France/In the Eure region, the Sika plant plays the sustainable development card
Sika, which has been based in Damville in the Eure region for 50 years, has taken a quantum leap with the construction of a 3,200 m2 extension and the installation of 1,000 m2 of solar panels.
In the Minières area of Damville(Eure), two industrial histories intersect. Those of two chemical engineers. A Swiss who, in 1910, developed a fast-setting waterproofing admixture for mortar that gave rise to one of the world's leading construction chemicals companies (Sika), and a Frenchman who, in 1952, invented a binder for making isorel panels.
Founder of Cégécol, the latter launched his chemical plant in the 13th arrondissement of Paris before landing in Damville, where in 1960 he set up his company near the station to launch production of liquid glue and mortar-glue for the building industry. "The site was small and enclosed. In 1973, he launched the construction of Cégécol 2 on the Minières estate," continues Jean-Marie Leguen.
Bought out by Sika in 2013
Specializing in the manufacture of adhesives and coatings for tiles and resilient flooring, Cégécol continued to operate in the Minières area, keeping the station site until 2005. Eight years later, the company became part of Sika France in 1973. "Cégécol has become a Sika brand," sums up the site manager since 2011. "It's one of the Group's ten plants in France," adds Elena Neto, Sika France's communications manager.
The Damville plant has opened up a new avenue by rounding out Sika's product range in flooring, waterproofing systems and the buoyant renovation sector. In addition to its production capacity of 70,000 tonnes a year, the site has become the logistics center for all interior finishing products manufactured in the Group's plants. "Our storage capacity was very low", the company has just inaugurated two 1,600 m2 extensions. This 100,000-ton-per-year storage space is designed to optimize logistics flows, loads and transport costs.
Committed to sustainable development, Sika is aiming for net zero CO2 emissions. As part of this objective, the Damville plant has been equipped with 1,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels and has switched its entire fleet of chargers to electric power. The results are convincing. "In the first three months, we achieved a 35% reduction in consumption, and this summer we spent a day in total autonomy," emphasizes Jean-Marie Leguen.
Sika Damville employs around 30 people, divided between production, quality control, packaging and shipping of the 50 products manufactured on site.
Source: actu.fr/normandie/
