Sika AG (SIX: SIKA), the Swiss specialty chemical company, has officially opened its sixth manufacturing facility in Colombia, located in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, about 20 minutes outside of Cali. The new plant represents a significant industrial investment for the company in the country.
The Palmira facility is designed to increase Sika’s national production capacity by up to 80%, adding approximately 90,000 annual tons across product lines including mortars, adhesives, stuccos, and acrylic mastics. This expansion is positioned to optimize delivery times, enhance logistical competitiveness, and support the company’s supply chain in the western and southern regions of Colombia.
Sika General Manager Andrés Vanegas
The strategic location in Palmira is intended to decrease the average transport distance for products to customers from over 800 kilometers to a maximum of 100 kilometers. This reduction in truck travel is projected to lower transportation routes by 85%, resulting in an estimated reduction of 700 tons of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) emissions annually, contributing to Sika’s global sustainability objectives.
The new plant incorporates fully automated technology, integrating advanced systems for process control, industrial safety, and energy efficiency. The infrastructure utilizes synthetic Sika fibers in concrete slabs to reduce steel consumption and carbon footprint, and incorporates sandwich panels to lower interior temperature and energy consumption.
The industrial development generates over 60 direct and indirect jobs in its current operational phase, with potential for growth dependent on demand. The plant is expected to strengthen key value chains in the Valle del Cauca region, including logistics, mining, technical services, and material sourcing. The improved supply capacity aims to provide faster service to distributors, hardware stores, contractors, and builders in the Colombian southwest, a region identified as key for national economic development.
Andrés Vanegas, General Manager of Sika in Colombia, described the opening as a commitment to the country’s capacity for development, stating that the plant strengthens the national operation and supports the growth of the construction, infrastructure, and automotive sectors.
The new location in Palmira consolidates a robust industrial network for Sika in Colombia, supplementing existing plants in Tocancipá, Duitama, Rionegro, and Barranquilla.
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