Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss specialty chemical producer Sika is buying Hamatite, the Japanese market leader for adhesives and sealants to the automotive and construction industries, from Yokohama Rubber. Headquartered in Tokyo, the business generates annual sales of CHF 160 million. Sika expects that the acquisition will significantly strengthen its market position in Japan.
Sika is a specialty chemicals company headquartered in Baar, Switzerland (© Sika).
Strengthened brand
Hamatite is a highly recognized, trusted supplier with a strong, reputable brand in the Japanese automotive and construction industry. With high-quality products and a nationwide sales network, it has built up long-lasting relationships with both Japanese automotive original equipment manufacturers as well as customers in the construction sector.
The product portfolio comprises various technologies such as polyurethanes, hot melts, and modified silicones. The Hamatite brand is the preferred solution among the Japanese original equipment manufacturers for glass bonding as well as for hot melt applications. The main application area in the construction industry is sealing and bonding solutions for exterior facades. Hamatite operates five plants, the main site being in Hiratsuka, Japan. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in Japan, China, Thailand, and the USA.
Increased market share
Sika’s automotive business will immediately benefit from the acquisition through an enlarged market access to all major Japanese car manufacturers, significantly increasing content per vehicle with these customers globally. Sika expects to further expand its relationship with and widen its offering for global Japanese car manufacturers when operating in other countries. The combined business will offer an extensive global production footprint.
In the construction business, the acquisition will allow Sika to gain market share and become a strong player in the Japanese market. Furthermore, it will extend Sika’s range of adhesives and sealants that meet the high Japanese building standards. The widened range of complementary products and expanded customer network will provide the combined business with significant cross-selling opportunities.
Specialty chemicals
Paul Schuler, CEO of Sika, said: “Hamatite brings leading technology, know-how, and skilled people that will accelerate Sika’s market penetration in the automotive and construction industries. Masataka Yamaishi, President, Chairman of the Board of Yokohama Rubber: “Hamatite can foster future business expansion under one of the world’s largest specialty chemical companies, Sika.”
Sika is a specialty chemicals company headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 100 countries around the world and manufactures in over 300 factories. Its 25,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 7.88 billion in 2020.
Text: SCCIJ with material of Sika
