Construction managers all over the world are facing a severe shortage of skilled labor. A potent remedy: quick and easy-to-apply solutions and technologies from Sika that enable optimal deployment of the available skills.
From Switzerland to the United States, the construction industry is facing serious shortages of skilled labor, the result of shifts in workforce demographics and younger people’s employment preferences. In the USA alone, there is a shortfall of over half a million construction workers, which is slowing the completion of projects ranging from housing to infrastructure and hospitals. With one in four workers over the age of 55, the situation is only expected to get worse. Switzerland, too, faces a shortage of construction workers, especially those with specialized skills. According to the latest data, a foreman ranks fourth in the list of the most scarce skilled workers. Here, as in other countries, the situation requires immediate attention, as young people are underrepresented in the construction workforce and older workers can retire as early as age 60.
Sika’s solutions can help mitigate this challenge. Its easy-to-apply products and technologies enable projects to be completed efficiently and on time, as well as allowing the construction planners to make effective use of the skills available. The trainings and certifications provided by Sika supports construction companies to upskill their workforce, making them better qualified and more versatile.
Sika’s products are also designed with an emphasis on health, safety, and reduced physical effort for application, which contributes to a reduction in lost time injuries and making the construction trade a more appealing prospect for young job-seekers.
Cutting installation time: Sikafloor®-3000 Snapbooster
Developed for fast and efficient application, Sikafloor®- 3000 Snapbooster heralds a paradigm shift in polyurethane flooring. When added to Sika’s standard wear coat materials, the product enables extremely fast curing. The application process remains the same, but the curing process is greatly accelerated, enabling all the layers of the floor system build-up to be finished within a single day.
Taking polyurethane to the next level: Sika® Purform®
For decades, polyurethane sealants, adhesives, and floors have enabled the highest levels of performance, pushing beyond the limitations of silicones and other technologies in many industrial and construction applications. Sika® Purform® is a primerless adhesive that increases durability and eliminates the risk of stress cracking. Engineered to remove diisocyanate monomer content, Purform® adhesives, sealants, and floor products take polyurethane to the next level in terms of performance, sustainability, health, and safety.
Resisting the weather: Sikalastic®-680 AP
Sikalastic®-680 AP is a quick-drying waterproofing membrane for concrete structures. Its benefits came to the fore in the construction of the metro in Bangkok, a tropical city where work is often governed by the weather, particularly heavy rain. It was used to waterproof the station roofs. Despite multiple interruptions, the product’s efficiency of application enabled construction operations to always be completed to deadline.
"In facing the growing construction labor shortage in the United States, we are helping our customers by providing them with our quick and easy-to-apply solutions." Mike Campion, Regional Manager Americas
Revolutionizing roofing: Sarnafil® AT
Sarnafil® AT technology is a versatile membrane for sustainably designed, single-ply roofs. It offers the ultimate combination of durability, sustainability, and ease of application. Sarnafil® AT can be used in any climatic conditions across the globe and is certified silver overall under the Cradle-to-Cradle Certified™ Products Standard.
Simplifying tiling: SikaCeram® and Sikalastic®-260 Stop Aqua
SikaCeram® is a range of comprehensive, integrated systems of grouts and adhesives for ceramic and natural stone tiling, designed for ease of application as well as high performance. SikaCeram®-690 Elite fast tile grout, for example, accelerates the tiling process, minimizing the time the applicator has to wait before cleaning off excess grout so that the grout is walkable within only three hours. SikaCeram® is practical and beautiful, too: Installing the amazingly intricate and varied tiling on the Port of Leixões cruise terminal in Portugal, which had to resist seawater, temperature variations, and thermal expansion, would hardly have been feasible without this range of solutions. Another solution that accelerates tiling is Sikalastic®-260 Stop Aqua. Unlike traditional waterproofing mortar, which has to cure for several days before being covered with adhesive and tiles, Sika’s product is applied as a liquid to create a waterproof membrane that allows tiling after only 90 minutes.