Sika Launches its New Purform® Polyurethane Technology and Invests in Production Facilities in Düdingen

07/12/2020

Sika, the world’s biggest manufacturer of adhesives and sealants for the building sector and automotive industry, has developed a new polyurethane technology, which it is launching onto the market under the Purform® brand. The new polymers will first be integrated into Sika’s top seller Sikaflex®, as well as into liquid applied membranes. This innovation brings important benefits for customers: the products have an improved performance profile, are even more enduring, and have a strong sustainability profile. Investments in the associated production facilities were recently made at the Düdingen site. Image: Further investment at Düdingen plant

Polyurethanes have many different applications in the construction sector and automotive industry. For example, polyurethane-based joints are used in the weather-resistant sealing of facade elements on buildings, or to affix building components in infrastructure expansion or interior finishings with adhesives. These high-performance solutions are also used in the bonding of body components and battery systems for electric vehicles.

Thanks to its new Purform® technology, from 2021 on Sika will be supplying customers with products that not only satisfy the highest standards in terms of performance, but that are also in line with the upcoming stricter REACH regulations for enhanced health and safety safeguards for users.

Increased Performance with More Benefits for Customers

Sika products that use Purform® can offer customers major advantages. These include the process efficiency brought by less surface preparation with a simultaneous improvement in adhesive properties. The new technology also makes reliable, stress cracking-free bonding of plastics possible, and delivers the best compatibility with sensitive surfaces such as natural stone. Products using the new technology can be extremely weather-resistant and can withstand exposure to UV light outdoors for considerably longer. Thanks to their high durability, they are also significantly more sustainable.

Expansion Investment in Switzerland

The next generation of polyurethanes will be produced at the Düdingen site, which is home to one of Sika’s largest manufacturing plants in Europe. By investing in this expansion, Sika is securing jobs in Switzerland over the long term.

” With the development of the new Purform® technology, our experts have created a further growth platform for Sika, with which we can expand our leading position. In line with our principle ‘more performance, more sustainable,’ we are rigorously implementing our Strategy 2023 from the viewpoint of sustainable, high-performance innovations. With our future-oriented solutions, we are the market leader and enable sustainable construction and transportation.”
Frank Höfflin, Chief Technology Officer

https://www.sika.com/en/media/media-releases/2020/sika-launches-its-new-purform-polyurethane-technology.html

November 12, 2020

Fall PFA Meeting

Polyurethane Foam Association Online Meeting Provides Forum
For Issues Discussion, Technical Advances
Recorded Proceedings Available

LOUDON, TN (November 16, 2020)—The Polyurethane Foam Association (PFA) recently concluded its fall meeting—conducted online this year because of the pandemic—which spotlighted key regulatory issues and new technical developments.

“Like many organizations, we had to adapt to keep our membership safe, but we were still able to provide an effective forum for conveying information and determining action to support the
flexible polyurethane foam industry,” said Chip Holton, President of NCFI Polyurethanes and PFA President.

PFA’s November meeting was attended by more than 100 executives from foam manufacturers, chemical suppliers, and other companies supporting the industry. Attendees saw presentations on key industry issues including regulatory issues, recycling, product quality, and European activity.

In addition, a Technical Program featured on-demand presentations on viscoelastic foam cure, plant security, employee training, issues with pink staining, catalysts, and end-of-foam-life technologies. Jane Kniss of Evonik won the Herman Stone Technical Excellence Award, as her
technical presentation was voted best by those attending.

“I think it’s noteworthy that even in a pandemic, we had a full technical program and strong presentations,” said Bill Gollnitz of Plastomer Corporation, Past President of PFA and Moderator
for the Technical Program. “Congratulation to Jane Kniss for her second consecutive Herman Stone Award.”

Sessions were recorded and are available online for purchase at www.pfa.org.

PFA members also voted on officers and Executive Committee members for 2021. These include:

President: Chip Holton, NCFI Polyurethanes
1st Vice President: Philippe Knaub, FXI
2nd Vice President: Tony Turoso, Tempur-Sealy
Secretary: Cam McLaughlin, Elite Comfort Solutions
Treasurer: Hamdy Khalid, Woodbridge Foam
Immediate Past President: Bill Gollnitz, Plastomer
Other Executive Committee members include Robert Heller, Future Foam; Susan Norris, Momentive; Scott Skolnekovich, Covestro; John Maloney, BASF; Doug Todd, Dow; and Paul Coleman, Huntsman.

The Polyurethane Foam Association is a trade association founded in 1980 to help educate foam users, allied industries and other stakeholders about flexible polyurethane foam (FPF). PFA provides facts on environmental, health and safety issues and technical information on the performance of FPF in consumer and industrial products. FPF is used as a key comfort
component in most upholstered furniture and mattress products, along with automotive seating, carpet cushion, packaging, and numerous other applications.

November 12, 2020

Fall PFA Meeting