Target Markets

Concrete

Sika develops and markets a complete range of admixtures and additives for use in concrete, cement, and mortar production. These products enhance specific properties of fresh or hardened concrete, such as workability, watertightness, durability, loadbearing capacity, and early and final strength. The demand for admixtures and additives is currently on the rise, due to the increased performance requirements placed on concrete and mortar, especially in urban areas and for infrastructure construction. Furthermore, there is a growing need for Sika additives and admixtures as they enable the use of alternative materials, such as processed aggregates (sand) and materials with cementitious properties in cement and mortar – and therefore also in concrete – to reduce the use of clinker and natural sand. This in turn helps to increase sustainability and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the construction industry.

Waterproofing

Sika’s system solutions for waterproofing cover the full range of technologies used for below and above-ground waterproofing: flexible membrane systems, liquid-applied membranes, waterproofing admixtures for mortars, joint sealants, waterproofing mortars, injection grouts, and coatings. Key market segments include basements, underground parking garages, tunnels, and all types of water-retaining structures (for example reservoirs, storage basins, and storage tanks). Waterproofing systems face increasingly stringent requirements regarding sustainability, ease of application, and total cost management.Therefore the selection of appropriate waterproofing systems to suit the needs and requirements of owners, as well as the treatment of specific project-related details, is key for long-lasting and watertight structures.

Roofing

Sika provides a full range of flat roofing systems, incorporating both flexible sheet and liquid-applied membranes. In recent years, bituminous technologies have been acquired in markets where bitumen dominates. Sika is recognized as a global prime brand in roofing markets with the longest history for single-ply membranes. In 2022, Sika celebrates 60 years of roofing excellence with Sika Sarnafil® roofing systems. History has proved that Sika roofing solutions are outstanding performers: reliable, sustainable, and long-lasting. Demand in this segment is driven by the need for eco-friendly, energy-saving solutions such as green roof systems, cool roofs, and solar roofs, which simultaneously help to reduce CO2 emissions. Also in roofing there is a push towards digitalization where Sika offers an efficient system for leak monitoring and detection. While refurbishment projects continue to gain significance in mature markets, emerging markets are moving towards higher-quality roofing solutions for newbuild structures. For both market segments, Sika’s innovative roofing systems comprise all elements needed, including vapor control layers, adhesives, insulation, fixation, roof drainages, and all kind of accessories.

Flooring

Sika’s flooring solutions are based on synthetic resin and cementitious systems for industrial and commercial buildings, such as pharmaceutical and food-sector production plants, public buildings such as educational and healthcare facilities, parking decks, and private residential properties. Each market segment is subject to its own particular requirements in terms of mechanical properties, safety regulations (for example slip resistance), electrostatic conductivity, and chemical or fire resistance. Trends in the flooring market are being dictated by the growing significance of safety and environmental regulations, as well as customized technical requirements. The high volume of building alteration and conversion projects nowadays has boosted the importance of fast and efficient solutions for the refurbishment of existing flooring systems. Sika has a leading global position in the development of fast-curing systems in various market segments and will extend this strategy to other technologies. Sika offers a comprehensive range of low-emission, durable, low-maintenance, easy-to-apply flooring solutions which can be adapted to specific customer needs.

Sealing & Bonding

Sika offers a wide range of high-performance and durable sealants, adhesives, tapes, and spray foams for the building envelope, for interior finishing and for infrastructure construction. Typical applications include the sealing of movement joints between facade elements to make buildings weatherproof, the bonding of wood floors to reduce noise, the sealing of joints in airport aprons, or fire stopping. The growing demand in this market is fueled by an increasing awareness of the importance of high-performance adhesives and sealants for the overall durability, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality of buildings, the growing use of prefabrication, modular building, and other fast construction methods, increasing urbanization, and the continued replacement of mechanical fastening systems by adhesives due to better performance and efficiency.

Refurbishment

This segment features repair, strengthening, and protective solutions for concrete structures, such as repair mortars, shrinkage compensated high-strength grouts, anchoring adhesives, protective coatings, corrosion control, and structural strengthening systems. Especially in developed markets, many structures are decades old and need to be refurbished. Sika engineered refurbishment systems enable lifetime extension of structures and buildings which is often a more sustainable solution than tearing down or building anew. Sika provides technologies for the entire a life cycle of commercial buildings, and infrastructure constructions, as well as design and calculation strengthening software for structural engineers and designers. The present uptrend in demand is attributable to a rising volume of infrastructure rehabilitation projects in the transport, water management, and energy sector, such as the construction and maintenance of wind energy farms.

Building Finishing

Building Finishing encompasses ceramic tiles and natural stones installation, facade protection and decoration systems, as well as interior wall finishing – for both residential and commercial buildings. Sika is a global leader in Building Finishing and provides one of the most comprehensive sets of solutions such as tile adhesives and grouts, systems for under-tile waterproofing and sound reduction, as well as renders and decorative finishes for both exterior and interior walls, and Facade Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS).

Global trends such as urbanization, the strong demand for home improvement, fuel the market growth. Reducing the energy needs and CO2 footprint of the building stock will for example foster the further expansion of facade insulation systems. Sika’s market leadership and global presence offers strong potential to roll out and locally adapt its Building Finishing products and systems portfolio to additional Sika countries. Building Finishing is reinforcing Sika’s comprehensive portfolio of complementary technologies for the building envelope from basement to roof and growing its presence in distribution channels.

Industry

The markets served by Sika include automobile and commercial vehicle assembly (structural bonding, direct glazing, acoustic systems, reinforcing systems), automotive aftermarket (auto glass replacement, car body repair), marine vessels, industrial lamination, renewable energies (solar and wind), home appliance, and facade engineering (structural glazing, sealing of insulating glass units).

Sika is a technology leader in elastic bonding, structural adhesives, sealants, reinforcing, and acoustic applications as well as composite- and casting resins. World’s leading industrial manufacturers rely on Sika’s solutions to enhance product performance and durability, while increasing manufacturing efficiency.

For example, Sika’s solutions address key megatrends in vehicle design, leading to lighter, stronger, safer, quieter, and more fuelefficient vehicles, while fast-processing materials and compatibility with automation increase productivity. Sika’s fire-protection and thermal conductive materials support the trend towards e-mobility.