Wacker Invests 300 Million Euros in New Semiconductor-Grade Polysilicon Production Line in Germany

Wacker Chemie has launched its new “Next” etching line for producing ultra‑pure, semiconductor‑grade polysilicon at its Burghausen site in Germany—an investment of more than €300 million and the company’s largest project to date. Construction began in 2022, ramp‑up started in autumn 2024, and the line has now entered full operation, already delivering its first batches.

The facility boosts Wacker’s output of top‑tier semiconductor polysilicon by over 50 percent and creates roughly 150 new jobs, further reinforcing the firm’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain. At the inauguration ceremony, CEO Christian Hartel underlined that ultra‑pure polysilicon is indispensable to digital transformation and high‑performance computing. As the world’s largest—and Europe’s only—producer of this material, Wacker will strengthen its technological and quality leadership through the new line.

Demand for high‑performance chips continues to surge, driven by AI, autonomous driving and Industry 4.0, all of which rely on a stable supply of high‑purity polysilicon. Building on more than 70 years of expertise, Wacker aims to double its semiconductor‑related sales by 2030 compared with 2024. “Without Wacker’s polysilicon,” Hartel remarked, “there is no artificial intelligence.”