November 10, 2022
Adhesive Technologies Supplier Awards 2022 granted to BASF, Wanhua and Wacker
Henkel recognizes best-in-class performance of its strategic partners across the value chain

Düsseldorf – Henkel Adhesive Technologies has awarded the performance of its strategic partners with its Supplier Awards 2022. With these annual recognitions the business unit honors the close and successful collaboration across its value chains. This year the companies BASF, Wanhua and Wacker have been awarded in the three categories of Sustainability, Innovation and Operational Excellence. In addition, Henkel for the first time granted a Special Recognition to Dow Chemicals for extraordinary support during a special project.

“The close collaboration with our strategic suppliers and partners is a key success factor to drive sustainable innovations and to generate value for our customers,” said Jan-Dirk Auris, Executive Vice President Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “Especially in today´s volatile markets characterized by a strong pressure on the global supply chains our longstanding and robust partnerships are of utmost importance for our business success. We want to thank all our suppliers for their strong commitment during the past year and aim to recognize extraordinary efforts and outstanding achievements with our awards ceremony.”

After two years of COVID-19 limitations the award ceremony was again conducted physically at the Henkel headquarters in Düsseldorf. Adhesive Technologies invited its strategic partners into the new Inspiration Center Düsseldorf officially inaugurated in September to demonstrate its improved innovation and collaboration capabilities and to foster the open exchange in the future. During the ceremony Adhesive Technologies also presented its Sustainability Ambition 2030 and provided deep-dives on key initiatives to reduce its own footprint as well as on activities supporting customers to reduce their CO2-footprint and to drive a circular economy. 

“Sustainability without a doubt has become the key megatrend across all markets globally”, Auris added. “Our strategic suppliers and partners play a key role to further unlock new potentials with regards to sustainable solutions that respond to the demands of our customers. With our new Inspiration Center Düsseldorf and our Sustainability Ambition 2030 we have the infrastructure and framework to continue strengthening our ecosystem alongside our value chains and to foster close collaborations.” 

Sustainability Award: BASF
Henkel has presented its Sustainability Award to BASF SE, a leading chemical company in the field of polymer dispersions and additives for coating, construction and adhesive application headquartered in Ludwigshafen/Rhine, Germany. In 2022, the company has demonstrated outstanding performance and strong commitment towards the common sustainability goals – circular economy, zero pollution and enhanced safety. BASF has continuously enhanced the joint portfolio of sustainable innovations and has broadened its certified sustainable offering for Henkel. The company strongly supported Henkel´s sustainability agenda by providing expert upskilling on biodiversity, various workshops, webinars, and collaboration proposals during 2022. 
“Over the past years we have seen a massive increase of customer demands for solutions enabling emission reduction, circularity, and safety,” explained Ulla Hüppe, Head of Sustainability for Adhesive Technologies at Henkel. “BASF shares our deep commitment to drive transformative change and has demonstrated strong contributions that support our ambitious sustainability targets and that are essential to create value for our customers.”

Innovation Award: Wanhua
Henkel has granted its Innovation Award to Wanhua, a global leading supplier of innovative chemical products headquartered in Yantai, China. The company has continuously demonstrated innovation partnership over the past years. In 2022, the collaboration resulted in the largest innovation pipeline and enabled Henkel to launch new products in the sports and fashion and industrial electronics markets. Henkel and Wanhua successfully piloted new digital ways of working to accelerate joint innovation and proved that pandemic is no boundary to effective collaboration which was characterized by early access to innovation and resulted in best-in-class innovations for customers. 
“The know-how and performance of our strategic suppliers play a key role for us in the development of groundbreaking innovations,” said Michael Todd, Global Head of Innovation and New Business Development at Henkel Adhesive Technologies. “Thanks to the openness and the close collaboration of the Wanhua teams, we have been able to launch some real game-changer innovations in focus markets and will continue to benefit from the strong innovation pipeline in the future.”

Operational Excellence Award: Wacker
Henkel has presented its Operational Excellence Award to Wacker Chemie AG, a technological leader in the chemical industry headquartered in Munich, Germany. The recognition was granted for Wacker´s outstanding supply performance in an unprecedented market environment. The company has achieved a constant top-tier service level with excellent scores in "On-Time" and "In-Full" delivery. In addition, Wacker showed strong commitment toward joint supply chain resilience by conducting a value chain workshop and defining joint risk mitigation strategies. The strong partnership has been characterized by demonstrating common development activities and opportunity identification initiatives. 
“The close cooperation and open exchange with our strategic suppliers throughout the entire value chain enable us to translate the needs and expectations of our customers into impactful solutions”, explained Thomas Holenia, Corporate Vice President Purchasing at Henkel. “Wacker provided best-in-class service levels for Henkel, despite all logistics challenges in 2022. The collaboration was characterized by aligned strategic priorities, which help making our joint supply chains more agile and resilient.”

Special Recognition: Dow
In 2022, Henkel Adhesive Technologies for the first time presented a Special Reognition to Dow Chemical, a material science leader headquartered in Midland, USA. This recognition was granted for the extraordinary support during a special project, which has underlined and further reinforced the strong and longlasting partnership between the companies.

About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2021, Henkel reported sales of more than 20 billion euros. The company employs about 53,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. For more information, please visit www.henkel.com.

Photo material is available at www.henkel.com/press

Contact	Sebastian Hinz		
Phone	+49 211 797 – 85 94	
Email	       sebastian.hinz@henkel.com

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

Henkel Adhesive Technologies has granted its Supplier Awards 2022 to BASF, Wanhua and Wacker.

With the annual Supplier Awards recognitions in the categories Sustainability, Innovation and Operational Excellence the business unit honors the close and successful collaboration across its value chains.

Sustainability Award for BASF (from left to right): Jan-Dirk Auris, Executive Vice President Henkel Adhesive Technologies, Dr. Robert Heger, Vice President Business Management Dispersions and Additives for Construction and Architectural Coatings at BASF, Heike Kohm, Head of Global Key Account Management Dispersions, Resins and Additives at BASF, Christoph Hansen, Senior Vice President Dispersions for Adhesives and Construction Europe at BASF and Csaba Szendrei, Corporate Senior Vice President Packaging and Consumer Goods at Henkel Adhesive Technologies

Innovation Award for Wanhua (from left to right): Christian Kirsten, Corporate Senior Vice President Automotive and Metals at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, Sándor Eke, Business Development Manager DACH at Wanhua, Ben Zhang, R&D Lead for Adhesives at Wanhua and Thomas Holenia, Corporate Vice President Purchasing at Henkel

Operational Excellence Award for Wacker (from left to right): Thomas Holenia, Corporate Vice President Purchasing at Henkel, Dr. Peter Gigler, Sustainability Corporate Director at Wacker, Enric Santos, Corporate Key Account Manager at Wacker, Ilaria Brillarelli, Vice President Polymers EMEA-LATAM at Wacker, Dr. Wolfgang Schattenmann, Vice President Sealants and Hybrids at Wacker, Dr. Robert Gnann, President of Silicones at Wacker and Ann-Kristin Erkens, Corporate Senior Vice President Financial and Business Controlling at Henkel Adhesive Technologies

Special Recognition for Dow (from left to right): Jan-Dirk Auris, Executive Vice President Henkel Adhesive Technologies, Chris Mertens, Global Key Customer Manager at Dow, Jean Paul Hautekeer, Global Marketing Director Building and Infrastructure at Dow, Massimo Rebolini, Global Commercial Vice President at Dow, Imran Munshi, Global Market Segment Leader at Dow and Mark Dorn, Corporate Senior Vice President Craftsmen, Construction and Professional at Henkel Adhesive Technologies