Multinational Swiss construction materials company, with over $7 billion in annual sales. Sika was founded in 1910 by Kaspar Winkler and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.
Winkler began the business through the innovation of Sika-1, a quick-setting waterproofing additive for mortar. With products first used in Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel railway tunnel, Winkler later launched worldwide subsidiaries for his construction chemicals. Fritz Schenker, Winkler’s son-in-law, joined the company and further spearheaded expansion into Europe, South America and Asia during the 1930s. Sika’s Sikaflex adhesive propelled the company into the automotive sector during the 1980s, and further diversification came by way of Sika’s Renovation and Maintenance segments. The firm saw precipitous growth during the 1990s and acquired 36 companies during the early part of the 21st century. Sika listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange’s leading index in 2017 and recently acquired Parex in 2019, a leading provider of Architectural Coating and Finishing systems.
Since 2015, Sika has filed 333 patents, opened 37 new plants and maintains 20 Technology Centres globally. Urs Burkard is the only member of the founding family engaged in the business and represents the firm’s fourth generation of ownership.
- Family name: Burkard-Schenker family
- Sector: Diversified Industrial Product
- Founded: 1910
- Founder: Kaspar Winkler
- Country: Switzerland
- Company headquarters: Baar, Switzerland
- Revenue: 8.9
- Employees: 7,223
- Website: sika.com
Connections
Also on Tharawat
