Sika invests in macro fibres in the USA
Sika has expanded its macrofibre production capacity at its Chattanooga plant. Their admixture is intended to make concrete components more sustainable. This is the company's response to the growing demand on the American continent.
Sika is focusing on the market for macro-plastic fibres in North and South America. As the specialty chemicals company now announces, it has increased production capacities for these fibres at its plant in Chattanooga in the US state of Tennessee. Sika is thus positioning itself “even more strongly as a leading full-range supplier for the mining industry and a strong partner for sustainable construction projects”.
Macro-plastic fibres reportedly shorten construction time by eliminating the need to install conventional reinforcement and significantly improve the properties of cured concrete compared to the use of steel reinforcement. They also increase the service life of concrete structures and thus their sustainability. According to Sika, these factors have a positive effect on the classification for ecological construction, for example in the international LEED certification system.
Due to the construction of sustainable gigafactories and data centres in the USA, the demand for macrofibres for the production of abrasion-resistant floor slabs and industrial floors has also increased strongly, according to Regional Manager Americas, Christoph Ganz. In addition, the demand for macro fibres for shotcrete to secure tunnelling and mining is increasing in the USA as well as in Canada and Latin America. “With this sensible investment, we will further advance our market penetration throughout the Americas region and specifically tap the potential of strong growth markets.”