Sika, the world's largest manufacturer of adhesives and sealants for the construction and automotive industries, has developed a new polyurethane technology and put it on the market under the PURFORM® brand. The new polymer will first be integrated into Sika's best-selling Sikaflex®, as well as the liquid film. This innovation has brought important benefits to customers: the performance of the product has been improved, it is more durable, and it is highly sustainable. Sika recently invested in related production facilities at the Düdingen plant.
Polyurethane has many different applications in the construction industry and the automotive industry. For example, it is used for weather-proof sealing of building facade components, or adhesives for building components in infrastructure expansion and interior decoration. These high-performance solutions are also used for bonding electric vehicle body parts and battery systems.
Thanks to the new PURFORM® technology, from 2021, Sika's products for customers will not only meet the highest standards in performance, but also comply with the upcoming stricter REACH regulations to enhance the health and safety of users .
Improve performance and bring more benefits to customers
Sika products using PURFORM® can provide customers with important advantages. These advantages include process efficiency brought about by less surface treatment, while improving bonding performance. The new technology also enables reliable, stress-free plastic bonding and provides the best compatibility with sensitive surfaces such as natural stone. Products using the new technology have strong weather resistance and can maintain a longer time under outdoor ultraviolet rays. Due to their high durability, their sustainability is also significantly improved.
Expand investment in Switzerland
The new generation of polyurethane will be produced at the Düdingen production site, one of Sika's largest manufacturing plants in Europe. Through investment and expansion, Sika has secured a long-term job market in Switzerland.
Chief Technology Officer Frank Höfflin said: "With the development of the new PURFORM® technology, our experts have created a platform for Sika to grow further. Through this platform we can expand our leading position. According to our principle'More Performance, more sustainable development', we are strictly implementing our 2023 strategy from the perspective of sustainable development and high-performance innovation. With our future-oriented solutions, we are the market leader and help the world achieve sustainability Construction and transportation schemes."