Research and Development: Oxygen for Future Growth

17 april 2008Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin ASA. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- Technology Center Opens in Zurich Today Sika officially opens its new technology center in Zurich Tüffenwies. Some 180 employees from Research and Development (R&D) find their place in the new building. Sika's rapid expansion during the past few years requires structural expansion - especially in the area of innovation. This investment is fundamental for the success and growth of the coming years. Sika thereby acknowledges Switzerland as a technology site. The company has invested some 40 million Swiss francs in the new center. A further step in the transformation of Sika's traditional main location from a production site to one of research and education has thus been realized in Tüffenwies. During the last few years the central warehouse Switzerland was transferred to Birrfeld in Canton Aargau, and the production of concrete admixtures to Kirchberg in the Canton of Berne. The relocation of production of Sikaflex® adhesives and sealants to Düdingen in Canton Fribourg is currently underway. The research activity in the new building is primarily dedicated to Sika products in the areas of sealing and bonding having polyurethanes, silane-terminated polymers, polyacrylates and epoxy hybrids as a chemical basis. The new laboratories in Zurich are located on the building's north side - thus protected from light and heat exposure. In their modern furnishings with measurement, storage and climate-controlled rooms the laboratories match top-rate standards of the chemical industry. They are complemented by office work spaces which face in a westerly direction and depending on work requirements can be used as open-space or individual offices. "Before, researchers were spread across various sites. With the new building we now concentrate all research areas at one location and can thereby work more efficiently," says Urs Mäder, Director R&D. "With the new facility we're able to raise the attractiveness of Sika Technology still further and as a result find highly qualified personnel more easily. At the moment we're hiring about 20 researchers per year." Surrounded by Sika Technology The researchers can take inspiration in their work from the building itself, which contains Sika products at numerous locations throughout the structure. The exposed concrete façade with SCC fluid concrete (self-compacting concrete), which allows thin-walled construction of only 10 cm through the use of Sika additive products, conveys the pioneering performance of this new technology. In addition, the new technology center follows the Sika concept "from the foundation to the roof": Sika products are used in below ground sealing, in the sealing and fixation of the courtyard glass façade as well as for flooring and wall coverings, and on the roof. The facility has a combined flooring area of some 10 000 m2 and a volume of 40 000 m3. -END- Sika AG Zugerstrasse 50 CH-6341 Baar, Switzerland www.sika.com Contact: Rainer Weihofen, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Tel.: +41 58 436 68 00 Fax: +41 58 436 68 50 weihofen.rainer@ch.sika.com Sika AG - a corporate profile 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 11,700 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. The media release can be downloaded from the following link: --- End of Message --- Sika AG Zugerstrasse 50 Baar WKN: 858573; ISIN: CH0000587979; Index: SMCI, SPI, SPIEX, SMIEXP, SMIM; Listed: Main Market in SWX Swiss Exchange;