The origin story of Sika, a brand that today is a globally renowned leader in specialty chemicals with over 300 factories across the world, goes all the way back to 1910 - and all the way underneath the Swiss Alps. The entrepreneurial founder of the company, Kaspar Winkler, set things in motion by inventing Sika-1 - a quick-setting waterproofing admixture to mortar. The pioneering product was used to waterproof the Gotthard Tunnel, which played a pivotal role in enabling the Swiss railway company to power the crucial connection between Northern and Southern Europe.
Today, the courageous and innovative spirit of its founder continues to underpin the brand’s values, and the company’s products actively enable industry professionals to generate more sustainable, durable and high-quality outcomes across building and motor vehicle industries. And while a lot has changed since the company’s inception over a century ago, Sika’s purpose has remained the same - to foresee and meet future challenges by offering durable, innovative and reliable solutions for construction, building, and manufacturing industries. In other words, to continue building a more sustainable future.
This harmonious fusion of innovation and sustainability is reflected through Sika’s drive to extend the lifespan of the existing buildings/structures, improve energy and material efficiency and rescue resource consumption - both within the company, as well as for its partners and customers.
Whether it’s protection against climatic conditions, pollution or fire; reinforcing the durability of load-bearing structures; increasing longevity and functioning of facades; or dampening noise emissions for increased occupants comfort - Sika’s vast expertise spans a broad range of applications, always seeking to enhance the life expectancy and efficiency of the project.
For instance, Sika offers flooring systems designed to reduce carbon footprint by utilising less energy and resources, and bespoke roofing solutions manufactured to offer extreme durability and longevity that assists saving energy, resources and expenditure through the life of the building.
Similarly, Sika’s bonding, sealing and waterproofing systems and products are engineered with energy efficiency, as well as carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emission and waste reduction at their core. Whether it’s a bridge, a balcony or a water-drinking facility with extremely stringent requirements, Sika’s unique waterproofing product portfolio elevates both the efficiency and endurance of infrastructure.
The brand’s adhesives and sealants also play a crucial role in generating best in class performance, and longevity of facades and fenestration solutions, ensuring that carefully designed exteriors can withstand harsh Australian weather conditions for years to come.
The same principle defines Sika’s refurbishment segment which offers industry professionals repair, strengthening and protective solutions for concrete structures conceived to extend the lifespan of existing buildings. Sika’s years of experience allowed the brand to curate a line of products that can help restore, rehabilitate and protect these designs to surpass generations.
Sika also provides attainable concrete solutions which can be individually adjusted in ready-mixed and precast concrete plants or on site, depending on the type of cement or application. These concrete admixture products can help improve the sustainability profile of concrete in a broad range of ways. For instance, the addition of stabilising or water reducing admixtures can enable the use of recycled materials in the production of high-quality concrete. Similarly, the water reduction can be significant - thanks to Sika’s range of water reducers, over 25,000 million litres of water are saved in concrete production every year. Lastly, the energy needed to manufacture certain cement or concrete mixes will be positively impacted by the incorporation of admixtures in the production process.
In addition, Sika is a go-to for many of the world's leading wind turbine producers. Being the only partner that can provide the wind industry with systems and product solutions from blade to base, it’s no wonder that over half of the wind turbines around the world feature the company’s product - and 25% of blades worldwide are bonded with Sika adhesives. The company’s expertise where renewable energy is involved covers repair and maintenance of wind turbines as well. Often situated in extremely exposed locations where harsh weather conditions can take severe toll, turbines require fast and timely servicing - and Sika’s renowned team of technicians and experts is there to preserve those incredibly valuable sources of renewable energy and ensure they can continue harnessing wind power.
Sika’s multifaceted sustainability approach that spans across the broad range of sectors and segments is underpinned by the ongoing premise of transparency. The brand has been publishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its products since 2012 and their current, impressive EPD collection covers all of the construction segments.
The brand’s advanced, layered and transparent sustainability agenda that spans such a wide range of segments offers industry professionals an opportunity to choose future-forward, environmentally-advanced solutions from roof to basement, blade to base - and top to bottom.
