09/28/2018
Sika is adding strength and capacity to its Mexican product supply chain in the Automotive sector with the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Querétaro, Mexico. The new factory, which includes an integrated logistics center, will manufacture and locally supply Sika’s full range of acoustic treatments and body structural products for the growing number of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) assembly and component makers located in the country. The Mexican subsidiary of Faist ChemTec, acquired by Sika at the start of 2018, will also be integrated into the new facility.
The Mexican automotive market has grown by 25% in the last four years, and an estimated four million vehicles will be produced in the country in 2018. This growth is being driven by the significant number of key players in the OEM market who are investing in increasing production capacity. Mexico is a top automotive manufacturing location and will soon become the sixth largest car manufacturer in the world – catching up with South Korea.
The megatrends in vehicle manufacturing and sustainability demand to reduce emissions, lead to a requirement for high strength bonding systems that produce lighter, stronger, safer, quieter, and greener vehicles, all of which can be achieved with the aid of Sika products. Today, more than 50 million vehicles produced worldwide are built every year using Sika’s adhesives, reinforcer systems, and acoustic treatments. The company’s high performing SikaBaffle®, SikaDamp®, and SikaReinforcer® technologies are used extensively in the vehicle assembly process for acoustic sealing and damping applications to reduce airborne and structure borne noise levels in vehicles, and to structurally reinforce vehicle body shells and components for enhanced crash durability.
"Our location in Querétaro is strategically located in the middle of the customer network we support in Mexico. This means we are close to the many vehicle and component manufacturing facilities already established in Mexico, as well as the new plants coming on line. As the market grows, so do we, continually adding value and support for our customers. The site is also home to one of our large construction materials plants, which gives the added advantage of a shared infrastructure and logistics network." Thomas Hasler, Head Industry at Sika