Sika is a global company with a total of around 80 production and marketing companies in over 60 countries. Sika is active in the field of speciality chemicals dividing its activities into two business areas; the Construction Division and the Industry Division. While on the technical side these two business areas are closely linked, on the commercial side they reduce the vulnerability to economic cycles because they depend on different markets. The technological affinities permit economies of scale in the areas of R&D, purchasing and production.
Sika is a company with a strong innovative tradition, constantly striving for new levels of excellence. This means developing innovative technologies that will open up new opportunities for the company, its employees, and its partners in trade and industry.
History
The Sika story begins with a major feat of construction - the electrification of the St. Gotthard rail tunnel in Switzerland. When this project presented itself, the firm founded 1910 in Zurich by Kaspar Winkler, seized the opportunity to demonstrate its unique expertise on a high-profile construction project of international importance, using a new type of mortar to stop water infiltration. The contract marked a significant breakthrough for Sika, helping to establish its international reputation as a manufacturer of high-quality products.
The company grew to become one of the world's leading suppliers of construction chemicals, emphasising on integrated system solutions. Diversification into the allied field of industrial adhesives followed in the early 1980s. Today these are the two pillars of Sika's business in speciality chemicals - the Construction Division and the Industry Division.
With an international network of production and marketing companies, Sika has now extended its operations to over 60 countries around the world. This global market presence limits Sika's exposure to the effects of regional economic downturns. It also enables the Group to adapt its highly specialised know-how quickly and efficiently to local market conditions.
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