Sika News 2017

Sika has acquired Emseal Joint Systems, Ltd., a US-based market leader in the development and manufacturing of structural expansion joint products for new construction and refurbishment. With the acquisition, Sika will be able to offer the most comprehensive range of sealing and bonding solutions available in the North American construction market. Emseal generates annual sales of CHF 40 million.

With the establishment of a new national subsidiary in Bangladesh, Sika has reached a further milestone in the implementation of its growth strategy and is now represented in 100 different countries. 23 national subsidiaries have been established over the past five years alone, making it possible to tap into growth potential in new markets. Bangladesh has over 163 million inhabitants and is one of the most populous countries in the world with a flourishing construction industry.

With the opening of a new facility near Houston, Sika is further expanding its presence in the fast-growing US market. The 16-hectare site will be used for manufacturing a comprehensive portfolio of concrete admixtures and mortar products. The facilities will also serve as a strategic business center which will help tap into the enormous growth potential of the construction market in Texas and the southwestern states of the USA.

Sika has agreed to acquire certain assets of Grupo Industrial Alce in Mexico. As a result Sika will extend its range of solutions for roofing and waterproofing customers, and further expand its manufacturing footprint in Mexico to better serve the Mexico City metropolitan area.

The Board of Directors of Sika has decided to set up a new, strong region Americas. The aim is to create a more efficient supply chain and benefit from larger purchasing volumes in the closely intertwined regions of North and Latin America. This change will take effect as of March 1, 2018.

Sika is further expanding its presence in Africa by opening its first facility for concrete admixtures in Cameroon. Following the foundation of the national subsidiary in 2016 to address the developing market potential the latest investment will enhance the local supply chain footprint.

Sika has agreed to acquire Faist ChemTec Group, a leading manufacturer of high-performance engineered, structure-borne acoustic solutions for the automotive industry. Headquartered in Worms, Germany, the company generates annual sales of CHF 190 million and employs 840 people worldwide. The acquisition brings technology and know-how that will accelerate Sika’s growth and drive market penetration via the strong synergies between the two companies. The transaction is subject to clearance by anti-trust authorities.

Sika has started producing high-performance concrete reinforcing fibers for clients in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at its manufacturing facility in Troisdorf, Germany, where a new production line has been commissioned. Made of a thermoplastic material (polypropylene), the fibers are used to increase the structural strength of concrete in highly demanding applications. With this new production line, Sika is continuing to expand its range of concrete additives and positioning itself as an innovative single-source supplier to the construction industry.

Sika has acquired Butterfield Color, Inc. a US-based market leader in the production of decorative concrete floor products and systems. The acquisition will accelerate Sika’s growth by bringing the most comprehensive range of solutions for concrete contractors in the North American construction market. Butterfield generated sales of CHF 20 million in 2016.

Sika is expanding its presence in Africa and opens a new facility in the Angolan capital, Luanda. In addition to the production of concrete admixtures in an existing factory, mortar products – one of the Sika Group's fastest-growing areas of business – will also be manufactured locally.