The Virtues of Concrete

ambitions
issue no. 1
ambitions 1
customer magazine
Big Potential
Sika’s head of R&D
gets inspiration from
the new Technology
Center where he works.
Page 14
Impressive Contrast
Hollywood actress Uma Thurman
posed for a Louis Vuitton
advertising campaign in front
of raw concrete.
Page 19
Myths & Legends:
Why miners underground
believe in the protection
granted by Saint Barbara and
other patron saints of miners. Page 22
Sika Marine
Ensuring Durability with Watertight Solutions.
The Sika Marine range includes products for:
■ Sealing
■ Bonding
■ Bedding
■ Caulking
■ Levelling
■ Acoustic- / Flooring
All Sika Marine products are Wheelmark-approved
by leading certification societies.
Durability
The Virtues of Concrete
Interview: Valerio Olgiati
on provocative architecture.
Page 8
www.sika.com
Concrete Oasis
The sculpture park of Swiss
artist Bruno Weber is a fantasy
world made of concrete –
enriched by Sika products.
Page 25
Letzigrund Stadium Zurich,
Switzerland: Sika Solutions
from Basement to Roof.
intro
editorial 3
Dear Customers,
It is with great pleasure that we present Sika’s new international customer magazine. In addition to
our good local relations, this magazine will give you the opportunity to learn more about Sika’s
cutting-edge technology. The magazine’s title is our agenda: You will read about exceptional building
projects that were achieved with Sika products, but also about ambitious company developments,
such as our new Technology Center in Zurich that will strengthen our innovation capabilities. In every
Ernst Bärtschi,
CEO
Sika AG
issue, the magazine will focus on a Sika product segment, such as concrete or adhesives for
industrial use. This current issue is dedicated to concrete. We will also concentrate on a different
aspect of the Sika brand and show you the values that we share as a company and the principles
we stand for.
I hope you enjoy reading ambitions!
Dear Readers,
Concrete stands for durability. And Sika has contributed to that standing significantly in the course of
its almost 100-year history. If there is a need for concrete with special characteristics, Sika products
are there. At the tunnel construction site for a new railway through the Gotthard massif in Switzerland
(called NEAT), for example, retarders prevent concrete from hardening on its long journey into the
depths of the mountain. After placing, accelerators speed hardening and shorten work cycles, while
Ernesto Schümperli,
President of
Business Unit Concrete
special powders boost the material’s strength. Superplasticizers grant easy application during all this
time. They all contribute to the durability of the structure.
For the most part, concrete is made of natural, raw materials and “green concrete” is now an industry
buzzword. It is all about using a maximum of renewable materials or materials that greatly improve
energy efficiency during production. Sika pays close attention to ensure that the materials we use for
ambitions 1/2008
ambitions is Sika’s international
customer magazine.
It appears twice a year in English
(circulation: 5000 copies).
Project lead: Silvia Schärer, Kathrin
Müller, Sika Services AG, Zurich
Editor’s address: Sika Services AG,
Corporate Marketing, Tüffenwies 16,
CH-8048 Zurich, Switzerland; e-mail:
[email protected]
our international production are local. Sustainability is also a form of durability.
Sika’s rise and constant growth as an enterprise is as durable as the concrete we produce.
Sika has the right chemistry. And it is precisely that chemistry that we wish to communicate
through our publication ambitions. This first edition of our customer magazine stands – how could
it be anything else – under the motto “durability.”
Concept: Andreas Turner (editing
and production), Beni Spirig (design),
Infel AG, Zurich, Switzerland
Printing:
Abächerli Druck AG, Sarnen, Switzerland
Contributors to this issue:
Bastian Bicher, Reto Clenin, Laura Egli,
Ricardo Gomez, Jeannette Kaufmann,
Don Lewis Kirk, Kathrin Müller, Silvia
Schärer, Jürg Schlumpf, Martin Stutz,
Andreas Turner
All trademarks used or mentioned
herein are protected by law.
Reproduction is permitted with the
written consent of the publisher.
04 Commitment
Dependable Innovations
18 Fascination
Spotlight on Concrete
06 Sika Local
The Dubai Metro Project
22 People
Patron Saints of Miners
08 Interview
Architect Valerio Olgiati
24 Success Story
Dissipating Earthquake Forces
12 Focus
The Gotthard Base Tunnel
25 Events
A Fantasy World Made of Concrete
13 Retro
The Order Called for a Sealing!
26 Exceptional
Concrete Truck Drivers Competition
14 Know-how
Sika’s New Technology Center
27 You
Do You Speak Sika?
ambitions | no. 1
constructive
4 commitment
Freeway Bypass Brunau,
Zurich West, Switzerland
Underground tunnel passages were secured
with high-performance Sika shotcrete and
waterproofed with controlled tunnel
membrane systems. Durable concrete
solutions were used to build tunnel and
bridging structures. Turning Torso, Town Landmark
of Malmö, Sweden
Star architect Santiago Calatrava used
a combination of art, geometry and
modern technology to turn an unusual
idea into reality. Spiraling 90 degrees,
Europe’s tallest residential tower was
built with Sika ViscoCrete® Technology.
San Bernardino Road Tunnel,
Grisons, Switzerland
Sika played a significant role in the new
construction of the San Bernardino Tunnel
in Switzerland and ensured the protection of
concrete as well as waterproofing under the
roadway during reconstruction.
The Dolder Grand,
Zurich, Switzerland
Sika furnished synthetic resin floor-covering
systems, parquet systems and façade
waterproofing as well as a concept for the
concrete: the reconstruction required a
concrete that was impermeable as well as
caulking.
Unique Airport, Zurich–Kloten,
Switzerland
Work in progress since 1999: Sika provided
the rapid cure cement, quick mortar and
post-treatment products used to repair the
runway. Construction work was done at
night and the runway had to be ready for
planes to land the next day.
commitment 5
Wilson Bridge
near Washington D.C., USA
The old bridge threatened to collapse under
its heavy load of traffic and therefore a new
construction had to be built. Sika offered a
solution that included admixtures, adhesives
and grout for cable duct post-tensioning and
anchorage protection.
Dam near Düdingen,
Canton Fribourg, Switzerland
Continuous maintenance works such as
Sika caulking systems and Sika
concrete reconstruction systems are
being carried out.
Road and Train Bridge,
Winterthur, Switzerland
A weak supporting structure, leaky bridge
slabs, as well as cracked and corroded
concrete made bridge repairs necessary.
Sika furnished the grouting mortar, repair
grout and protective concrete coating needed
to preserve the structure.
Dependable
Innovations
Concrete brings beauty,
form and durability to our changing world.
C
oncrete shapes emotion. Adaptable, colorful, a medium of change, it transforms our cityscapes into beautiful environments for social contacts,
business and cultural events.
Photos: Ricardo Gomez (1), Pablo Faccinetto (1), Unique Airport Zurich (1), Sika
As a building material of choice, concrete is used more than any other
man-made building material. Its strength and workability make it ideal for the
construction of roads, bridges, airports, railways, tunnels, public buildings and
other major infrastructure projects.
Some of the most spectacular structures in the world, including the
thousand-foot Shanghai World Finance Center, are only possible because of
concrete’s virtues. The result is a symbol of human ingenuity, engineering skill
and concrete’s versatility. Advancements in chemical admixtures have increased concrete’s adaptability, making it a foundation for everything – a
medium that connects people through form, texture, structure, light and shadow. Every innovation unlocks new hidden qualities of this material. Concrete has
a bright – and aesthetic – future ahead.
No other material has so many forms of expression. With recent concrete
innovations, this building material can be shaped into any structure, turning
shelter and space into a comfortable and beautiful environment to live in.
Concrete enriches human life and forms the world around us.
ambitions | no. 1
Schoolhouse Hinter Gärten,
Riehen, Switzerland
Artist Jörg Niederberger and the
architect’s office in charge, Marques AG,
created a special color concept for
this elementary school building in Riehen
near Basel, Switzerland.
ambitions | no. 1
worldwide
6 sika local
sika local 7
Ready-mix
concrete plant.
Precast part erection
of elevated Metro station.
Dubai Metro –
a Project
with Promise
D
Dubai traffic snarl is the brunt of jokes,
but for people on the ground it’s no
laughing matter. Gridlock and traffic chaos
are an everyday event, made worse
by the highest accident rate per capita in
the world. But relief is in sight.
Testing of fresh
concrete properties.
ubai Municipality is about a year away from putting a
about upcoming stop, but also about cultural events and
€2.7 billion fully automated train system into motion that
current topics of interest in Dubai. Metro stops will be timed
will help remedy traffic congestion, but also keep pace with
so that trains arrive every 90 seconds during rush hour, re-
the fastest-growing urban populations in the Middle East.
ducing waiting time for passengers to a maximum of 160
When completed, the Dubai Metro will run underground
seconds. Dubai Municipality expects so many people will be
in the city and on elevated viaducts elsewhere. Two lines, the
attracted to luxury train cars, prevalence of taxi stands, park
Red and Green Lines, are now under construction, and two
and ride parking spots and metro stations that it will make a
more (the Blue and Purple Lines) are proposed that will
major impact on traffic congestion, but also contribute to
eventually transport up to 1.2 million passengers a day.
noise reduction and reduce air pollution.
The Dubai Metro project. Driverless and fully automated,
A construction challenge. The Dubai Metro project,
the Dubai Metro will dramatically improve travel options for
which began construction in 2006, is a considerable chal-
city residents and visitors who are currently limited to taxis,
lenge for engineers and builders with a total volume of three
busses and abras (the traditional boat made of wood, used
million cubic meters of concrete. Huge Tunnel Boring
to transport people across Dubai Creek). A trip downtown at
Machines (TBM) are needed to excavate and construct train
rush hour, which now takes four hours, will take only a mat-
tunnels. 370,000 cubic meters of concrete are applied for
ter of minutes.
the excavation and security reasons. Sika’s powerful admix-
Scheduled to begin operations in September 2009, the
Red Line will connect 28 stations, including Jebel Ali Port,
Photos: iStockphoto/Dave Everitt (1), Sika
Finalized elevated
section.
ture technology ViscoCrete®-3110 is used to extend concrete workability for up to 4 hours.
the American University in Dubai, the city center and connect
The overland elevated sections will cover a distance of
Dubai International Airport Terminals 1 and 3 with Rashidiya.
58.7 kilometers. Just for the viaduct support units, it was
The second, more critical Green Line, which is scheduled for
necessary to set up a special production plant to mix 700,000
completion in 2010, will start at Festival City, through a
cubic meters of concrete.
7.9-kilometer tunnel under the central business district, and
So much of construction depends on fast, efficient and
end in Al Qusais. The final proposed stages, the Purple and
effective use of concrete that Sika has become a major fac-
Blue Lines, will link Dubai International Airport with Al
tor in the Metro’s construction. Sika is providing admixtures
Maktoum International Airport.
that cover the entire range of concrete grades and technical
requirements, which has made it a major contributor to the
ambitions | no. 1
State-of-the-art train travel. Traveling at speeds of up to
fast and economic production of all concrete types for this
110 kilometers an hour, a total of 87 five-car trains will
ambitious undertaking.
transport passengers in luxury. Designed to carry 643 seated
A project of promise for millions of people in Dubai, the
and standing passengers, the trains will have three classes
Dubai Metro should revolutionize public transport in the UAE
of accommodation: Gold Class, Women and Children Class,
Emirate and could even make gridlock and traffic chaos a
and Silver Class. Monitors in every train inform passengers
thing of the past.
ambitions | no. 1
architecture
8 interview
interview 9
1998
School, Paspels,
Switzerland
Made entirely of concrete, but
lined with larch wood on the
inside. Ingenious: the floor plan
consists of bent right angles that
are compressed by five degrees.
“In Connection
with Bronze,
Concrete Has
an Almost
Jewel-like Quality”
He seeks the tension between mathematics and emotion: Valerio Olgiati,
one of Switzerland’s most distinguished architects,
on provocative architecture and the fascination of concrete.
Mr. Olgiati, what makes an architect good? I think a
1999
Museum Yellow House,
Flims, Switzerland
The old building was reduced
to a skeleton, left without
plaster, and painted with white
chalk. The roof is made of
stone plates.
2003
Peak Gornergrat,
Zermatt, Switzerland
Located 3100 meters above
sea level, this concrete monolith
uses large-format ornamentation to emphasize the unusual
dimension of the landscape.
Are the ergonomics, the practical utility of a house,
good architect creates something with every new building
introduced subsequent to radical form? No. Every
that did not exist before.
intellectual engagement with a building is a practical thinking
process. How doors open, how one looks from darkness into
What is your main objective when you take on a new
light – these sensual components are perceived by reason.
task? My work should create a prototype, something original
These are important aspects of the thinking that affects
and new from the ground up. This approach is something I
planning, but it is not the foundation of a good building.
expect of my students as well. I find it interesting, because
Anyone can build a practical house; any real estate broker
it’s the most important creative motivation.
can plan it. But that has nothing to do with good architecture.
You have a radical, often monumental architectural
Did fame allow you to cast off the normal require-
style. What are the ideals behind them? Among
ments of your occupation, like time pressure and
architects in this country the only thinkable construction is
profitability? Does an architect gain more freedom as his
contextual construction. To do that, you study the area
reputation grows? Yes, that’s partially true. It’s really difficult
where a structure is to be built, try to complement it, and
when a builder thinks the architect is a servant who can al-
enter into a dialogue. But there have always been structures
ways change his product at any time. It doesn’t work like that.
produced by architects who follow their own principles.
An architect works like a watchmaker – and cannot function
Stables, churches and temples for example. I am more
as a service provider.
interested in this kind of thinking and turn automatically to
isolated structures that are called radical and monumental.
You are keeping track of projects in Asia. Are you
Photos: Aldo Tadaro, Atelier Olgiati
looking for commonality in Asian and European cul-
ambitions | no. 1
Temple-like structures and forms, resembling cult
ture? Together with my wife, I travel to a different country
places of worship, seem to appeal to you. The cult
every year for four weeks. Our most recent destinations were
concept relates to questions of speculation, memory and
Cambodia, Burma, Peru and India. Islamic architecture fas-
emotion. If I were only able to erect three-dimensional geo-
cinates me the most at the moment. It is unbelievably inspir-
metric forms, they would only be anemic and cold. They
ing – really something you cannot ignore. These influences
would have no poetic aspects.
are also evident in my projects.
The architect
Valerio Olgiati (50) is one
of the most prominent, but also
one of the most radical Swiss
architects. He studied architecture at the Swiss Federal Institute
of Technology Zurich (ETH) and
opened an office in Zurich in
1996 and later in Chur in 2005.
Today, he lives and works in
Flims, Switzerland.
Olgiati taught in Zurich, London
and New York. Since 2002, he
has been a full professor at the
Accademia di architettura at the
Università della Svizzera italiana,
in Mendrisio.
About his work Olgiati says:
“My buildings are not designed
as a statement, but rather for
dialogue. My intention is to create
an architecture that leaves room
for interpretation. Houses with a
clear statement always have a
didactic element to them, which
is basically very boring.”
Ambitions
ambitions || No.
no. 1
architecture
10 interview
interview 11
nection with bronze very much. If applied liberally, bronze
catapults concrete into another sphere. Together, they have
an almost jewel-like quality.
Concrete is an extremely formable and a versatile
2004
National Palace
Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
A “Buddhist pagoda” with an
oddly crazed and distorted
building form. The area of the
levels gets wider at the top.
2004
Learning Center EPFL,
Lausanne, Switzerland
The structure has a random
and disjointed appearance, but
is in fact the result of precise
structural calculations.
2005
Ardia Palace, Tirana,
Albania
Façade elements serve as
shields against sun, heat and
glare, creating an impression
of “soft” concrete.
2008
Visitors Center Swiss
National Park, Zernez
Connected at one corner, the
two white cubes form a unit –
the home of the Swiss National
Park Center.
material. Isn’t it also the most cost-efficient material? By far, concrete is not always the least expensive building
material. I hope very much that the manufacturing cost for
concrete production can be kept within competitive limits.
Many things are possible with concrete, which is why it is
used so often, sometimes extensively.
2007
Atelier Bardill, Scharans,
Switzerland
A playful treatment of empty space
and volume: The only entrance
is an unglazed breach at
the front of the building,
leading from the alley
and opening to
a view of open
sky through
the terracottared concrete
sculpture.
How do you explain design demands for raw concrete with its unevenness compared to a homogeIs that why your path is becoming increasingly inter-
The architect profession has long recognized the
neous material like steel, which permits share edges
national? Yes. In the German-speaking part of Switzerland,
power and fascination of concrete. Why does a large
and fine-lined structures? It is only a matter of price. If
there is a normal inclination towards consensus – even in
portion of the public have such a hard time with it?
you can pay for it, you can build a structure as precisely with
questions for which there can be no consensus – that is
I’m often asked that question. Even so, I can’t give you a
concrete as you can with steel. In Brazil, I found architecture
almost absurd.
conclusive answer. It can’t be the material – if you look at it
made of concrete with unbelievably filigreed and light struc-
from a value-free perspective. My attempt at an explanation
tures. Thick concrete is something architects like to use. The
How do you deal with disappointment when you are
is that people often speak negatively of “concrete environ-
choice of rough concrete is a budget choice. I think it’s
working on a project and suddenly the decisive final
ments” – even when concrete is completely absent or every
remarkable that raw concrete is not considered as aesthetic
door standing between you and implementation is
gram of it is hidden under build-overs. I think that the term
as fine concrete in Switzerland.
suddenly closed? It is crucial for an architect to deal with
concrete is associated with a lot of the nonsense that was
that situation. In the early years, talented people, in particular,
built when it was perhaps the most dominate building
What advances in construction chemicals do you
may crack when faced with this problem. Just consider that
material.
find particularly interesting at the moment? Self-
compacting concrete is well-suited to fulfill the aspiration for
the ratio of my completed building projects versus my
uncompleted projects is about 1:10. But I just accept that.
“There is so
much potential
in concrete
that someone
outside of
our discipline
really can’t
understand
how great
this building
material
really is.”
ambitions | no. 1
Is concrete the “philosophers stone” as architecture
emotionality in today’s architecture. I think light and insulat-
critic Christoph Hackelsberger called it 20 years
ing concrete is exciting. I built the Swiss National Park build-
Do you sense greater triumph when you succeed in
ago? That would go too far, even though concrete is unbe-
ing in Zernez, Switzerland, with this material. This wouldn’t
spite of considerable opposition? No, you get used to
lievably versatile. There is so much potential in concrete that
have been possible ten years ago. You had to think in terms
winning, too. Building makes me feel good in a very natural
someone outside of our discipline really can’t understand
of layers to solve construction physics and energetic prob-
way. I like construction sites. It is simply a nice feeling when
how great this building material really is. I can think in terms
lems. Today, it is possible to pour an entire house without
something is being built.
of pouring rooms and structures. And finally I can solve
seams using this material, and thereby fulfill the newest
almost any technical problems with concrete.
energetic requirements.
style to achieve international success? No, there is no
To what respect are you also a construction engi-
What kinds of projects give you the greatest satis-
connection between style and international acclaim. The fact
neer? Even though I can’t calculate the forces systems in a
faction? Those that I am allowed to build without making
that I don’t have my own style is a result of the fact that I do
structure, I do understand them. In my view, the way forward
any compromises in the design.
not prescribe to any persuasion, believe or truth.
today is not through the poetries of material and form. I think
Is it important for an architect to have an individual
that architecture can only develop out of what is already tech-
Does an architect need to be ahead of his time to
Don’t your buildings have recognizable attributes?
nically grounded. That is why technical knowledge is so
avoid being overtaken by it one day? That would be
No. When someone works the way I do, they are always
important.
nice. Still, I am primarily a child of my time and take part in
looking for new possibilities. It’s about finding the truth in
it, consciously – not as an interpreter of the future, nor a
constantly different ways – even when you know that the
What is your favorite material to combine with con-
ultimate truth does not exist.
crete? My answer is very personal – I like concrete in con-
conjurer of the past.
Interview: Andreas Turner
Valerio Olgiati: “One can
build a structure as
precisely with concrete as
one can with steel. It is
only a matter of price.”
Ambitions
ambitions || No.
no. 1
gotthard
1916
12 focus
retro 13
The Order Called
for a Sealing!
K
Railway through
the Rocks
aspar Winkler’s formula of success when he founded
the company in 1910 was sealing, and sealing still is the
formula of Sika Group’s worldwide success today. For almost
100 years the company’s success was the result of providing
durable solutions to Sika’s customers. Of course, during the
past decades countless new products and systems for vari-
The Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s
longest train tunnel, currently being built through
the Swiss Alps, is a pioneering journey
through 13 million cubic meters of rock –
a spectacular 153-kilometer, 23-year passage
made possible also by Sika innovation.
ous challenges and customers have been developed, however, always driven by the will to manufacture high quality
products, also for sealing.
At the time the company was founded, Kaspar Winkler
developed a product (Sika®-1) as protection against water
and moisture. During the war years, adapted to economic
hardship, Sika made the economic break through with this
product in 1916. As a result of a shortage of coal reserves
due to the length of the war, the idea to electrify the railways
gained momentum. To realise this objective, the masonry
walls of the tunnel needed to be sealed against water
ingress. Sika®-1 or Sika®-3 proved to be the right solution.
These solutions speak for themselves since in many parts of
the world they are still successfully used even today.
The system used to seal masonry walls during the early years
of Sika developed into complex sealing systems used in the
construction of the new alp transit NEAT at the Gotthard
Construction of the
Gotthard Base Tunnel
is a journey through
changing strata that
requires concrete’s
strength and durability.
Base Tunnel (see opposite page). What began as a simple,
ingenious product to improve mortar, eventually became a
A
n enormous rocky cavern, 1000 meters under a Swiss
The project owner, AlpTransit Gotthard AG, a subsidiary
The high temperatures and humidity underground call
massif of slate and gneiss. Workers are spraying shot-
of the Swiss Federal Railways, hopes the €5.5 billion project
for concrete that is workable for long time, or has quick
crete onto a freshly excavated surface in order to secure the
will take cargo off the road and relieve other chronically
early strength characteristics. These opposite effects are
rock. In a matter of minutes, the concrete hardens supporting
congested Swiss tunnels.
achieved with “custom-designed” Sika admixtures. Behind
the tunnel wall.
In this eerie environment, far below the Alpine city of
Photos: Sika
Sedrun in the Canton of Grisons, the Swiss are building the
ambitions | no. 1
Construction of the Gotthard Tunnel is a journey through
the scenes, Sika scientists have been part of the project from
changing strata that requires strength and durability of the
the very beginning. The discovery of high-range water reduc-
project’s most important building material: concrete.
ers (Sika® ViscoCrete®) based on polycarboxylate ethers
Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest train tunnel. Since
Progressing at a rate of many meters a day, workers
1993, work has been going on at five sites that will eventu-
depend on concrete that activates “just in time” for various
ally connect a mega two single-track tunnel system.
the sealing of large areas with waterproofing membranes or
the connection of different building parts with sophisticated
joint sealing profiles. However, then as well as today the
mission is sealing and the solution is durable.
was inconceivable only a few years ago.
applications, including inverts and inner lining of the tunnel.
As huge machines drill their way through the Alp’s rocky
In some cases, sprayed concrete must be workable for
sediments, and eventually remove over 13 million cubic me-
provide passage for fast trains, weighing twice the maximum
up to eight hours and pumpable for long distances. To achieve
ters of rock – equivalent to five Cheops pyramids – workers
weight of existing freight trains, which will traverse Europe’s
this, a special admixture, called SikaTard , is used to stabilize
continue to depend on fast, efficient and safe building mate-
main axis between North and South at speeds of up to 250
concrete, while accelerators (Sigunit -AF) ensure that
rials. Virtues made possible by Sika.
km/h, reducing travel time by 50 minutes.
strength development starts on time.
®
wide range of systems to improve concrete and shotcrete,
(PCE) has made concrete more workable and stronger than
When completed in 2016, the Gotthard Base Tunnel will
®
Keeping water from
seeping through, Sika
was already improving
mortar in 1916. The
original sealing
compound Sika®-1
is still being used all
over the world.
ambitions | no. 1
potential
14 know-how
Technology for the Future
Made in Switzerland
Innovative, future-oriented, but conscious of its traditions, Sika recognizes the value of
Switzerland’s technology environment: A new Technology Center, located in Zurich, has opened its
doors where Sika began business almost one hundred years ago.
Scientists also synthesize different components, such as
prepolymers, and combine them with diluents, fillers, pigments, additives or catalysts to achieve the effect they desire.
Once a composition is ready for a practical test, it is sent to
the testing laboratory and later to the pilot laboratory that can
produce larger quantities of the formula for customer tests.
The new R&D building is Sika’s homage to its roots,
but also to the Swiss Technology landscape.
The same pilot laboratory can also similate large-scale production.
The surface analysis laboratory contains state-of-the-art
S
equipment, will include an energy-dispersive spectroscopy
ika expects to unlock new potential in research and de-
machine (EDX) that is used to analyze surface characteristics
velopment by bundling the resources of 180 employees
and reveal causes of bond defects. Surfaces such as glass
from all segments of R&D and Operations (production and
or ceramics can be classified and modified through plasma
logistics). “Scientists who used to work at different locations
treatment. Scientists conduct corrosion measurements and
in Switzerland can work more efficiently at one location,”
define dielectric properties for products such as Sika’s
explains Urs Mäder, head of R&D. “This is also part of our
window adhesives.
strategy for 2010, which envisions the expansion, strengthening and reinforcing of R&D and Operations in Zurich.”
Meeting high standards. Located on the north side of
Photos: Ricardo Gomez, Sika
the building, the laboratories are protected from sunlight
ambitions | no. 1
Research on five floors. Research at the new facility
and heat with state-of-the-art equipment in rooms for
focuses on adhesives and sealants, based on polyurethanes,
analysis, storage and climatization that meet the high stan-
silane modified polymers, polyacrylates and epoxyhybrids.
dards of the chemical industry. “Our chemists appreciate
A chemical synthesis laboratory has facilities for fundamen-
the high laboratory quality,” says Urs Mäder. We are
tal research of adhesive and sealant technologies, including
able to increase the attractiveness of Sika Technology
design and synthesis of complex polymers, new curing
through the new building, and it is also easier to find highly
mechanisms and surface-active substances to improve ad-
trained employees. We currently hire about twenty scientists
hesion.
every year.”
The façade of the
Technology Center:
Sika’s advancements
in structural glass
adhesives were directly
put into practice.
know-how 15
Sika Adhesives
Advance Window
Technology
With their high bonding
strength, Sika adhesives
enable window manufacturers
to reduce the thickness of
wood sashes and increase the
thermal-insulating and
noise-reducing glass surface.
The result is a greater
reduction of heat loss, much
more light but also more
effective sound insulation.
New window frame
profiles are now possible
that allow glass to cover wood,
protecting it from the ravages
of wind and weather.Expensive
aluminum covers as weather
protection on the sash are no
longer necessary. With only
one aluminum cover on the
frame, this new system is very
competitive, with more value
for the end user such as heat
and sound insulation and light
transmission. Stronger adhesives also make break-ins
more difficult compared to
traditional window building
techniques.
This window system with high
thermal insulation and noise
reduction was developed by
the Swiss window manufacturer Baumgartner. Sika
supported Baumgartner with
a special fast-curing adhesive
for use in a highly automated
manufacturing process. The
solution was the acrylate-based
adhesive SikaFast®-5201
which cures within six minutes.
All window sashes in the
Technology Center are now
ultra-thin, but can hold tons of
stress and strain with a
minimum seam of only 2 mm
by 10 mm. As an added
benefit adhesives can
withstand long-term UV affects
of the sun, adding to the 30year life expectancy of the
windows.
ambitions | no. 1
potential
16 know-how
know-how 17
Building chronology | Plan of concept April 2004 | Approval of the top
management December 2005 | Application for planning permission January 2006 |
Building license March 2006 | Laying of the foundation stone October 2006 |
Beginning of the building construction November 2006 | Topping-out ceremony
June 2007 | Opening April 2008
Overall the building is a Sika concept “from basement to
roof.” Sika products are used for sealing underground, sealing and anchoring the glass façade on the court side, floor
and wall coverings, and in the fair-faced concrete and on the
roof. The research building has six floors above ground, a
ground floor and a roof center. The conference area is on the
The analysis laboratories contain state-of-the-art equipment.
ground floor, together with testing laboratories and a pilot
facility. The building has 10,000 m2 of floor space and a total
Surrounded by Sika Technology. Sika scientists get
volume of 40,000 m3.
inspired by the building in which they work. The fair-faced
appearance of the building’s façade with its self-compacting
Sika merges – two laboratory buildings become
concrete and thin-wall construction of only ten centimeters
one. The Tüffenwies Area has a history of growth. The way
was made possible by Sika’s concrete admixtures, which
the buildings stand, their heights and their façades create a
give some idea of the pioneering achievement of this new
look that is both heterogeneous and typical for the industrial
tech-nology. Thomas Hirschi, a Sika employee, was one of
sector. The new Technology Center stands above the other
the people who provided technical support. “The façade was
buildings, which gain from this new accent. The new building
made with self-compacting cast-in-place concrete and not
also blends nicely into the Tüffenwies Area through its con-
with prefabricated elements,” he explains. “The concrete is
nection with the older laboratory building.
beautiful to look at because of the excellent surface quality.”
The architecture, with its strict geometric shapes and
At the same time, the method resulted in very little shrinkage
clear-cut dimensions, is clearly committed to a classic,
in mass, and a flawless edifice with few seams, which is
rational style – that contrasts the artificial-world style of the
particularly difficult to achieve with self-compacting con-
labora-tories. Materials express the way they are made;
crete. “We were able to reach this high standard through
they are not disguised and follow their own essence: clear
constant quality control during the construction phase and
white walls and ceilings, staircases and elevator cores of
profession in concrete production and placing,” he says.
smooth concrete and untreated oak windows and oak
Another innovation that came from the Sika laboratory
ambitions | no. 1
carpentry.
was the window adhesive. Sika’s direct-glazing technology
In this configuration, the Technology Center can meet its
was used for the glass façade of the Technology Center,
operational and commercial needs, but also benefit from
which maximized the window surface and enhanced the view
architecture that reflects the area’s transformation into a
out of the windows. But that’s not all. The higher rigidity of
location for research. The prominent central free space at the
windows mounted by adhesives makes it possible to install
core of the facility brings together different working and
thinner window frames, which allows more light into the of-
meeting environments. This is a place that encourages team
fices. New adhesive and cement technology contributes to
spirit among the employees and reflects the openness of
the luster on the Sika Technology Center.
corporate culture which is Sika’s goal.
“Our chemists appreciate
the high laboratory
quality,” says Urs Mäder,
Sika’s head of R&D.
PCE
SCC
Self Compacting PolycarboxylateEther
Concrete
New applications for concrete,
unimaginable a few decades
ago, are being found every day
as scientists build on the
discovery of a new generation
of admixtures called PCE
(polycarboxylate ether), which
make concrete more workable,
pliable and even more
beautiful. Mixed with fine
filament, self compacting
concrete (SCC) becomes
“fair-faced,” a term used by
the industry to describe the
fine finish they can achieve.
With SCC it is possible to build
delicate and geometrically
complex construction
modules, and it opens new
possibilities for building
designers. The accelerated
application process and the
elimination of the compacting
process generate an additional
benefit in reducing the time
needed for construction and
cost optimization. An additional
benefit of SCC is the fact
that it does not need to be
vibrated to pack, which
reduces noise, something that
is appreciated by workers
on site and the public. With a
specially designed SCC
mixture, based on Sika®
ViscoCrete® Technology, the
contractor was able to create
an exceptionally delicate
façade for the Sika Technology
Center.
Modern concrete is a product
that stems from material that
has kept the mason cladding
of Roman bath houses,
aqueducts and the Pantheon
in place for centuries. Admired
for its strength and durability
over the years, concrete is
today more beautiful, better
workable and faster or slower
drying – depending on the
need.
The discovery of PCE
(polycarboxylate ether), a
polymer that reduces the
water content of concrete, has
greatly improved performance.
A building or tunnel may need
different lengths of time to
work with concrete; this can
be the case when concrete is
transported through pipes over
a distance or has to set quickly
to seal water leaks.
Scientific research has
improved PCE to the point that
it can be placed more easily
and meet every requirement,
including aesthetic needs.
A product called “fair-faced
concrete” uses water
reduction and durability to
achieve flawless surfaces,
such as the façade of Sika
Group’s new Technology
Center in Zurich, which was
built with a self-compacting
Sika® ViscoCrete® PCE
Technology.
ambitions | no. 1
attraction
18 fascination
fascination 19
Spotlight
on Concrete
The innovative flair of concrete is
difficult to resist: When it comes to
premium brand advertising, few backgrounds serve as well as concrete to
bring out the “coolness” of products.
T
he more posh and pricey, the clearer the trend: The look
of concrete heightens attention and image building. Just
ask advertising agencies and the marketing professionals
who develop campaigns for high-tech companies such as
Bang & Olufsen, or car manufacturers Audi, BMW and Daimler. Even luxury fashion designers Louis Vuitton, Giorgio
Armani and Hugo Boss like to use concrete sceneries to stage
their creations in advertisements and poster campaigns.
Concrete provides a discreet, neutral background that
sells, and for good reason: This “cool” building material
stands for stability and durability, and – more importantly –
innovation and intellectual urban feeling. Concrete does not
steal the show, but gives a product additional strength and
contour. No distraction from reflective chrome glass or blazing colors. In an otherwise shrill advertising world, concrete
offers a calm, relaxed center of gravity that lends a product
its own strong qualities.
When French luxury brand Louis Vuitton signed a contract with the American actress Uma Thurman (Kill Bill), Art
Photos: Bang & Olufsen (3); Louis Vuitton (1); Daimler (1); Rolf Benz (1)
Director Marc Jacobs knew nothing but praise for the Hollywood star: “Uma is an unbelievably beautiful woman – the
perfect choice to capture the power of enigmatic attraction,“
he said in an interview published by the German women’s
magazine Amica. In choosing a background for a photo shoot
with Thurman and a Louis Vuitton handbag, Jacobs opted for
a raw industrial background. “We had the idea to show this
very feminine woman in a surrounding of concrete and raw
architecture,” he explains. “The contrast was truly impressive.”
In return, concrete got a little free publicity. And there is
every indication its time is far from over. Concrete architecture is as timeless as good design.
ambitions | no. 1
Andreas Turner
“Concrete does not steal the show, but gives a product additional strength and contour.”
Concrete in the background strengthens
the design effect: Bang & Olufsen
audio-video system. And Sika supplies
the screen adhesives.
ambitions | no. 1
attraction
20 fascination
fascination 21
The power of female attraction
in contrast to raw architecture: Uma
Thurman models for Louis Vuitton.
“Concrete Gives You Time
and Space to Reflect”
Interview with Kasper Eis,
Head of Marketing Bang & Olufsen, Denmark.
Looking at Bang & Olufsen advertisements, one can
other surface can. It represents our core qualities such as
sense B&O’s strong affinity for cool, modern ar-
design, craftsmanship, performance and ease of use.
chitecture. Why do you often choose concrete sur-
Kasper Eis of B&O:
“Concrete enhances
our products
in a way that no
other surface can.”
roundings for your product photos? There are a cou-
The relationship between Bang & Olufsen and con-
ple of reasons. Concrete, as we perceive it, is an honest
crete seems to be a close one. Just look at pictures of
material, made of the basic earth elements: water and sand.
our headquarters in Struer, Denmark. Concrete is part of our
At first glance it seems simple, but when you look closer,
heritage and our daily life. Our headquarters has many ar-
every surface has a different story to tell with the many pat-
chitectural elements. One is glass, which opens the view to
terns ingrained in the material. Not unlike a product from
nature that surrounds us: the water, the grass, the woods,
Bang & Olufsen which is simple on the outside but holds
the sky. On the other hand, most or all of our surfaces, even
many inner qualities.
the ceiling, are made of concrete. And we feel that these
surfaces give our employees a soothing working environ-
Does concrete have other qualities that help you
ment. Room to think. We left the concrete bare and raw.
“stage” your products? Though rough on the surface,
Concrete doesn’t take away anything, it rather gives you time
concrete signals a pure and minimalistic way of life. That’s
to reflect. And that is also part of our heritage and corporate
what we strive to build into our products by removing unnec-
culture. So it is not only because concrete makes our prod-
essary clutter, buttons and functions, allowing our clients to
ucts look better. It gives our employees the chance to come
live a simpler and more harmonious lifestyle. Again you have
up with unique concepts and long-lasting products.
this connection between our products and what concrete
Interview: Andreas Turner
stands for. You don’t find many other materials that are so
honest in the way they are built. This product philosophy is
something we really strive to reflect in all of our systems.
Will you continue to use concrete backgrounds for
your product photos and advertising campaigns?
Most definitely. I have just come from a photo shooting session with brand-new B&O products. Unfortunately I can’t
show them to you yet, but we used concrete surfaces as a
natural backdrop to some of our newest audio and video
systems. And it was an easy choice because the very nature
of concrete allows our products to stand out and show their
best side. Concrete enhances our products in a way that no
ambitions | no. 1
Bang & Olufsen headquarters in Struer, Denmark.
Cool, elegant and reserved:
concrete sets the perfect
stage for Mercedes-Benz
automobiles.
Concrete and glass façades
contrast with living room coziness:
a couch combination by Rolf Benz.
ambitions | no. 1
myths
people 23
22 people
Vittorio Oro,
Job Site Manager
Franzensfeste Pilot Tunnel,
Brenner Base Tunnel, Italy
“For me, Saint Barbara is the patron saint of
“Saint Barbara is a very special saint to the mining
“The celebration of Saint Barbara on the fourth
mining and tunnel construction. I trust her
community. She protects those who work
of December is like Christmas. I am very grateful
completely and believe that she protects me while
underground in order to support their families. Her
to her when I or other miners escape catastrophe,
I am working underground.”
image is always at the entrance of the mine and a
and my gratitude grows every time I leave
lot of miracles are attributed to her.”
the tunnel safely. I have a card or small statue
“I’ve seen tough miners bow their heads to Saint
of Saint Barbara with me almost all the time.”
Barbara or bring her flowers. Some will stop to
pray at our small chapel. I was 18 when I first saw
a shrine to Saint Barbara and believe that she
has been protecting me ever since.”
Florian Habit, Chief Construction Foreman
Hochtief AG, Essen, Germany
Project: AlpTransit Gotthard
José Perpétua, Filling Operator,
Almodovar, Spain
Ferdinand Amlacher, TBM Driver,
Alpine Mayreder Bau GmbH, Salzburg
Alberto Rey, Mining Engineer,
Sika SA, Spain
Hans Gammel, Amberg Engineering AG,
Switzerland
Alessandro Marchetti, Operations Foreman,
CSC AG, Lugano, Switzerland
Project: AlpTransit Gotthard
Patron Saints of Miners
Courage, faith and sometimes superstition are the companions of
miners underground. Sika looks at an unusual religious tradition in Europe and
South America that encourages the use of shrines at the entrance of tunnels.
H
eavy machinery, dust and sweat. Men, rubble and seep-
Saint Barbara have shrines at the entrance of mines and
ing water. A mountain is hollowed out with all the power
tunnels. According to legend, Saint Barbara died for her faith,
and strength that technology and humans can muster. And
beheaded by her own father, who was subsequently struck
there is danger: despite all state-of-the-art equipment and
down by lightning. Besides protecting miners, she is there-
stringent safety precautions, experienced tunnel workers, in
fore invoked against thunder and lightning and all gunpowder
particular, know nature can unleash powers beyond anyone’s
explosions.
control.
ambitions | no. 1
In South America, similar veneration is paid to San
Courage, faith and sometimes superstition are the
Lorenzo, or Saint Lawrence, as he is more widely known in
companions of miners underground. While much safer than
the English-speaking world, a Christian martyr who in 285
it was in previous decades, mining accidents continue
B.C. protected Church treasures with his life. Both saints
to happen. Miners live with heavy machinery, drills and
have wide appeal in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox
“I’m a 36-year-old mining engineer from Asturias,
“I don’t cross myself or put a candle in the
“My faith and veneration for Saint Barbara
explosives used for exploration and development, and
and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Spain, a traditional coal, gold and metals mining
niche every time I enter the tunnel, but I do believe
has changed over the last ten years. She is sacred
region. During the last five years, my job has taken
Saint Barbara protects us. I find it interesting to
to me and I suspect to all Catholic miners.
extraction of minerals, rock and other geological materials
Living with mining danger is as old as civilization. The
of diverse hardness. In this environment, danger is as
world’s oldest mines date back to 4000 B.C. when iron min-
me to hundreds of tunnels, and an image of Saint
see how attitudes change over time. It used to be
But the traditions surrounding this patron saint
constant as tunnel air.
erals were excavated from “Lion Cave” in Swaziland and flint
Barbara was at the entrance of all of them. This
unthinkable that women could enter a tunnel,
are more commercial today. Unfortunately, her
In Europe, some miners strengthen their resolve under-
was mined in Hungary for weapons and tools. Whether
Catholic patroness is even more important today
because it meant bad luck. Today, it’s a lot more
celebration is more an event for construction site
ground with the veneration of Saint Barbara, the Roman
driven by money, courage, faith or superstition, miners are a
for people who believe she takes care of us while
relaxed.”
management, squad workers and the builders.”
Catholic patron saint of all those who face the danger of
special breed of explorers who continue to bring the earth’s
we work.”
sudden and violent death in work. Typically, patron saints like
riches to light.
ambitions | no. 1
strength
art
24 success story
events 25
Earthquakes send shockwaves
far beyond their epicenters.
Sika technologies make building
structures safer.
A world of nymphs,
demons and sorcerers.
Artist, sculptor and architect
Bruno Weber.
Nature and fantasy blend
perfectly at the park.
When the Earth Shakes
W
Earthquakes send shockwaves far beyond their epicenters. Besides endangering human lives, one
single quake can cause severe damage to vital elements of infrastructure, making it understandable
that builders are turning more often to Sika for seismic upgrades and earthquake recovery.
hat do a giant 17-meter owl, a double-faced nightand-day gate, and a cow-shaped living area with glass
dome have in common? How do they fit with a snaking slide,
a dolphin-barbecue eating table and other countless fantasy
n Switzerland, most buildings have not been designed to
In 2004, structural assessment concluded that only 30%
withstand earthquakes and require upgrades. Industrielle
of the building above ground would survive an earthquake.
Werke Basel (IWB), one of the country’s leading urban en-
Sika helped builders stabilize two brick structures above
ergy and utility providers, decided to act and called upon Sika
ground with reinforced concrete shear walls and used pre-
to help with a seismic upgrade for a central dispersion sta-
stressed carbon fiber reinforcement polymer plates (CFRP)
tion, Wasgenring in Basel.
to connect buildings above ground with a larger tract under-
Sika technologies are helping architects, engineers and
A supportive wall has
been secured with CFRP
plates. They form a
pattern of squares and
are made mostly of
carbon fibers that have
the same strengthening
effect as steel plates –
at a small fraction of
their weight.
ambitions | no. 1
ground.
builders make structures safer before and after earthquakes
CFRP plates are made mostly of carbon fibers, are very
happen. Sika’s so-called CarboDur CFRP plates enhance
lightweight (a 10-m-long plate, 50 mm wide and 1.2 mm
upgrades with lighter than conventional steel reinforcements
thick weighs less than 1 kg), but have the same strengthen-
that have the same strength and durability necessary to bring
ing effect as steel plates. Once anchored above and below
greater structural integrity to bridges, roofs and walls.
ground, they dissipate the force of an earthquake, should it
®
Dispersion station Wasgenring is a major electricity
occur. With very high ductility, they bend, the force is trans-
source for hospitals, an airport, trains, as well as other utili-
mitted to structure and a higher strengthening effect is
ties companies, including water, natural gas and telecom-
achieved, reducing the likelihood of structural collapse.
munications – and located in one of the country’s most
endangered earthquake zones.
An Oasis
of Color
and
Concrete
With seismic upgrading and earthquake recovery now a
major industry worldwide, Sika technologies are at the
Electricity is a vital, life-sustaining commodity. Experi-
forefront of efforts to improve structural integrity in earth-
ence with earthquake catastrophes shows that damage to
quake zones. Covering a wide range of strengthening op-
power supply stations, like Wasgenring, can have serious
tions, Sika solutions are making structural bonding and seal-
effects on infrastructure, impacting the lives of more people
ing of cracked concrete, stiffening and increased ductility a
than other utilities.
viable and cost-effective way to prepare for earthquakes.
Photos: René Ruis; iStock/Furchin
I
The sculpture park of the
Swiss artist Bruno Weber is a
fantasy world for the playful.
figures, including flying dogs and froglike pond sentinels?
The answer is that they all come from the sheer boundless
imagination and creative hand of Bruno Weber. For 40 years,
Weber has been toiling to finish his life’s work – a 20,000square meter sculpture park at the edge of the forest near
the village of Dietikon by Zurich, Switzerland.
Another thing these sculptures have in common is that
most of them are made of concrete enriched by Sika products. “Sika supported me very much in the beginning,” says
the 77-year-old artist. Besides donating admixtures, Sika
also sought Weber’s advice on how best to develop Sika
products to meet his needs. “Collaboration was very valuable from a human perspective as well,” says Weber who
also speaks very fondly of former Board of Directors President, Hans Peter Ming.
Weber has not quite reached his final objective and began work in July 2007 on new additions, including “Wassergarten” (Water Gardens) and “Haus des Wandels” (House of
Change). Three 8-meter concrete caterpillars are planned as
the highlight of the project. Sika concrete admixtures will also
A wonderful fairy-tale castle –
and a marvel of technological
structural achievements.
serve him for those projects and others, giving the artist almost endless means to express himself. The park is scheduled to open in spring 2009.
More information under:
www.bruno-weber-skulpturenpark.ch
Ambitions | 1 | 2008
precision
identity
you 27
26 exceptional
Do You Speak Sika?
Sika products are easy to obtain at construction sites or at Sika’s almost 100,000 distribution partners’
outlets worldwide. While they may have different packaging sizes, Sika’s technology is
behind every product. Two distributors – in China and the Ukraine – talk about their Sika experiences.
W
hen it comes to large construction projects,
product quality is essential for durability and
cost efficiency. The same can be said about smaller
projects: Someone who renovates a bathroom wants
the same high quality which is granted by the Sika
brand. Ambitions spoke to two distributors who share
Ms. Han Meixia,
a particular affinity for Sika’s corporate design. They
Aleksey Viktorovisch Shelkov
Tianjin Lian Zhong Jie,
were chosen from a long list of successful distributors
(1st from right), Sistemotechnika,
Tianjin City, China.
on five continents.
Odessa, Ukraine.
Precise maneuvering: An obstacle course was set up for measuring drivers’ abilities.
As a Sika distributor, my business covers distribution to
Concrete Challenges
Experience is imperative! Top U.S. concrete truck drivers put their skills to a demanding test.
hardware stores, paint shops and other small shops.
I am confident about the future of my business with Sika.
We are growing together.
I think that Sika represents professionalism and quality.
An authorized dealership is a sign of authenticity to
the customers.
How does
Our business in Odessa is developing dynamically.
your business work?
Are you satisfied with how
business is going?
Yes. Even if the business suffers at the moment due to
high inflation, we still have a big potential for growth.
Your place of business is
The Sika brand is a guarantee for products with high
carrying the Sika logo.
quality. It is nice to see when people are satisfied with
Why do you identify yourself
the products they use.
with this brand?
D
Contestant Dana
Prisbrey, eager to
participate at America’s
leading mixer drivers
event.
Sika is a more professional brand that does not have the
Sika doesn’t sell products, Sika sells systems. We can
itself from other brands
offer solutions to the client. That’s a better service than
riving can be difficult enough under everyday circum-
lenged driver ability to stop before hitting a barricade. A per-
stances – congested traffic, demanding schedules and
fect stop in reverse or forward required centimeter-exact
tight spaces to maneuver. But suppose you are responsible
driving control that simulates maneuvers in situations like
I am going to improve my service level to customers
Which goal would you like
We want to make the brand well known in the region.
for delivering a product that only lasts for 90 minutes, in a
those at a normal plant or site conditions.
beyond sales. Also, I am looking forward to receiving
to achieve professionally?
A lot of people still don’t know that Sika products have
vehicle that can weigh 60,000 pounds and has a very high
Beside driving skills, contestants also competed a rigor-
center of gravity plus severe limitations on speed, braking
ous multiple choice exam of detailed technical questions,
and turning. If you add to that the fact that your heavy cargo
and a five-minute “walk around” inspection of a truck that
is constantly spinning around, that would make you a
had been specifically prepared with dozens of safety viola-
concrete truck driver working to deliver this versatile and
tions. A special competition, “Chute Hoops,” challenged
essential building material.
driver timing and aim at the cement chute. Stopping in front
The top U.S. concrete delivery professionals recently put
their skills to a challenging test. Maneuvering ever so gently
This year marked the second NRMCA competition for
U.S. competitors. First-place winner was 23-year veteran
$4000 in prize money at the NRMCA National Mixer Driver
Kenneth Blair who was awarded $2500 in prize money.
Contestants had to pass six themed stations, including
in the construction industry?
competitors have.
specific training from Sika in order to pass on the knowl-
the same advantages for the home user as for the work-
edge and know-how to my customers.
ers on big construction sites.
the chute normally used to deliver cement.
ing lanes, 38 of America’s best mixer drivers competed for
the stations “Up Against the Wall” and “Truck Stop” that chal-
run-of-the-mill consumer goods image.
of a basketball hoop, drivers had to drop a basketball through
through a merciless obstacle course of narrow reverse driv-
Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.
ambitions | no. 1
How does Sika distinguish
The annual competition is decided by a panel of judges
who represent some of the industry’s most experienced
drivers.
ambitions | no. 1
ambitions
issue no. 1
ambitions 1
customer magazine
Big Potential
Sika’s head of R&D
gets inspiration from
the new Technology
Center where he works.
Page 14
Impressive Contrast
Hollywood actress Uma Thurman
posed for a Louis Vuitton
advertising campaign in front
of raw concrete.
Page 19
Myths & Legends:
Why miners underground
believe in the protection
granted by Saint Barbara and
other patron saints of miners. Page 22
Sika Marine
Ensuring Durability with Watertight Solutions.
The Sika Marine range includes products for:
■ Sealing
■ Bonding
■ Bedding
■ Caulking
■ Levelling
■ Acoustic- / Flooring
All Sika Marine products are Wheelmark-approved
by leading certification societies.
Durability
The Virtues of Concrete
Interview: Valerio Olgiati
on provocative architecture.
Page 8
www.sika.com
Concrete Oasis
The sculpture park of Swiss
artist Bruno Weber is a fantasy
world made of concrete –
enriched by Sika products.
Page 25