Coatings World - July 2016

Sika supplies the building and construction industry as well as manufacturing industries (automotive, bus, truck, rail, solar and wind power plants, facades). Sika is a leader in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting load-bearing structures. Sika’s product lines feature high-quality concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcing materials, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring as well as roofing and waterproofing systems.

All regions achieved significant sales increases and market share gains during fiscal 2015, with double-digit sales growth in the core markets of the U.S., Mexico, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. According to Sika’s Annual Report, in the past business year, the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) increased sales by 5. 6 percent, benefiting from the good business performance in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Sales in Western Europe even slightly exceeded the previous year’s strong result. The greatest sales growth was achieved in the Latin America region. Despite a challenging market environment in Brazil, market share gains in other countries resulted in sales rising by 9. 5 percent. North America recorded a sustained high level of growth, increasing sales by 8. 4 percent. In the U.S., Sika’s continued development of the market and the healthy construction sector, where investment in infrastructure and commercial projects is increasing, led to significantly higher volumes. Growth in the Asia/Pacific region slowed to 2.1 percent owing to the market downturn in China. Although double-digit sales increases were achieved in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Sika’s accelerated growth in the emerging markets continued to generate results, with sales rising by 7. 9 percent. The high-margin mortar business – a core component of Sika’s Strategy 2018 – exhibited an above-average performance, with sales growth of 12. 9 percent. Sika further expanded its fast-growing mortar business in the past year by opening five new factories and completing three acquisitions.

The accelerated expansion in growth markets continued in 2015
and new factories were opened in all regions. “In the EMEA region,
the expansion of production capacity in the form of new factories in
Dubai, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Russia, and la Réunion will ensure ad-
ditional future growth,” said Sika CEO Jan Jenisch. “Furthermore,
Sika established new national subsidiaries in Tanzania and Ethiopia.
In the Latin America region, new factories were opened in Paraguay
and Argentina, while in North America, Sika expanded its produc-
tion capacities by adding a new facility in Philadelphia. In the Asia/
Pacific region, Sika’s first factory in Sri Lanka was opened, while a
new national subsidiary was established in Myanmar.

Sika Opens Fourth Plant in Canada

Sika has inaugurated a mortars and concrete admixtures plant in Vancouver. The new facility is the Group’s fourth in Canada. It will supply the Pacific Northwest, a region that includes the major cities of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. The new plant marks the continued execution of Sika’s supply chain strategy in North America, the aim of which is to expand production capacities in conurbations and major cities.

Christoph Ganz, regional manager North America: “Local pro-
duction will be very beneficial to customers in the region by pro-
viding improved product availability, reduced lead times and faster
deliveries. Moreover, eliminating the cost of shipping products from
our Edmonton and Montreal plants and using locally sourced raw
materials will enable us to optimize our cost structure.”
The new facility in Vancouver includes a modular mortar plant
and blending equipment for the production of a wide range of con-
crete admixtures. In addition to the production area, the new build-
ing also houses a quality control laboratory, a warehouse and office
space for administrative and sales personnel.
This latest addition brings the number of Sika production sites
in North America to 18, four of which are in Canada. In December
2015 a mortar production facility opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylva-
nia to serve the major cities on the East Coast of the U.S.
05Sika AG Baar, Switzerland www.sika.com

PUBLIC COMPANY YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1910

REVENUE: 5. 54 billion s (2014: $2.85 billion)

MARKETS SERVED

• Adhesives • Sealants • Protective coatings

KEY EXECUTIVES

Paul Hälg, chairman of the board; Jan Jenisch, CEO; Group management: Paul Schuler, EMEA; Jose Luis Vazquez, Latin America; Silvio Ponti, building systems and industry;