Wacker Chemie AG officially commissioned the Etching Line Next, its cutting-edge production line for ultra-pure semiconductor-grade polysilicon, at its Burghausen site in Germany. The €300 million facility marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to reinforce its standing as the world’s largest producer of this critical raw material.
WACKER CEO Christian Hartel emphasized, “Ultra-pure polycrystalline silicon is the purest man-made material. Everything regarding the semiconductor industry, and consequently digital transformation, revolves around this key raw material. The Etching Line Next enables us to consolidate our position as a global quality and technology leader.”
Strong Backing from Bavarian and Federal Governments
Minister-President Markus Söder stated, “A strong signal for Bavaria and Germany as a business location: the opening of a state-of-the-art production line worth €300 million. Hyperpure semiconductor-grade polysilicon is the basis for digitalization. Together with the federal government, Bavaria is supporting this investment with around €50 million in innovation funding.” Söder further highlighted initiatives aimed at boosting industrial competitiveness, including energy cost reductions, rapid expansion of renewables, and investment-friendly policies.
Parliamentary State Secretary Gitta Connemann added, “Semiconductors are the backbone of our modern economy. This project not only secures jobs in the region but strengthens Germany and Europe’s technological sovereignty in the face of global competition.”
Rising Demand for Hyperpure Polysilicon
Digital transformation, autonomous driving, Industry 4.0, and ever-growing data volumes are fuelling surging demand for high-purity polysilicon—a critical input for advanced chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) systems, supercomputers, and data centers. Only a handful of companies worldwide can meet the semiconductor industry’s stringent purity standards.
WACKER, a pioneer in the polysilicon market for more than 70 years, supplies the raw material for every second computer chip manufactured globally. The company aims to double its semiconductor-related sales by 2030, driven by capacity expansions like the Etching Line Next.
No WACKER Polysilicon, No AI
CEO Hartel commented, “Etching Line Next allows us to achieve exceptionally high product quality and stable production processes. The polysilicon produced here will enable developers and manufacturers to build even more powerful logic and memory chips for the most demanding applications, including AI. Simply put: no polysilicon from WACKER, no AI.”
Largest Investment Project to Date
With construction starting in fall 2022, commissioning was completed in phases through late 2024. Now fully operational, the Etching Line Next is already producing its first consignments. As per the company press release, the €300 million project is WACKER’s largest current investment. It underscores the company’s commitment to technological leadership and the semiconductor industry’s future.
