Key Events Affecting Business Performance
Acquisitions and investments
In the field of fully integrating the development and production of silicone-coated pressure-sensitive adhesive products, WACKER expanded its expertise and activities by acquiring the production facilities and know-how of US coater Bio Med Sciences Inc. By taking over Bio Med Sciences’ facilities, technology and know-how, WACKER has become a solution provider in the healthcare sector. This new business complements its existing solutions in silicone adhesive gels for medical and cosmetic applications. All the production lines and most of the workforce have been transferred to a new business unit called Wacker Silicone Manufactured Innovations LLC (WSMI), which is headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania (USA).
Divestitures
WACKER did not divest any business fields or product operations in 2024.
Capital expenditures (CapEx)
Capital expenditures in 2024 were slightly lower than the year before, reaching about €666 million (2023: €710 million). Investing activities worldwide covered all four divisions and focused on expanding capacities to meet customer demand and growth opportunities. To bolster its biotechnology business, the Group invested more than €100 million in constructing an mRNA competence center at its site in Halle, Germany. The center was opened in June 2024. More than 100 highly qualified jobs have been created in Halle as a result. Part of this new capacity is available for use by the German government for its pandemic-preparedness plan, so that it can swiftly supply Germany with vaccines as and when required. WACKER also expanded its capacity for biological advanced-therapy drugs in San Diego. The capacity extension means that WACKER can now produce messenger RNA (mRNA) and recombinant proteins for research and clinical development. In addition, Wacker Chemie AG is strengthening its focus on specialty silicones by constructing a new production site in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. Construction began there in 2024. From late 2025, WACKER will produce room-temperature-curing high-performance silicones in Karlovy Vary. In total, WACKER will invest a low triple-digit-million euro amount there, creating around 200 jobs by 2028. Further funds were invested in expanding the Zhangjiagang site in China, where new production lines were built for functional silicone fluids, silicone emulsions and silicone elastomer gels. At Burghausen, WACKER is increasing its production capacities for semiconductor-grade polysilicon and for ultrapure hydrogen chloride, which is used as an etching and cleaning agent in semiconductor manufacturing. The plant will start up in 2025.
