Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (17-6-2025)

News from Abroad

LEVERAGING SYNERGIES
Sika sets up joint venture with Sulzer to advance plastics recycling

in construction; invests in digital concrete technology platform

Swiss construction chemicals firm,
Sika, and engineering & technology
firm, Sulzer, have signed a memoran-
dum of understanding to establish a
joint venture to advance plastics recy-
cling in the construction industry.

The joint venture, based in Zurich,
will be founded as an independent
company, with each partner holding a
50% stake. Operational activities will
commence in the second half of 2025
with pilot projects in Germany, Austria
and Switzerland. The jv will leverage
the strengths of both companies: Sika’s
expertise in polymer applications and
building materials; and Sulzer’s pro-
cess knowledge in chemical recycling.
Digital transformation duction is the tendency to overdesign
Approximately 2-mt of plastic In another development, Sika has concrete mixes due to raw material
waste are generated in the European announced an investment in Giatec Scien- fluctuations. With Giatec’s AI-powered
construction industry alone each year. tific Inc., a leader in digital concrete concrete mix optimisation and Sika’s
Currently, recycling these complex technology platforms specialising in admixture technologies, the amount
materials is highly fragmented, technically smart testing and AI-driven solutions, of cement and aggregates used can be
demanding, and often inefficient. “As headquartered in Canada. analysed and optimised precisely. This
a result, the majority of construction results in significant cost savings and a
plastics are disposed by the end of their Giatec develops advanced sensors, reduction in CO emissions.
2
lifecycle, since existing mechanical software, and data analytics tools to
recycling methods produce low-qua- optimise concrete quality, durability, In alignment with Sika’s strategy
lity materials that are not suitable for and sustainability, from production and to enhance its digital ecosystem, this
reuse,” Sika informed in a press note. delivery to placement. This investment partnership will accelerate the adoption
represents a significant milestone in of smart technologies. By integrating
With this joint venture, Sika and Sika’s overall digital strategy, helping software, sensors, and data platforms, it
Sulzer are developing a system for the the construction industry to improve aims to empower customers to monitor,
collection, processing and reuse of con- efficiency and reduce carbon footprint. optimise, and predict various aspects
struction plastics using mechanical and of construction projects for better
chemical processes. One key challenge in concrete pro- outcomes.

POLICY BACKTRACK
US Department of Energy cancels $3.7-bn in carbon capture,

decarbonisation awards

The US Department of Energy Demonstrations, including $540-mn in The cancelled awards were mainly for
(DoE) has cancelled $3.7-bn in awards grants for two carbon capture projects carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)
from its Office of Clean Energy planned by Calpine. and other decarbonisation projects,

168 Chemical Weekly June 17, 2025

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