History
Milestones in the History of WACKER
A company’s history is shaped by diverse factors. The socio-political and economic landscape is, of course, important. But the decisive factor is the company's inner strength.
Research, expansion and realignment require courage and a willingness to invest. Only time can tell whether management decisions were right – and WACKER’s history clearly supports our forward-looking strategy for lasting success.
| 1903 |
Founding of the Consortium für elektrochemische Industrie GmbH |
| 1914 |
Founding of Wacker-Chemie GmbH on October 13 |
| 1916/17 |
First ever large-scale production of acetaldehyde, acetic acid and acetone |
| 1922 |
Method for producing acetic anhydride via ketene (cellulose acetate) |
| 1924 |
Leasing of the salt mine in Stetten near Haigerloch, Germany, to secure raw materials supply (subsequently acquired in 1960).
Start of production of polyvinyl alcohol and manufacture of first all-synthetic fibers therefrom |
| 1928 |
First large-scale production of vinyl acetate and polyvinyl acetate |
| 1935 |
Patent application for suspension method of manufacturing polyvinyl chloride |
| 1947 |
Start of work in the field of silicones |
| 1953 |
Start of hyperpure silicon production |
| 1957 |
Direct oxidation of ethylene to acetaldehyde |
| 1965 |
Founding of Wacker Chemical Corporation, New York |
| 1966 |
Start of production of copolymers based on vinyl acetate/ethylene |
| 1968 |
Burghausen plant switches from acetylene to ethylene as raw materials base.
Founding of Wacker-Chemitronic Gesellschaft für Elektronik-Grundstoffe mbH, Burghausen, Germany (now Siltronic AG) |
Polishing hyperpure silicon wafers (1968)
| 1978 |
Founding of Wacker Siltronic Corporation, Portland/Oregon, USA |
| 1983 |
Founding of Wacker Chemicals East Asia Ltd., Tokyo |
| 1987 |
Founding of Wacker Silicones Corporation, Adrian/Michigan, USA |
| 1990 |
Commissioning of biotech pilot plant in Burghausen |
| 1991 |
HQ moves to new premises in the Neuperlach area of Munich |
| 1993 |
Spin-off of VC and PVC activities as Vinnolit Kunststoff GmbH |
| 1995 |
Acquisition of the hyperpure silicon activities of Freiberger Elektronikwerkstoffe (FEW) |
| 1996 |
Conversion of Wacker Siltronic into a stock company (Wacker Siltronic AG) |
| 1998 |
Founding of Wacker Polymer Systems GmbH & Co. KG.
Acquisition of the silicone activities of the Hüls Group in Nünchritz, Saxony, Germany |
| 1999 |
Start of cyclodextrins production in Eddyville, Iowa, USA.
Startup of production of 200-mm hyperpure wafer fab in Singapore.
Founding of Wacker Asahikasei Silicone (joint venture with Asahi Chemical Industry, Japan) |
Wacker Biochem’s cyclodextrin plant in Eddyville, Iowa (USA)
| 2000 |
Withdrawal from PVC business, sale of Vinnolit Kunststoff GmbH to Advent Int. Corp. |
| 2002 |
Expansion of Siltronic’s site in Freiberg: new 300-mm-wafer production line |
| 2003 |
Consortium für elektrochemische Industrie celebrates 100 years of research. |
| 2004 |
Commissioning of a production plant for silicone emulsions in Shanghai.
Salt mine in Stetten celebrates 150 years.
Sale of ESK Ceramics GmbH & Co. KG to American ceramics producer Ceradyne Inc. |
| 2005 |
WACKER acquires the Jena-based biotech company ProThera GmbH. ProThera changes name to Wacker Biotech GmbH.
WACKER acquires polymers business of the Chinese chemicals producer Wuxi Xinda Fine Chemical Co. Ltd.
Launch of a Spray Dryer in China
WACKER and China’s Dymatic Chemicals Inc. found joint ventures for production and marketing of silicones products.
Conversion of Wacker-Chemie GmbH into a stock company (Wacker Chemie AG) |
| 2006 |
Joint venture with Dow Corning to produce raw materials for silicone production in China |
| 2006 |
WACKER launches successful IPO |
| 2007 |
WACKER acquires Air Products’ shareholding in Joint Venture for construction polymers |
| 2008 |
Siltronic and Samsung start producing 300 millimeter wafers in Singapore |
| 2009 |
At Nanjing, WACKER starts up China’s largest dispersible polymer powder plant |
| 2010 |
Commissioning of additional silicon production facilities in Burghausen
Opening of the largest integrated silicone manufacturing site in Zhanjiagang, China with our joint-venture partner, Dow Corning.
Acquisition of silicon-metal plant in Holla, Norway |
