Start with Sika Sika

SPECIMEN

START WITH SIKA

More than 50 per cent of the vehicles produced worldwide each year use SIKA technology – and still there are new markets to be conquered. Julia Snow spoke to marketing director Kai Paschkowski to learn about plans for product and market development.

Sika is a speciality chemicals company with a global leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protection in the building sector, the industry and the automotive. Sika has subsidiaries in 90 countries around the world and over 160 production facilities. Its nearly 17,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 5.57 billion in 2014. Sika’s organizational structure is decentralize, with the management teams in the regions and national subsidiaries playing a pivotal role. Of seven target markets, six are located in the building chemicals and building industry. SIKA Automotive

The seventh target market, Industry, is home to the global business unit SIKA Automotive, which supplies the global community in the automotive sector with industry leading solutions for sealing, bonding, damping and reinforcing. The production facilities, sales, technical and customer services as well as R&D supporting teams of this unit are connected in a close network. “We are organised in the regions of North and South America, Asia Pacific and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)” says Mr Paschkowski, who is located in Germany and is responsible for the global product management OES. “We share information within the unit:

each location conducts R&D for example, but everything is then brought together centrally by the group. We can therefore really live the motto: Global approach – local presence. On a local level we can act flexibly and quickly but we always do this with the full resources and strategic advantages of the group.”

Advanced products

The SIKA Automotive product range contains the following key groups: bodyshop adhesives, assembly line adhesives, adhesives for interior and exterior applications, bodyshop structural inserts, acoustic systems and paint shop sealants. The production facilities are equipped to work in all these areas, says Mr Paschkowski: “We have four production locations in the US, six in Europe, three in Asia and one in Brazil. We are continually investing in extending and modernizing these production facilities with new machines for example, and only recently we opened a new factory in the US, and one of the Chinese locations will be extended next year. Almost all locations are capable of manufacturing all our products; it is the local sales and services that operate with a regional perspective.

“The products and technologies we are best known for are structural and crash-resistant adhesives (we recently presented the

innovative MBX-technology for mix bonding applications), direct glazing and assembly adhesives (we have a nomination for this year’s PACE award for our newest technology Ultra-High-Modulus technology) and the so-called high strength bonding reinforcers for high performance crash applications.”

Feeding the car production lines

SIKA operates very closely to the actual manufacturing process, says Mr Paschkowski: “We are supplying material to many OES customers, but the lion’s share of our business is directly with the car manufacturers themselves. The majority of our products go straight into the production lines of all major name automotive producers worldwide.” The customers appreciate the service and know-how that come from the SIKA experts, he adds: “What makes up our USP is that we provide a very intensive service, with a strong network of sales and technical support. Instead of just selling products we give our customers access to our expertise in system engineering – this gives us a unique offering in the markets.”

Cutting-edge technologies

In today’s complex and fast-changing automotive world, the drive to build lighter, stronger, safer, quieter and greener vehicles starts with strategic suppliers that work together to push the boundaries of what’s possible. “In fact our products assist to address each of the megatrends I just mentioned. Our customers’ key priorities are lighter materials, increased efficiency in the production process, sustainability and Health and Safety for the people employed on the assembly lines,” says Mr Paschkowski. “Automotive customers are very forward thinking in terms of their technological knowledge and are very clear about their future orientation and goals.”

“Our own R&D efforts are driven by the search for more sustainability in products and in application processes. This is what customers want us to do, as it does not just have environmental benefits, but also helps to make products safer and more cost effective – one key word here would be our lightweight bonding technology.”

“Although SIKA does not buy parts but only raw materials, the right suppliers are very important. Sika takes a partnership view in establishing our business relationships, not just with our customers but also throughout the value chain on behalf of our customers, and this includes suppliers.”

Further developments

In 2014 the SIKA group reached record sales levels in all regions and all relevant growth targets were exceeded. And the momentum is not about to slow down, according to Mr Paschkowski: “In terms of growth we expect to continue at the same pace, especially in the emerging markets. We will continue to follow our customers wherever our products and services are needed. The SIKA group provides us with the financial support to go for growth wherever there is an opportunity. In the past we have seen very strong organic growth, but if in the future we see potential through acquisitions we are more than ready for that as well.” n

Eberhardstraße 60 | 71679 Asperg | Germany Phone: 0049 7141 68899 0 | info@lohnpack.info www.lohnpack.info

contract filling

Filling Packing and confec oning Service