This state-of-the-art facility will increase production capacity for the highest-quality polysilicon by over 50%, fueling the demands of advanced microelectronics, including artificial intelligence.
Wacker Chemie AG today marked a significant milestone in the global semiconductor industry with the official commissioning of its "Etching Line Next" at its Burghausen production site in Germany. Representing the Group’s largest single investment in the past 10 years, the new production line, valued at over €300 million, is dedicated to manufacturing ultra-pure semiconductor-grade polysilicon, a critical raw material for the next generation of computer chips.
The grand opening ceremony saw a gathering of high-profile figures, including Bavaria’s Minister-President Markus Söder and Gitta Connemann, Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, alongside customers, suppliers, and project partners. WACKER CEO Christian Hartel underscored the strategic importance of the new facility, stating, "With our Etching Line Next, we are able to produce ultra-pure polysilicon and thus the feedstock for the next generation of computer chips, which are prerequisite for high-tech applications such as artificial intelligence."
Hartel further emphasized WACKER's unique position, noting, "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. We are the only company in Europe and the largest in the world who manufactures ultrapure polysilicon for the semiconductor industry. The Etching Line Next allows us to further consolidate our position as a global quality and technology leader.”
Gitta Connemann echoed these sentiments, congratulating WACKER on the "groundbreaking plant" and stressing that the investment not only secures regional jobs but also strengthens Germany and Europe's position in global competition, fostering innovation and technological sovereignty.
The demand for hyperpure, semiconductor-grade polysilicon is surging, driven by the rapid pace of digital transformation, the proliferation of data centers, and the rise of advanced technologies like autonomous driving and Industry 4.0. WACKER, with over 70 years of expertise in the polysilicon business, is a leading global producer. The company aims to double its sales to semiconductor customers by 2030, with Etching Line Next being a cornerstone of this growth strategy.
Construction of the facility began in fall 2022, with commissioning phases starting in fall 2024. The plant is now fully operational and has already begun delivering its first consignments of hyperpure polysilicon. This expansion will not only increase WACKER's capacity for the highest semiconductor-grade products by more than 50 percent but also create approximately 150 new jobs.
The production process involves a highly sophisticated and largely automated cleaning of polysilicon chunks using acids to achieve an astonishing purity of over 99.9999999999%. This means critical impurities are present only in the parts-per-trillion range—equivalent to a single grain of sugar in an Olympic-size swimming pool.
