Sika Highlights Concrete Protection Technologies

DUBAI, UAE, November 22, 2010 - The various methods of protecting concrete are explored by Joseph Nabih,
Technical Manager, Sika Gulf at MEED's Middle East Roads, Bridges and Tunnels
conference today at Westin Hotel, Dubai. He highlighted various challenges
and solutions for concrete protection with a focus on Hydrophobic
Impregnations. Hydrophobic Impregnation is a proven concrete protection
technology that prevents water ingress into concrete structures thus
decreasing the likelihood of degradation due to aggressive influences.

This technique can be used for both new and existing concrete structures.
It is an established fact that damage to concrete always involves water.
Water acts as a vehicle for transporting aggressive substances, such as
chloride ions which are present in the water as it is drawn into the concrete
by capillary action. Water also serves as a reaction medium and a reagent in
destructive chemical processes, foremost among these being the corrosion of
the reinforcing steel. Corrosion leads to the deterioration of overlying
concrete, and exposes the reinforcing steel. Clearly, one of the most
efficient ways to protect concrete is to prevent it from absorbing water in
the first place.

"Hydrophobic Impregnation has been used all over the world for many large
scale projects like bridges, buildings, walls, silos and cooling towers, and
other types on concrete structures," said Nabih. 3.2km Sitra causeway
connecting Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is one of many bridges treated by Sika
Hydrophobic Impregnation technology. "We prevented bridge from deteriorating
and achieved the client requirement of 120 years of durability design life,"
he added.

Sika has been at the forefront of concrete repair and protection
technology since the 1920s. Sika pioneered the development of concrete repair
products and systems from the early beginnings, with Sika Waterproof mortars
in the 1920s and 30s, through our development of epoxy and polymer latex
modified repair mortars in the 1950s and 60s. In the 1970s Sika introduced
the first "Complete Concrete Repair and Protection System" with Sika
reinforcement primers, bonding bridges, repair mortars and leveling mortars
plus protective impregnations and coatings.

About Sika:

Celebrating its centenary in 2010, Sika is a globally integrated company
supplying specialty chemicals and application knowledge. With more than 100
production and marketing subsidiaries in over 70 countries, Sika is a leader
in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and
protecting load-bearing structures in construction and industry. Continuing
with its strong innovative tradition, Sika constantly strives for innovative
products and solutions for sustainable development.

Sika develops concrete additives, bonding, coating, flooring, repair and
protection, reinforcing, roofing, strengthening and waterproofing solutions
for the construction industry, and bonding, sealing, damping and reinforcing
solutions for the automotive and shipbuilding industries, for assembly of
buses, lorries and railway vehicles.

Sika has been serving the Gulf region since 1980s through its associates
but in 2007, Head Office of Sika IMEA Region (India, Middle East, and Africa)
was set up in Dubai. Sika has several production units throughout the region
to cater for the local demand with global know how. Sika has provided
products and solutions for a large number of prestigious projects in the Gulf
with some key projects like Dubai Metro, Abu Dhabi International Airport,
Golden Mile on Palm Jumeirah Island, Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, Museum of
Islamic Art in Qatar, Al Areen Water Park in Bahrain, and Nestle factory at
Dubai Investment Park. Some project challenges and innovative Sika solutions
are mentioned below. For further information visit www.sika.com.

    Contact:

    Noor Muhammad
    Marketing Manager
    Sika Services Middle East
    Tel: +971-4-4398200
    Fax: +971-4-4393606
    Email: Muhammad.noor@ae.sika.com
    www.sika.com

Contact: Noor Muhammad, Marketing Manager, Sika Services Middle East, Tel: +971-4-4398200, Fax: +971-4-4393606, Email: Muhammad.noor at ae.sika.com