Breaking! wacker chemie announces layoffs!

Recently, Wacker Chemie AG announced a strategic layoff plan that will affect about 90 of the nearly 650 employees at its production facility in Charleston, Tennessee, USA. This decision is part of the company's extensive restructuring plan aimed at responding to the changing market environment and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business.

Since 2015, the Charleston plant has been producing electronic-grade and solar-grade high-purity polycrystalline silicon, and in 2019 it produced HDK® fumed silica. In 2022, Wacker announced plans to invest over $200 million to expand the Charleston production facility and prepare for the construction of silicone production capacity. According to the plan, the first phase of production equipment will primarily focus on high-temperature cured solid silicone rubber and silicone sealants for applications such as construction, but will also include facilities for the production of intermediate products. In subsequent construction phases, Wacker will add production equipment for other product lines to the facility, including silane-modified polymers used as base materials for high-quality adhesives and sealants, liquid waterproof coatings, and environmentally friendly floor adhesives.

The factory currently has about 650 employees. Although the factory underwent a major expansion costing $200 million in 2022, adding approximately 200 jobs, the economic headwinds the company is currently facing have prompted the company to take this difficult but necessary action.

"This decision is not made lightly," said Chris Kowitz, President and CEO of Wacker Chemie. "We sincerely thank all employees for their efforts and will continue to provide them with our full support during this transition period."

Affected employees will receive severance pay. Wacker Chemie will continue to adhere to its core principles of operational safety, technological innovation, and customer service, and will reaffirm its long-term commitment to the Charleston community and regional economic development.

Meanwhile, on July 17, 2025, Wacker Chemie's Burghausen production site officially launched the Etching Line Next, a new production line for ultra-high-quality semiconductor-grade polysilicon. The new production facility has a total investment of over 300 million euros, making it Wacker Group's largest single investment in nearly a decade. This expansion will create 150 new jobs.