Henkel Adhesive Technologies is a leading solution provider for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings worldwide with a strong focus on innovations meeting the demand of tomorrow. Strategic partnerships form an integral part of this global success and are duly recognised – the company has recently awarded its top suppliers for outstanding performance and their contribution to the company’s global development. Romana Moares reports.
Henkel Adhesive Technologies is part of Henkel, operating globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The group holds leading positions in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. In 2017, Henkel, employing over 53,000 people globally, reported sales of €20 billion and adjusted operating profit of around €3.5 billion. As a recognised leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Its preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.
Henkel Adhesive Technologies, one of the group’s three businesses, is the global leader in the adhesives market – across more than 800 industry segments worldwide. The company offers a unique portfolio of breakthrough innovations, tailor-made solutions and strong brands in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings to about 130,000 customers. The solutions are an essential part of countless industrial and consumer goods that – for example – help to make cars lighter, electronics more powerful or food packaging safer.

Image: LOCTITE 638 is a high strength, fast curing, general purpose retaining compound. Credit: Henkel Adhesive Technologies
Operational Excellence, Innovation, Sustainability
The company’s suppliers are an integral part of this achievement. For the sixth consecutive year, Henkel Adhesive Technologies has awarded the performance of its strategic suppliers across the value chain. With its annual Supplier Awards the business unit recognises close and successful collaboration in the categories of Operational Excellence, Innovation and Sustainability.
In recognition of its efforts to improve the joint supply chain, Henkel has presented the Operational Excellence Award to Kolon Industries, a Korean chemical and textile manufacturing company. Kolon Industries delivered an excellent service level performance in 2018, with best in class ‘On-Time’ and ‘In-Full’ scores of the respective Henkel plants – a great supply performance in a challenging market environment.
For the third time, Henkel Adhesive Technologies granted the Innovation Award to Kaneka, a Japanese company providing a broad range of polymers for various industrial applications. Based on Kaneka polymers and dispersions, Henkel Adhesive Technologies successfully launched new products and strengthened its portfolio of high-performance and cost-effective solutions for automotive and electronics markets.

Credit: Henkel Adhesive Technologies
In the Sustainability category, Adhesive Technologies recognised Covestro for its ongoing efforts to contribute to the sustainable Henkel product and project pipeline, such as the collaboration on finding alternatives technologies to substitute hazardous materials, developing bio-based materials in their polyurethane portfolio as well as an excellent EcoVadis rating. Covestro develops and manufactures sustainable materials, enabling Henkel to extend its business in the application of flexible packaging with improved migration properties or in the area of wood engineering replacing formaldehyde-based products.
“The know-how and experience of our suppliers are a key enabler for Henkel to continuously drive powerful innovations,” said Michael Todd, Global Head of Innovation and New Business Development at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, during this year’s award ceremony held in Düsseldorf. “The close collaboration between Henkel and our strategic suppliers unlocks new potentials that are essential to develop exciting innovations for our customers and to bring our business to the next level.”
“The cooperation and direct exchange with our strategic suppliers enable us to deliver answers to the needs of our customers throughout the entire value chain” added Thomas Holenia, Corporate Vice President Purchasing at Henkel. “Working together and focusing on aligned strategic priorities makes our joint supply chains more agile, which generates competitive edges, especially in today’s challenging market environment.”

Credit: Henkel Adhesive Technologies
Solutions of tomorrow
Henkel Adhesive Technologies drives powerful innovations and develops leading technologies that create more value for its customers. The company continuously improves its existing products and develops breakthrough innovations. In 2017, around 30 per cent of Henkel’s sales were generated from products launched onto the market in the last five years.
In supporting this focus, the Adhesive Technologies business is investing more than €130 million in a new global innovation centre at the company’s headquarters in Düsseldorf. Once completed, the facility will allow more than 350 Henkel experts to develop new technologies and applications for a variety of industries. The building will also serve as a global customer centre, where Henkel will present new solutions for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. The opening of the innovation centre is planned for the end of 2020.
“The innovation centre for Adhesive Technologies will support our ambition to offer innovative solutions and comprehensive service to our customers. We want to take our innovation capabilities for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings to the next level,” explained Jan-Dirk Auris, Henkel board member for the Adhesive Technologies business.
With the new innovation centre, Henkel Adhesive Technologies is further driving its innovation capabilities and leadership forward. The company remains focused on driving profitable growth by continuing to invest into its own R&D and product development, as well as into new market opportunities. Expanding its innovation horizon enables Henkel Adhesive Technologies to deliver tailor-made solutions for its customers today, while at the same time developing leading technologies that create even more value for them tomorrow.
www.henkel.com/brands-and-businesses/adhesive-technologies
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