High-tech Adhesives opens its new, highly-modern production plant

Sika opens its new factory for Sikaflex® polyurethane adhesivesin Dudingen, Switzerland. More than CHF 100 million were investedin this major project. Sika is establishing some 150 jobs on the40,000 m2 factory surface. This investment underscores Sika's trustin the industry location Switzerland. The production facility has a start-up capacity of 30'000 tons perannum. In a second construction phase this capacity will beincreased to 60'000 tons per annum. "The entire European market canbe served with polyurethane adhesives from here," says BrunoFritsche, member of Sika Group Management and Head of the IndustryDivision.
Leap in Technology as Motor for Growth

The new factory works with a new, highly automated productionprocess. "The new technology will reduce production costsconsiderably," Fritsche expects. "Technologically we've taken anenormous step, which will open additional application fields forour adhesives."
European automobile manufacturers are the most important customersfor the adhesives from Dudingen. In vehicle construction today,more and more plastics and composite materials are being used toreduce the weight of vehicles and so lower their energyconsumption. Bonding with steel, however, is only possible withadhesives. Bruno Fritsche also sees great growth potential forpolyurethane adhesives in the fabrication of busses, commercialvehicles and railcars. Furthermore there is substantial business inthe construction sector, primarily in the areas of window and fa?deconstruction.

The products will leave the factory gates in an environmentallyfriendly manner via rail. The factory uses the railway siding fromSikaSarnafil Manufacturing AG, already located in Dudingen.Additional railway sidings were laid during factory construction tocope with the increased freight train traffic on the companygrounds. More than one thousand railcars per year will sustainablyboost freight traffic on the rails.
Sika AG Corporate Profile
Sika AG, located in Baar, Switzerland, is a globally active companysupplying the specialty chemicals markets. It is a leader inprocessing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcingand protecting load-bearing structures in construction (buildingsand infrastructure construction) and in industry (vehicle, buildingcomponent and equipment production).

Sika's product lines feature high-quality concrete admixtures,specialty mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcingmaterials, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooringand membranes. Subsidiaries in more than 70 countries worldwide andapproximately 11,700 employees link customers directly to Sika andguarantee the success of all of its business relationships.