Amsterdam. At the Amsterdam site, where production includes vaccines and live microbial products (LMPs), we are investing in new manufacturing facilities. These measures will enable us, for example, to produce new classes of actives, such as the mRNA-based vaccines being used to combat SARS-CoV-2. In the food market, we are supporting the healthy-eating trend. Studies show that our HTEssence^© antioxidant promotes heart health, while our cyclodextrins are used in numerous food applications, for instance increasing the bioavailability of curcumin and improving foaming properties in barista toppings.

In the coming years, demand for high-quality polysilicon will rise further. In particular, demand is growing constantly for monocrystalline cells, which are highly efficient and thus generate more electricity from the same amount of sunlight. WACKER holds a strong position here. With our hyperpure polysilicon, we are ideally placed to supply the fast-growing segment for monocrystalline cells. In addition, we are increasing our share of high-quality polysilicon for the semiconductor industry.