In today’s complex and fast-changing automotive world, the drive to build the lighter, stronger, safer, and greener vehicles of tomorrow starts with strategic suppliers that work together to push the boundaries of what’s possible. It begins with suppliers that bring a proven record of performance and a corporate culture of innovation that complements a full range of products and solutions.
Engineering
Sika’s Engineering Teams work seamlessly with our customers and Sika’s Research and Development group to bring the latest sealing, damping, bonding and reinforcing innovations from conception to production.
The Engineering Teams are comprised of Program Management, Design and Development, Technical Services and Application and Plant Support teams.
Program Management
Your Dedicated Sika Resource
Our program management team provides a direct link between the OEM Platform Engineering Team and Sika’s engineering and production resources, with responsibility for all aspects of a program, from design concept through production.
Our Program Managers take care of the following:
- They are assigned to the OEM Platform Engineering Team, with the responsibility of managing internal Sika resources and activities to our customers’ timelines and expectations
- Coordinate initial designs and subsequent design releases to customer timelines
- Manage prototype parts, prototype build events, performance validations and subsequent engineering changes (as required to meet platform needs)
- Manage production tooling and responsibility for securing pre-production approvals for Sika supplied parts and components
Support the OEM Platform Engineering team to get a technical solution which fits best their needs
Design & Development
Part Creation, Validation & Testing
We have a team of experienced engineers that are focused on creating part designs for SikaBaffle®, SikaReinforcer®, and SikaDamp® solutions, with the goal of delivering an optimal mix of function, weight, and cost.
- Experienced CAD engineers using OEM specific software packages
- Release of preliminary and final part designs into the OEM systems
- Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation engineers, driving SikaReinforcer® solutions from initial concept to final design
- Optimizing performance, cost, and weight, and demonstrating the benefits of Sika’s solutions in early development phases of car program development
- Verify part function; from first concepts via prototype parts, to final production-ready solutions
- Development services for SikaDamp® products, weight optimization, characterization of materials and sound design
Technical Services
Comprehensive Validation & Technical Support
Our Technical Services team is focused on validating Sika materials to the processes, substrates, and specifications required by OEM customers. They provide:
- Comprehensive technical resources and laboratories, for in-depth testing to OEM and Tier customer needs
- Qualification of Sika products to OEM material specifications and our customers' plant-specific requirements
- Technical assessment of OEM-proposed process changes, to ensure the integrity of Sika’s bonding, sealing, damping, and reinforcing solutions
- Field support to ensure successful product launch, as well as on-going plant support at the OEM production line
Application & Plant Support
Ensuring Seamless Integration with your Production Processes
Our system engineering experts work to ensure our bulk adhesive and sealant products can be seamlessly integrated into our customers’ production processes. They offer:
- Pre-validation of new Sika product applications, performed in one of Sika’s regional Systems Engineering Laboratories
- Investigation of material and equipment compatibility with the OEM’s existing production line
- Qualification of Sika products to new or existing equipment in the Body Shop or on the Assembly Line
- Equipment validation on Sika’s adhesives, from pre-qualification through production line launch, and on-going factory support initiatives
Operations, Manufacturing & Logistics
Sika supports the global automotive industry with a comprehensive manufacturing and logistics network that spans Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. Through a combination of production facilities, manufacturing co-operations, and warehouses located across key automotive engineering and manufacturing hubs, we deliver sealing, damping, bonding, and reinforcing solutions wherever and whenever they are needed.
This extensive footprint enables Sika to act as a true partner to its customers—driving greater cost efficiencies, reducing lead times, and ensuring reliable, high-performance products and technologies worldwide.
Manufacturing Locations
Europe
The fact that many of our largest customers are based in Europe is reflected in our regional manufacturing operations. We maintain state-of-the-art production sites in Hamburg, Romanshorn, Cerano, Zurich, and Düdingen. We also have manufacturing co-operations in several countries for our injection molded products.
Manufacturing Cooperation:
SikaBaffle® and SikaReinforcer® at certified suppliers in France, Spain, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Asia
Our Asia automotive operations are located in China, Japan, and Korea. Sika Automotive provides localized manufacturing in Shin-Nanyo, Japan, as well as certified toll manufacturing partnerships for our customers in China.
Manufacturing Cooperation:
SikaBaffle® and SikaReinforcer® at certified suppliers in East and South of China.
Americas
Our U.S. manufacturing operations are centrally located, allowing us to reliably support all of North America’s automotive manufacturing hubs. Products for our parts business are manufactured at our largest U.S. site in Grandview, MO, while bulk products are produced in Marion, OH, and in Lyndhurst, NJ, or imported from Europe.
In South America, we have a production site in Sao Paulo, producing a broad range of products and technologies.
Adapting to the Evolving Demands of Our Customers
With our current footprint, we’re well-positioned to support customers all over the world. The automotive industry is changing fast, however, and the demand for more localized supply options is growing. As we move forward, we continue to re-evaluate and evolve our footprint with the goal of localizing the production of more of our technologies to better support our customers.
Sales & Customer Service
To truly support our customers, innovation, great products and technologies need to be coupled with an excellent sales and customer service network.
Sika’s global network of sales and customer service centers are strategically located to provide direct local support to our global customer’s needs.
Locally, and globally our sales team members are well versed in the automotive assembly process and technically savvy in matching product technologies to standard or advanced material applications.
Key Account Management is a primary focus, and a partnership approach engaged to allow for a full understanding of requirements and in proposing the right solutions – before, during, and long after the sale.
Customer service personnel constantly strive to exceed customer expectations, drawing consistently on our Customer First policy, resulting in customer satisfaction. Behind the scenes, customer service representatives team with and draw on our extensive global logistics network, putting the right material in the right location at the right time.
