The next generation of aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 or the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, will contain about 50 percent fiber composites. Up to now, the uncured fiber composites had to be stored at below-zero temperatures and then thawed before they could be processed. Thanks to our new Epsilon technology, fiber composites can now be stored at room temperature. This simplifies processing, reduces the amount of rejected material, and cuts the energy consumption during aircraft manufacturing. Additional advantages are the greater thermal resistance, stability and toughness of the materials. Approval procedures are currently in progress at all major aircraft manufacturers. Compared weight for weight, modern fiber composites are ten times stronger than a steel or aluminum wire. This enables the engineers to increase the strength of parts while reducing their weight. And lighter aircraft consume less fuel.

Buildings lose heat, especially through windows, doors and façades. As the only supplier worldwide, we now market two certified insulation systems – WINTeQ window sealing and insulation and Ceresit façade insulation – for the three key problems of energy loss, humidity and noise. As a comprehensive approach to preventing heat losses, WINTeQ provides modular individual solutions for each problem: In addition to flexible insulating foams and sealants for joints and cavities, it offers compressed foam sealing strips and vaporpermeable sealing films for the outside of windows, as well as vapor-impermeable sealing films for the inside. Heat bridges and drafts are thus efficiently avoided, while buildings are simultaneously protected against dampness and mold. The heat that escapes through windows and doors, whether in old buildings or new, is reduced to a minimum. Flexible system solutions from Ceresit can be readily customized to meet all of the individual requirements of insulating boards, adhesive mortar, and external plaster in a particularly effective way. The result: More comfortable housing and savings of up to 30 percent in heating costs. The system can also be used to provide buildings with heat protection, therefore cutting the energy costs of air conditioning units.

Effective, economically attractive and environmentally sound – TecTalis is Henkel’s innovative new technology for protecting metals against corrosion. It replaces the conventional zinc phosphating pretreatment method in the automotive and durable goods industries, cutting process costs and significantly reducing both the burden on the environment and energy consumption.

With Macroplast UK 8340, we are the first company to have developed a certified polyurethane adhesive for wind turbine construction that complies with the guidelines for bonding rotor blades. Manufacturers of wind turbines profit from the new technology through optimized processes, greater productivity and lower costs.

Loctite Ultragel super glue forms instant, high strength, water-resistant bonds between wood, metal, plastics, rubber and leather surfaces and is therefore suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The product’s flexibility is based on microscopic particles of rubber. The fast and reliable repair of durable goods extends their life and conserves resources.

The safety of flexible packages is a top priority in the food and packaging industry. The systems used must not only protect foods from external influences, but also exclude contamination from hazardous substances in the packaging materials themselves. Fourth-generation Liofol laminating adhesives enable an unprecedented standard of safety through their exceptionally fast curing.

Through the acquisition of the National Starch businesses, Henkel has been able to further expand its leading role in the packaging adhesives sector. Traditionally, packaging hotmelts have had to be applied at 160 to 180 degrees Celsius, but our Cool-Melt Ultra can be used at just 100 degrees Celsius. Our customers therefore profit from much lower energy costs.

Solar energy is steadily gaining in importance in the strongly expanding market for “clean” energy sources. Since 2002, we have established ourselves as a partner to the worldwide solar industry through a variety of collaborative projects. As a long-term partner of one of the largest solar module producers in Europe, we helped to develop a new technology that converts 30 to 40 percent more energy than conventional solar modules. A two-axis motion system enables the solar modules to track the course of the sun. The challenge was to reliably bond galvanized steel mounts to the solar modules. In all tests, Terostat MS proved to be an excellent high-tech adhesive. It is weather resistant, even when exposed to extreme climatic conditions such as strong ultraviolet radiation and wind speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour.

Renewable raw materials such as starch, cellulose, dextrins and proteins are used in many consumer and craftsmen adhesives and in industrial adhesives for a large range of applications. For example, we utilize renewable raw materials in glue sticks, wallpaper pastes, and packaging adhesives. Bottle labeling adhesives contain as much as 45 percent. In the year 2000, we switched our Pritt Stick to a formulation based on renewable raw materials, which now account for 90 percent of its dry weight.

Our sealants support the automotive industry’s efforts to produce increasingly efficient, energy saving engines, and so to reduce harmful emissions. Oils for engine lubricants make a major contribution to cutting fuel consumption and help to minimize wear. However, some oils contain very aggressive ingredients that can corrode the sensitive sealing materials in the engine. To satisfy the needs of the automotive industry, we have developed Loctite 5810A, a polyacrylate-based elastic sealant. It is nine times more impermeable to harmful volatile organic hydrocarbons than conventional sealants and far less sensitive to aggressive ingredients. With the help of Loctite 5810A, one of our customers in the automotive sector has already succeeded in satisfying the stringent demands of the U.S. standard for low-emission vehicles (“partial zero emissions vehicles”). These are vehicles whose level of emission is 90 percent below that of an average new car.

Electronic devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. In mobile phones and computers, in household appliances and cars, they store information and control processes. Traditionally, soldering pastes containing lead have been used to connect the individual components of these devices – chips and circuit boards – electrically to one another. Collaborating intensively with our partners in the electronics industry, we developed alternatives and offer lead-free processes for manufacturing trials. In the meantime, we introduced the third generation of Multicore LF600, with an even better formulation, designed to meet increasingly demanding customer requirements.

With our Osi Green Series we have launched a number of green adhesives and sealants in the U.S. market. Throughout the product range, we have cut the percentage by weight of volatile organic compounds from 25 to 35 percent to less than 2 percent while simplifying ease of use. We were therefore able to meet the requirements for certification by the Greenguard Environmental Institute, an independent organization in the USA, which establishes indoor air quality standards for various kinds of products. The use of the Osi Green Series also helps to qualify buildings for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification of their energy efficiency. LEED is an officially recognized assessment system which exclusively certifies green buildings.

In 2006, Henkel took over Alba, a Brazilian adhesives producer. Some of its contact adhesives contained toluene as a solvent, and could therefore be misused by young people for glue sniffing.

Immediately after completion of the takeover, Henkel developed a strategy tailored specifically to the Brazilian market to replace toluene in the formulations of the contact adhesives. In March 2007, we publicly presented the first Cascola brand contact adhesives in toluene-free varieties – well before the legal deadline set by the Brazilian health authority. Products for the DIY market that contain ingredients making them attractive to glue sniffers have been banned since early 2008. Crucial to the success of the new toluene-free formulations is communicating the changes in a positive manner to consumers, in order to retain their trust in the performance of the products.

For this reason we already launched an initiative´in December 2006 under the motto “Commitment to the future” and organized a joint meeting with adhesives industry associations, the press, non-governmental organizations, customers, and local authorities. From the very start we were able to profit from our positive experience in Chile, where we have been successfully marketing toluene-free adhesive products since 1998.

When silicone sealants have been attacked by mold, they not only look unaesthetic, but can also degrade grout joints. And the mold spores are also a risk to health. Indoor mold is caused by increased humidity due to changed habits such as frequent showering, and the increasingly efficient insulation of homes. The silicone products available up to now contained active substances that washed out over time. To rob the mold of any chance of survival, our researchers analyzed the total life cycle of a mold fungus. The result is the Sista Schimmelblocker (mold blocker) with innovative triple protection. Biologically active substances specifically inhibit the spore formation of the mold fungi, and surfactants reduce the surface tension of the silicone so that mold spores are unable to settle. Inhibitors – fungicides – that are especially resistant to being leached out provide additional protection to prevent germination and growth. The Sista mold blocker will be launched in Germany in mid-April 2008 and will then be rolled out worldwide.

When craftsmen and DIYers opened, poured and mixed tile adhesives, they often used to find themselves surrounded by a cloud of cement dust. This sometimes resulted in annoying coughing, skin irritations, and dust in the eyes. In the newly developed Ceresit microgranular tile adhesive “Highly Flexible,” the dust particles are bonded together in fine microgranules. This means up to 90 percent less dust compared with conventional tile adhesives. This not only spares the user’s health, but results in far less dust in the work environment and neighboring areas. Another advantage is the 30 percent higher coverage per kilogram of adhesive. 18 kilograms of Ceresit “Highly Flexible” microgranular tile adhesive can cover an area that would otherwise require 25 kilograms. Moreover, far less effort is needed to apply the new tile adhesive.

Up to now, the building industry has been faced with the problem that solvent-free construction and assembly adhesives could not satisfy the requirements of the market. Henkel has established the first high performance, water-based assembly adhesive in the North American market. The instant adhesion of Loctite PowerGrab is nine times higher than that of conventional assembly adhesives. The low-odor adhesive can also be cleaned up with water. The use of Loctite PowerGrab instead of conventional, solvent-based assembly adhesives can significantly reduce the level of emissions released in adhesive construction work, for example by 430 tons in 2006 (measured by market unit sales).

To improve occupational health and safety when hotmelts are used, we have created an alternative. Purmelt MicroEmission hotmelt reduces vapor emissions during processing to a minimum. Compared with conventional polyurethane hotmelts, Purmelt MicroEmission releases 90 percent less vapor, and therefore does not have to be labeled as hazardous. Purmelt MicroEmission thus makes a major contribution to improving occupational health and safety in plants where adhesives are processed.  This is confirmed by workers’ compensation funds and other independent bodies, such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing and Advanced Materials.

As a leading supplier of flooring adhesives, Henkel Bautechnik joined with eight other producers in 1997 to found the Gemeinschaft emissionskontrollierter Verlegewerkstoffe (quality association for emission-controlled flooring adhesives). The objective was to promote extremely low-emission and low-odor adhesives for indoor use by means of uniform controls and labeling. Today, about 40 manufacturers from nine countries work with the EMICODE label. It provides assurance to planners, craftsmen and home owners that products carrying the EMICODE EC1 label are their best safeguard against indoor air pollution. Today, more than 80 percent of Henkel flooring adhesives sold in Germany carry the EMICODE EC1 quality mark, as for example Thomsit T440 carpet adhesives.

Assembly adhesives are a powerful alternative to tiresome and dirty operations such as drilling and fastening with screws or nails, and are gaining in popularity. There is just one thing that often puts DIY enthusiasts off. Once the components have been bonded, they are very difficult to separate again. Under the Pattex brand, Henkel is presenting a new, removable power assembly adhesive. The specially developed formulation allows the bonded surfaces to be separated with a simple kitchen knife or spatula, even after several years. Residual adhesive can then simply be washed off a smooth surface using an ordinary household cleaner, or painted over if the surface is porous. This is an unbeatable advantage for DIYers who want to furnish and fashion their homes flexibly.

For our building materials specialists, quality does not stop with the development and sale of high performance products. In many countries, we offer training courses to help craftsmen to also use our products as effectively as possible. In Central and Eastern Europe, for example, we are building vocational and advanced training centers for craftsmen throughout the entire region. By now Henkel Ceresit has established more than 140 Engineering Technological Centers. At the centers, craftsmen learn how to use Ceresit construction products as efficiently as possible, especially when installing heat insulating systems to façades. In cooperation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, Henkel construction professionals are also helping to train the next generation of craftsmen at state vocational schools. New quality standards are thus being established step by step.

The transition from product- to service-oriented business models is gaining in importance at Henkel. Expertise, service, and technical know-how increasingly complement the sale of material goods. One example is Henkel’s Chemicals Management concept in the USA. Over and above the sale of our products, we offer customers an integrated system which covers all production-related aspects of the use of chemicals. A team of 115 Henkel experts in Nashville, Tennessee, supports customers regarding the choice, processing and disposal of chemicals. 80 of them function as mobile consultants who provide direct, on-site assistance to companies nationwide. Henkel’s professional and technical expertise in dealing with chemicals helps customers to improve their processes, cut their costs, and protect the environment. For example, Henkel has introduced new quality checks at some customers’ sites which help to reduce resource consumption and error margins during production. Programs are devised and implemented jointly to ensure the correct disposal of chemicals and compliance with environmental regulations.

Climatic conditions in many regions of Mexico are extreme. In the north, the days are often very hot, with temperatures climbing far above 40 degrees Celsius. Air conditioning and fans bring some relief, but are expensive and consume a great deal of energy. As an alternative, Henkel has developed a roof coating that not only reliably seals the roof, but also protects the house against heat and thus helps to save costs. The coatings, which are applied directly to the roof like thick paint, lower the temperature in the building. Imperfácil, aimed at the DIY market, can bring about a reduction of up to eight degrees Celsius, and Acriton, for professionals, up to twelve. This is partly achieved through more efficient reflection of sunlight. The crucial element, however, is the use of a latent heat storage system. Small wax spheres in the coating melt and store the heat during the day. When the temperature falls, the wax releases this heat and is ready for the next hot day. Air conditioning and other thermal protection measures are therefore no longer needed or can be considerably scaled down.

With Bonderite NT, we developed a nanoceramic coating process for the metal industry as an alternative to iron phosphating. Bonderite NT not only offers optimal corrosion protection, but is also qualitatively, ecologically and economically superior to iron phosphating. The new process cuts energy consumption during processing by up to 30 percent. In addition, there are no emissions of heavy metals to wastewater, and the costs of wastewater treatment and disposal are reduced. Bonderite NT therefore significantly reduces the total costs while improving sustainability performance. Bonderite NT was awarded the Environment Award of the Federation of German Industries (BDI) in June 2008.

New vehicles are expected to be more comfortable and safer than their predecessors, but at the same time lighter and therefore more economical. Technologies from Henkel help car manufacturers to reconcile these contradictory requirements. Cooperation often starts in the design phase, years before the new model comes off the production line. The amount and positioning of Terokal structural adhesives and Terocore structural foams are jointly defined, so that the lightest possible car can be developed, but with maximum strength and optimal crash-resistance. The use of direct glazing adhesives for example to fit car windshields has long been standard practice. The windshield thus contributes to the structural integrity of the car body. Structural adhesives are also increasingly being used alongside traditional joining techniques such as welding and riveting for other component parts. They distribute loads evenly over a larger area, absorb impact energy more effectively if an accident should occur, and create stronger and stiffer bonds. Moreover, Terokal structural adhesives can also be used to join different materials such as steel and aluminum. Optimal utilization of the diverse properties of materials makes it possible to design vehicles that are much lighter and yet safer.

Plant and machinery represent considerable financial investments. Downtimes in production due to malfunctions or other disturbances usually entail costly consequences. The long-term conservation of production equipment is therefore of utmost importance. Loctite products make a significant contribution toward keeping the equipment in good condition and avoiding risks.

In Europe and the USA, wind energy is second only to hydroenergy as an alternative source of power. The rotor blades of wind turbines, which can be up to 60 meters long, are made from fiber-reinforced plastics using special molds. The molds subsequently have to be cleaned, usually manually, with the help of a variety of solvents. Drawing on its experience of surface cleaning technologies and the processing of composite materials, Henkel developed the surfactant-based cleaner Frekote 915 WB. It contains 70 percent less solvent and is gentle to the sensitive surfaces. Frekote 915 WB leaves no residues and cleans the molds much more efficiently and quickly.

Solar power is one of the most important renewable energies. At present, however, only a fraction of its potential is being tapped. Up to now, it has not been possible to use many large surfaces in metropolitan areas – such as the flat roofs of warehouses, shopping malls, schools, and office buildings – as they are not designed to support the weight of conventional solar cells and their fastenings. Solar Integrated Technologies (SIT) of California (USA), is now offering flexible, lightweight, thin solar cells on roofing membranes as a solution to this problem. Henkel, as its strategic partner, is making a major contribution through its industrial adhesives. Purmelt and Macromelt hotmelts securely bond the solar cells and their electrical wiring to the roofing membranes and offer lasting resistance to the elements and ultraviolet solar radiation. The solar cells can be simply rolled out on flat roofs and connected to any number of additional modules.