Employees in research and development
BYK 481
ECKART 221
ELANTAS 176
ACTEGA 218
Holding 6
Total 1,102
Employees
In the course of 2017, the number of people employed by
the ALTANA Group climbed by 219, or 4 %, to 6,186 (pre-
vious year: 5,967). The increase was primarily due to acquisi-
tions made in 2017 (+ 111 employees) and the expansion
of business activities.
In the BYK division, the number of employees rose by
145 to 2,200 people (previous year: 2,055). The PolyAd
companies in Germany and the U.S. acquired at the begin-
ning of 2017 accounted for a significant share of the increase.
In addition, the division’s workforce grew against the
background of the expansion of its additives business in
Germany, the U.S., and China.
The number of employees in the ECKART division decreased
by 32 to 1,716 people in 2017 (previous year:
1,748) due to company restructuring initiated in 2015. The
reduction primarily concerned the German sites in Harten-
stein and Wackersdorf. The division dissolved its own sales
organization in Mexico in 2017 and it was integrated into
the BYK division. Most of the employees switched to the corresponding
BYK company.
In the course of 2017, the workforce of the ELANTAS
division increased by 85 to a total of 1,061 people (previous
year: 976). The acquisitions made in the U.S. in the course
of the year accounted for the main share of the increase. The
number of employees in Germany also increased due to
the expansion of business activities.
ACTEGA’s headcount rose by 13 employees to 1,094
(previous year: 1,081). The main reason for this was the technology
acquisitions in Germany and the U.S. made in the
course of the year. However, ACTEGA reduced the personnel
at its site in Brazil on account of restructuring measures.
The functional structure of the workforce did not alter
significantly in 2017. With 52 %, or 3,198 people (prev-
ious year: 3,114), most of the employees continued to work
in production. In 2017, the number of people employed
in research and development rose by 81 to 1,102 (previous
year: 1,021), accounting for the highest percentage increase.
The headcount in marketing and sales, as well as ad-
ministration, increased by a total of 54 people in the course
Employees by division
1
5
2
3
27.7 %
17.2 %
35.5 %
1.9 %
4 17.7 %
Dec. 31,
2016
Dec. 31,
2017
Δ %
1 BYK 2,055 2,200 7
2 ECKART 1,748 1,716 - 2
3 ELANTAS 976 1,061 9
4 ACTEGA 1,081 1,094 1
5 Holding 107 115 7
Total 5,967 6,186 4
64 Innovation and Employees