Press Releases: 2008

Over the past four years, Henkel’s power brands have supplied proof of their capability to win - and keep - the Dakar Rally competitors' confidence. January 2009, when drivers have to conquer Argentine plains, Chilean desert and the Andes Mountains, the company will again be Official Supplier of Loctite® and Pattex products for fast and efficient repairs.

Combining economic success with corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a core issue for Henkel throughout its more than 130-year history. The globally active brands manufacturer has now received the accolade of “Germany’s Most Sustainable Brand”. The award is in recognition of exemplary performance in sustainability management and the associated communication work.

The MIT initiative (Make an Impact on Tomorrow) is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The record is a proud one: More than 5,000 Henkel employees and retirees have been involved in some 7,000 projects in more than 110 countries. To mark this anniversary, Henkel will be providing special funding of 100,000 euros for a selected project. From the 86 applications, the “HELPS Changing Lives” project in Guatemala was chosen. The subsidy and the active support of a local MIT team will now help 120 families to help themselves.

Single A ratings affirmed

Successful public offering of Ecolab stake

Selling process to be started

• Strong sales growth of 12.0 percent
• Growth regions: sales plus 24.1 percent
• Organic sales growth: 3.5 percent
• Adjusted operating profit (EBIT): plus 6.3 percent
• Adjusted earnings per preferred share: plus 3.5 percent

Coinciding with the start of the new academic year, the second ‘Henkel Innovation Challenge’, Henkel’s international student competition, is being launched. The challenge this time: competing students will be expected to act as creative business development managers and prepare a concept for a Henkel product from the company’s Cosmetics/Toiletries or Laundry & Home Care business sectors capable of generating success in the year 2050. The competition is open to students of all disciplines in eleven European countries, who are now invited to register at www.henkelchallenge.com. The closing date for enrolment is January 12, 2009. Among the prizes awaiting the winning team is an exciting trip.

Committing to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility includes tackling the issue of where the raw materials for production originate and how they themselves are produced. Palm kernel oil, a renewable raw material used in the manufacture of surfactants (surface-active substances used in laundry and home care and also cosmetic products) is a case in point. Together with independent partners, Henkel has helped to achieve recognition of certificates for sustainable palm kernel oil as issued for official trading by the ‘Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil’ – and bought the certificates for the new Terra Activ cleaners. The certificates serve to confirm sustainable palm cultivation in the countries of origin and contribute to protecting the rain forests. The process for trading these certificates, known as ‘Book & Claim’, functions in a manner similar to that applied to eco-electricity.

The fourth Henkel Innovation Letter in 2008 informs concisely about the different innovations made in the business sectors Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies.

Rotor blades have to withstand extreme stressing. In wind turbines, the tips of the blades whip through the air at peak speeds of up to 300 km/h. Their quality depends not least on the reliability of their adhesive bonds. Germanischer Lloyd has now certified the first polyurethane adhesive for the wind power sector: Henkel’s Macroplast UK 8340. With this product, Henkel is consistently pursuing its strategy of developing sustainable adhesives solutions that offer genuine value added in terms of ecology, quality and economy.

Henkel’s Loctite® brand and Porsche Motorsport have launched their 2009 marketing and technology partnership at full throttle. At the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps during the first weekend in September, the Loctite® brand made its first appearance as a future series partner in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Bearing the red Loctite® logo on their fenders and bumpers, two Porsche 911 GT3 Cup vehicles of the “tolimit Motorsport” team rocketed around the circuit at up to 250 km/h in a packed field of over 30 race cars.

Nowadays every corporate entity has to deal with the question of what kind of contribution it makes to the success of the company concerned. Communications departments are no exception. It is incumbent upon them to provide evidence of the value added by their communications activities to overall business performance. Henkel’s international corporate communications have consistently met the associated criteria with tangible success. And this was also apparently the opinion of the jury judging the 2008 PR Awards, because it chose Henkel as the out-and-out winner of the category entitled “Adding Value with Communications”. The German PR Awards count among the most prestigious accolades in the country’s communications industry.

Everything that keeps the future of the automobile industry on the move will be exhibited at Automechanika 2008 in Frankfurt from September 16 to 21. Following a highly successful showing in the 2006 event, Henkel will be back to showcase its competence in motor sports with Loctite® and Teroson products. Visitors will get a first hand look at the broad spectrum of capabilities and activities.

Henkel has again been included in the FMCG market segment of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, signifying that Henkel leads its peers in this industry category. To be incorporated into the index, companies have to show an exemplary track record in adhering to the principles of sustainable development.

Henkel’s annual report has received the highest award for the third time in succession in the competition for the world’s best annual report. The League of American Communications Professionals (LACP) presented the 2007 Henkel annual report with a Platinum award in the category “Consumer – Personal”.

Henkel is among the winners of this year’s BDI Environmental Award. Dr. Ramón Bacardit, Corporate Senior Vice President Adhesive Technologies Research, accepted the award for Bonderite NT in Berlin on Monday, June 23, 2008.

Clean solutions preferred – against the background of environmental and health risks the metal coating industry is looking for chrome-free alternatives. Due to its long lasting expertise in research and development, in the field of chemical aluminium surface treatment Henkel is ahead of the times: Henkel’s Alodine® range provides perfect corrosion protection.

• Strong sales growth of 11.4 percent 
• Organic sales growth: plus 6.1 percent
• Adjusted operating profit (EBIT): plus 7.8 percent   
• Sales in growth regions: plus 19.5 percent

The third Henkel Innovation Letter in 2008 informs concisely about the different innovations made in the business sectors Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies.

Henkel Race Day took place at the Düsseldorf Grafenberg racing course on Sunday, August 3, 2008. This year saw more visitors than ever before, attracted by the 150th running of the “Preis der Diana” German Oaks. There were 22,000 spectators, all keen to enjoy every minute of the exciting racing event, augmented by the wide range of attractions provided at this most pictorial of sporting venues. The winner of the big race was Rosenreihe of the Wittekindshof yard owned by Dortmund entrepreneur Hans-Hugo Miebach – in a finish of unbelievable tension and excitement. For only in the final few meters of the 2,200 meters distance was top jockey Andrasch Starke able to secure victory after coming from an almost hopeless position just 200 meters out from the post.

Henkel is a worldwide leading supplier of laminating adhesives and coatings used for flexible packaging. As a recognized partner for system solutions, Henkel is pleased to invite European customers to its Liofol Academy in Düsseldorf, Germany. Highlighting the agenda: the newest trends in laminating and coating technology, and the impact of legislation regarding Food Safety and REACH.

The doors of the world exhibition in Zaragoza, northern Spain, remain open until September 14, 2008. Henkel is an official sponsor of Expo 2008, the theme of which is “Water and Sustainable Development”.

With a total of 1,971 exhibitors and purchase contracts valued at over 10 billion euros having been concluded, print media show Drupa 2008 broke all records this year – more than fulfilling the expectations of the exhibitors. As a supplier of innovative adhesive systems for the graphic arts, flexible packaging and paper processing segments, Henkel also profited from the beneficial investment climate at this leading international trade fair.

The third Henkel Race Day featuring the coveted “Preis der Diana” will be held on August 3, 2008 in Düsseldorf-Grafenberg. The renowned thoroughbred trials belonging to Europe’s Group I horse race series will take place for the 150th time. Henkel looks forward to offering equestrian sports fans and their families a pleasant day out with many interesting attractions. Elegant horses, world-class athletes and diverse range of fringe events promise to transform the race into an entertaining and unique top-notch event.

The socially responsible corporate management practices of Henkel have once again been recognized by an independent body. Henkel has been named to the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” list. John Knudson, President of Henkel of America, and Brad Casper, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dial Corporation, accepted this honor at an evening awards dinner held yesterday in New York.

At the Drupa 2008, the world biggest printing fair in Duesseldorf, Henkel once again presents innovative solutions for the packaging industry.  All press releases and images are available here for download.

Thomas Geitner (53), who has been a member of the Henkel Management Board since March 1, 2008, will assume responsibility for the Adhesives Technologies busiess sector, effective mid-June. As already announced in February 2008, Alois Linder (60), Executive Vice President Adhesives Technologies, will resign from his office at his own request.

In aircraft engineering, there is a growing trend toward lightweight construction. Novel materials are playing a key role here. Henkel's innovative Epsilon technology represents a milestone in the production of fiber composites.

Henkel has earmarked assistance totaling 150,000 euros to help the victims of the recent, devastating earthquake in China. Working closely with the Henkel sites in China, the company is already in the process of channeling a large portion of this emergency aid in the form of monetary and product donations via the Henkel Friendship Initiative e.V. (HFI) to the people in the regions affected. Building on this immediate assistance, a further portion of the total is to be invested in the next few months in specific reconstruction projects. The HFI is an independent charitable association founded by Henkel together with its employees and retirees in order to provide immediate aid to people worldwide who fall victim of crises or catastrophes. It is one of the pillars supporting the Henkel Smile program. All the company’s social involvement activities beyond its business operations – internationally known as corporate citizenship – come together under the Henkel Smile umbrella.

For ten years now, Henkel has been supporting its employees and retirees around the world in their socially important volunteering activities. The chosen vehicle is the MIT Initiative (Make an Impact on Tomorrow), and in order to celebrate its tenth anniversary, Henkel intends to support a specially selected project with a grant of 100,000 euros. With the establishment of the MIT Initiative in 1998, Henkel was one of the first German companies to recognize the volunteering activities of its employees and retirees as an essential component of its corporate culture and social responsibility. In this anniversary year, the focus is on developing an international MIT network which effectively integrates the efforts of all these volunteers.

• Robust organic sales growth of 3.3 percent
• Operating profit (EBIT) adjusted for foreign exchange: plus 2.5 percent
• Earnings per preferred share (EPS): plus 6.3 percent
• Growth regions: 16.2 percent organic sales growth

In the fall of 2007, Henkel launched an international student competition under the name ‘Henkel Innovation Challenge’. Now the finals in Barcelona have just come to an end. Six teams of students from throughout Europe presented their ideas before an international jury comprised of Henkel managers. The challenge facing these young talents was to develop innovative products and business concepts for the laundry and home care segment of the year 2050. The eventual winners were the team from Spain studying at the ESADE Business School, Barcelona. These economics students presented a compelling concept involving a house-keeping robot, networked with the entire house using advanced technology. The German team from Berlin took second place. “Ultimately, however, all these students are winners. Because where else are these young people going to get such an opportunity to gather real business experience and make themselves known to an international company?” asked jury member Fridtjof Helemann, Corporate Vice President Human Resources at Henkel.

Henkel has been presented with the prestigious PR Report Award in recognition of its corporate brand communications strategy in the “Long-term PR Strategy” category. The prize was awarded for the systematic strategy for the long-term establishment and strengthening of the Henkel corporate brand worldwide. This is the sixth time that specialist trade magazine “PR Report” has recognized outstanding communication campaigns in the German public relations industry.

Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), a plasticizer frequently used until now in adhesives for the paper converting industry, is suspected of being harmful to health. The German manufacturers and processors of paper, board and cardboard have therefore undertaken to stop using products containing DiBP. To protect consumers in the long term, Henkel has now come up with a solution – the Adhesin A 78 Series, a new generation of plasticizer-free adhesives formulations for all applications in the paper and packaging industry.

Today’s Annual General Meeting of Henkel KGaA in Düsseldorf provided around 2500 shareholders with an overview of the company’s development and performance in fiscal 2007.

Henkel has taken over from Akzo Nobel the Adhesives and Electronic Materials businesses previously owned by National Starch. “This acquisition represents a milestone in our 130-plus-year corporate history and points Henkel clearly in the direction of further profitable growth,” said Ulrich Lehner, Chairman of the Management Board of Henkel KGaA. The acquisition was preceded by the carve-out of the businesses to be acquired by Henkel and the requisite antitrust and anticompetitive investigations by the relevant authorities.

Henkel announces the launch of a new conversion coating process called TecTalis. This breakthrough multi-metal pre-treatment technology replaces Zinc Phosphate by offering significantly reduced process cost and environmental footprint. TecTalis has been enthusiastically received by the automotive and durable goods industry.

Better for the laundry, better for the environment – that is the new “Persil – better than ever from 20°C”. From April 2008, Persil with its high-performance active stain remover will be offering even better results from just 20°C, enabling the laundry to be washed at low temperatures – with proven Persil cleanliness still abounding, of course. Hence, with Persil, it is possible to both save energy and spare the environment.

Energy consumption down 21 percent, water consumption down 15 percent, and waste down 32 percent – profit and sales up. These are three results of Henkel’s sustainability performance over the past five years, as presented today at a Sustainability Press Conference. By the year 2012, Henkel intends to reduce its energy consumption by another 15 percent, and achieve further reductions of 10 percent in water consumption and waste generation, per metric ton of output in each case. Using its laundry and homecare products as examples, Henkel also demonstrated how these can help to save energy, for instance by washing laundry at temperatures as low as 20 degrees Celsius.

The outstanding achievements by Henkel towards sustainable development have once again been honored by an independent body: Henkel is the winner of the “ESG Award 2008” in the category DAX (German Share Index) Businesses. On the occasion of a festive ceremony, CFO Dr. Lothar Steinebach and Dr. Wolfgang Gawrisch, CTO Research/Technology and Chairman of Henkel’s Sustainability Council accepted the prize yesterday evening in Frankfurt am Main.

For the last ten years, Henkel has been supporting its employees and pensioners involved in volunteer social work. By establishing the MIT (Make an Impact on Tomorrow) Initiative 1998, Henkel became one of the very first German companies to declare the honorary social involvement of employees and pensioners to be a key element of its corporate culture and corporate social responsibility commitment. Henkel employees and pensioners are involved in doing volunteer social work across the entire globe. These initiatives are as diverse as the people themselves who coordinate and take responsibility for them. The spectrum of projects ranges from computer courses for senior citizens in Düsseldorf and a therapy center for babies in South Africa to the Riverbend environmental project for children in American cities.

Over 1,000 students from six European countries submitted their ideas for the international student competition “Henkel Innovation Challenge”. The challenge facing these young talents was to develop innovative products and business concepts for the laundry and home care segment of the year 2050. Recently, Henkel invited the ten best teams from Germany for a day-long national final in Düsseldorf. The students presented their ideas to a high-caliber jury of Henkel managers, impressing with their creativity and professionalism. The winning team from Berlin will be meeting its European counterparts at the international final to be held in Barcelona in April.

Craftsmen and do-it-yourselfers can breathe easily again. With the development of a new technology, Henkel has succeeded in reducing by up to 90 percent the dust evolution that arises when preparing and using cement-based products. In the vanguard of a new generation of low-emission powder products from Henkel, the company’s tile adhesives under the Ceresit brand and the Thomsit smoothing compound for floor and substrate preparation have already caused quite a furore in the building trade – and this years’ planning is promising: Henkel will expand its portfolio of low-emission powder products to a system solution.

• Sales up 2.6 percent to 13.07 billion euros
• Organic sales growth of 5.8 percent
• Operating profit (EBIT): up 3.5 percent to 1,344 million euros
• Net earnings for the year: up 8.0 percent to 941 million euros

The Management Board of Henkel KGaA decided to undertake the divestiture of all or part of its stake in Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Against the background of changing market conditions, especially with regard to ever stronger competition and increasing cost pressure, caused among others by markedly rising raw material prices, the Management Board of Henkel KGaA has decided the basics of an efficiency enhancement program.

The film world has its Oscar, and Henkel has its Fritz Henkel Award for Innovation: the highest honor conferred on Company employees. Every year, this award is presented to teams composed of researchers, product developers and marketing experts who have achieved outstanding market success with forward-looking products. This year’s award ceremony took place on Henkel Innovation Day. Celebrated for the first time on February 14 at all Company sites in the 125 countries around the world in which Henkel operates, the global motto for this day is “Let’s innovate!”

Alois Linder (60), Executive Vice President Adhesives Technologies will resign from his office as member of the Henkel Management Board at his own request effective September 30, 2008. Thomas Geitner (52) has been appointed his successor. Geitner will join the Henkel Management Board effective March 1, 2008 and will assume responsibility for the Adhesives Technologies business sector on October 1, 2008.

Dr. Juliane Wiemerslage has joined Henkel as Corporate Senior Vice President Human Resources. She reports directly to Kasper Rorsted, Vice Chairman of the Henkel Management Board.

At the 2008 SDA (Soap and Detergent Association) Annual Meeting and Industry Convention, January 29 to February 2, 2008 in the United States (Florida) Henkel Laundry & Home Care awards prizes to two outstanding suppliers. The “Best Innovation Contributor 2007” goes to Clariant for the best contribution of an external partner delivering outstanding consumer-relevant innovation that resulted in a product of highest market value. The “Best Supply Performance 2007” is awarded to Evonik Degussa for its outstanding supply performance.

The latest reports on the plasticizer diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), which can migrate from paper and board packages and accumulate in the packaged foods, have alerted food and packaging manufacturers. The plasticizer can come from sources such as dispersion adhesives, which are frequently used in the packaging industry. To protect the consumer from possible risks, Henkel has developed novel dispersion adhesives that are entirely free of plasticizer.

The first Henkel Innovation Letter in 2008 informs concisely about the different innovations made in the business sectors Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesives Technologies.

The jurors of the Research/Technology Invention Award 2007 found it no easy task to pick the winners among more than 20 highly promising projects. Finally, eight interdisciplinary project teams were chosen to receive the coveted prize. The diversity of the inventions reflects the powerful research capabilities within Henkel and the broad scope of its scientific base.