Lanxess: From Bayer dropout to the chemical market leader in 20 years!

Lanxess: From Bayer dropout to the chemical market leader in 20 years!

LANXESS AG impressively celebrates its 20th anniversary and looks back on a moving company history that was anything but straightforward. Matthias Zachert, CEO of the renowned special chemical group, recalled that the company was listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange on January 31, 2005 after it was spun off from Bayer AG. While the foundation on July 1, 2004 was already a first step into independence, there was great doubts about the future viability of the company, which is active in a strongly economic -dependent sector. After all, the Bayer shareholders received a piece of Lanxess for ten of their shares and the company had to part with unprofitable areas, including the chemicals for textile processing and paper production.

"The decision to restructure has proven to be correct," said NRW Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, praising the course at that time. Under Zachert's direction, which has held the helm firmly in his hand since April 2014, Lanxess has developed into the fourth largest chemical group in Germany and acts in the DAX 30 league. Especially in the areas of fine chemistry and high -performance plastics, the sensors have been stretched out and invested - particularly remarkable in disinfectant, material protection agents and rubber products for tire production.

growth and challenges

"We survived upheavals such as the Lehman bankruptcy and the financial crisis and at the same time faced the challenges of digitization," continues Zachert. Lanxess has catapulted the passion for new products and technologies into a leading position within the chemical industry. In particular, the auto industry, one of the largest buyers of rubber and chemicals, remains a central partner for the future.

The recent figures also show the company's dynamics: Last year, sales of 6.37 billion euros were generated. However, this positive balance is not only accompanied by success, but also by challenges, so that the company repeatedly posts to deal with "red numbers". With a clear commitment to the locations and the corporate headquarters in Cologne, where the company's heart has been beating since 2013, Lanxess shows that they are holding on to their region.

Investment strategy and social responsibility

From the very beginning, the corporate management has implemented exceptional strategies that have strongly positioned Lanxess on the market. From the foundation by 2025, they have continuously worked on helping both the production facilities in Germany and in international markets such as the USA and Asia. One example of this is the joint venture with Saudi Aramco for the rubber business and the new joint venture for engineering materials with Advent.

In addition, Zachert is also a lawyer for sustainable development and emphasizes the need to promote basic education in order to give children access to the labor market in the future. "A new energy policy is essential to remain competitive in Germany," said Wüst, who praised the NRW location in this context.

Before the readers: Inside, however, losing a reference to the entire chemical industry, it should be mentioned that Germany is one of the leading actors in this area, with a share of a quarter in the chemical turnover of the EU. Overall, the sales of the industry are estimated at 198 billion euros, and there are over 450,000 employees who work in the German chemical industry. This open structure with over 2,000 companies offers a variety of employment opportunities and shows the immense importance of this sector for the German economy.

summarized: Lanxess has rocked up from the rest of the chemical industry in two decades from the remaining ramp and combines tradition with innovation. The next 20 years could be at least as exciting, while the company continues to face the challenges of the global market.