Adhesives & Sealants
November 2014 www.coatingsworld.com Coatings World | 35
absorb large movements,” he said.
“SikaHyflex sealants exhibit an exceptional durability due
to their outstanding UV and weathering resistance. Sika strives
for sustainable building construction and therefore focuses on
long-lasting solutions. SikaHyflex sealants ensure tight building
envelopes permanently and thus contribute significantly to the
reduction of heating and cooling energy of buildings.”
Bankwitz said Sika focuses on its customers’ processes in or-
der to determine its focus.
“Our focus is always to create value for our customers with
adhesives and sealants that enable them to improve their pro-
cesses, save time, allowing new ways of construction (e. g. light
weight designs in the automotive industry) and the use of new
construction materials,” he said. “The focus in developing new
construction sealants and adhesives lies specifically on durabil-
ity, improved indoor air quality, wider application windows (e.
g. lower/higher temperatures), improved adhesion without pre-
treatment, compatibility with other typically used materials or
better resistance to various chemicals.”
For its part, Henkel has launched several new products
through its Adhesive Technologies business unit. Kretzberg said
that these “tailor-made solutions are based on comprehensive
expertise in products and technologies, Henkel’s global pres-
ence, and close partnerships with customers.”
Loctite 4090 is a hybrid adhesive that combines the key
features of structural and instant adhesives: bond strength
and speed. “This powerful combination provides high impact
resistance, high strength bonding on a variety of substrates,
and high temperature resistance, making it versatile enough
to solve a wide range of design and assembly challenges,” the
company said.
Loctite TAF is designed to improve design flexibility and performance of electronic devices while enhancing user comfort.
The flexible heat-absorbing film from the Loctite TAF series
lowers the processor and housing temperature of mobile devices
by more than 3 degrees Celsius.
Loctite Threadlocker Sticks as formulated as wax-like,
semi-solid adhesives packaged in a self-feeding stick applicator.
Loctite 248 and Loctite 268 Threadlocker Sticks are designed to
provide robust cure even on oil-contaminated or inactive metals
like stainless steel. “Only Henkel offers these convenient stick
threadlockers for use in different maintenance, repair and overhaul applications,” the company said.
Working in conjunction with Ford Motor Company, Henkel
developed Loctite 5189, an anaerobic gasketing sealant for
highly stressed engine joints. With exceptional flexibility, the
company said Loctite 5189 meets the requirements of the on
line blow-out test and thus eliminating the cost of extensive
manual rework and offering robust sealing for high volume engine manufacturing.
Kretzberg added that research and development is a huge
focus for Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies business unit. “In the
first six months of the fiscal year, research and development
expenditures amounted to €207 million (adjusted for restruc-
turing charges: €206 million),” she said. “Sixty percent of the
R&D expenditures account for the Adhesive Technologies busi-
ness unit.”
Relative to sales, Henkel’s research and development expen-
ditures increased slightly versus the same period in the previous
year. The ratio was 2.6 percent (adjusted: 2.6 percent).
“A substantial part of our research and development activity
takes place in the areas of polymer and interface chemistry, biotechnology, materials science, surface treatment, process technology and new packaging. These activities are important for
all Henkel business units,” Kretzberg said. “The development of
innovative products is of key importance to our business model.
The research and development strategy described in our Annual
Report 2013 has remained unchanged.”
Global Growth Strategies
Both Sika and Henkel have recently acquired companies to further strengthen their global product offerings and services.
In 2013, Sika acquired Everbuild - UK’s largest independent
manufacturer of sealants, adhesives and construction chemicals
- as well as Akzo Nobel’s Building Adhesive business.
“While the first acquisition especially provided good access
to the distribution market in UK,” he said, “the latter improved
Sika’s position in interior finishing with floor and wall covering
solutions and tile adhesives.”
Recently, Henkel acquired The Bergquist Company (see box),
and also signed a joint-development agreement with U.S.-based
Vitriflex, Inc. in May.
Founded in San Jose, California in 2010, Vitriflex has developed a unique ultra-barrier film technology that utilizes a
proprietary roll-to-roll technique to deliver high-performance
barrier films in an easy-to-integrate form factor. Barrier films
protect electronic components against moisture and oxygen ingress. This invention offers the first time ever cost competitive
flexible barrier film technology for the display market. Under
the terms of its agreement with Henkel, the ultra-barrier film
innovator will work with Henkel technology experts to develop
customized, integrated barrier film products for flexible displays.
According to Henkel, the agreement was the result of a comprehensive scouting process which began in 2012 to anticipate
future market needs and applications. “Since then,” the company said, “the systematic and strategic evaluation of new business opportunities has become a critical element in driving the
companies´ global innovation leadership.” CW
