In Antwerp, Belgium, Sika has brought a new plant on line for production of the superplasticizers Sika® ViscoCrete® and SikaPlast®. Construction of the plant became necessary due to vast increase in demand following introduction of ViscoCrete®
Sika expands production capacity for concrete plasticizers In Antwerp, Belgium, Sika has brought a new plant on line for production of the superplasticizers Sika® ViscoCrete® and SikaPlast®. Construction of the plant became necessary due to vast increase in demand following introduction of ViscoCrete® in 2000. With an annual capacity of 40,000 tons, the plant is located in an industrial part belonging to the INEOS Group and operated on behalf of Sika.
This new business model yields various advantages for Sika. On one hand, INEOS manufactures at that location a large portion of the raw materials required for production of ViscoCrete®; this newly realized proximity substantially increases efficiency in transport outlay. On the other hand, in an industrial park Sika benefits from better framework conditions for energy, water and waste disposal as well as other infrastructure services in comparison with an individual site. The production process was optimized for the new plant so that efficiency could be improved further in comparison with other ViscoCrete® production facilities. The nearby harbor simplifies export of this technology, employed worldwide in markets that are still in development.
High-performance concrete plasticizers: High-performance concrete plasticizers (also called superplasticizers) are chemical compounds that are added to fresh concrete in low concentration in order to improve its workability and hardened concrete properties. With high-performance plasticizers, water and high value raw materials can be economized while simultaneously achieving optimal concrete properties.
About Sika AG
Sika AG, located in Baar, Switzerland, is a globally active company supplying the specialty chemicals markets. It is a leader in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting load-bearing structures in construction (buildings and infrastructure construction) and in industry (vehicle, building component and equipment production). Sika’s product lines feature high-quality concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcing materials, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring and membranes. Subsidiaries in more than 70 countries worldwide and approximately 12,900 employees link customers directly to Sika and guarantee the success of all of its business relationships. With this business structure Sika generates annual sales of CHF 4.6 billion. Visit our website at www.sika.com.