September 12, 2018

Major investment in Düsseldorf site until end of 2020 

Henkel builds global Innovation Center 
for Adhesive Technologies

Düsseldorf – Henkel today laid the corner stone for the new global innovation center of its Adhesive Technologies business at the company’s headquarters in Düsseldorf. The company invests more than 130 million euros to erect a state-of-the-art building.  Once completed, the facility will allow more than 350 Henkel experts to develop new technologies and applications for a variety of industries. The building will also serve as a global customer center, where Henkel will present new solutions for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. The opening of the innovation center is planned for the end of 2020.

“Innovations are an integral part of our corporate strategy. They drive our growth. That is why we are making this targeted investment in innovation and growth,” said Henkel CEO Hans Van Bylen at the foundation stone ceremony. “This particular investment is also a strong commitment to our hometown, Düsseldorf, which is one of our largest research, development and production sites worldwide.”

“The innovation center for Adhesive Technologies will support our ambition to offer innovative solutions and comprehensive service to our customers. We want to take our innovation capabilities for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings to the next level,” explained Jan-Dirk Auris, Henkel Board member for the Adhesive Technologies business. “Our goal is to improve the cross-team collaboration and knowledge exchange among our employees within a state-of-the-art and inspiring work environment. At the same time, we will use the new building as an interactive customer center. We want to excite our customers by experiencing our innovations and technologies first-hand there and develop new high-impact solutions together.”

Room for more than 350 employees 
The seven-story innovation center will feature numerous labs, research and testing facilities, office space and conference rooms spread out over an area of about 50,000 square meters. The building will represent all technologies the business unit offers globally under one roof. Following its planned completion at the end of 2020, more than 350 employees from the Research and Development, Product Development, Application Technology, Technical Service and Innovation areas will move into the innovation center. These employees all currently work in different buildings across the Düsseldorf site. Thanks to its modular design, the innovation center will also allow for future growth.

Close collaboration with customers
In addition to research and product development, the new building will additionally integrate a modern customer center and offer an inspiring environment in which customers from all over the world will be able to experience first-hand the innovative and technological leadership of Adhesive Technologies in various fields of application. They will get the chance to talk to experts and test new applications there. At the same time, the innovation center will be closely connected to Adhesive Technologies’ global development and application centers all over the world to facilitate customized solutions based on global technologies for local markets.

Leading with high-impact solutions and innovations worldwide
Henkel Adhesive Technologies is leading with high-impact solutions in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings worldwide. The business unit serves around 130,000 customers in over 800 industrial areas with tailor-made products and technologies used in a wide array of consumer goods and industrial products. Approximately 26,000 employees work for the business unit, including about 8.000 technical specialists who collaborate closely with customers all over the world to make cars lighter, electronics more powerful or food packaging safer. Innovations are a strategic priority, representing about 30 percent of Adhesive Technologies’ annual sales. 

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 2016, Henkel reported sales of 18.7 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of 3.2 billion euros. Combined sales of the respective top brands of the three business units – Loctite, Schwarzkopf and Persil – amounted to more than 6 billion euros. Henkel employs more than 50,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose to create sustainable value, 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 http://www.henkel.com/press

Contact	Wulf Klüppelholz	Sebastian Hinz
Phone	+49 211 797-1875	+49 211 797-8594
Email		wulf.klueppelholz@henkel.com	sebastian.hinz@henkel.com

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Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

With an investment of more than 130 million euros Henkel builds a global innovation center in Düsseldorf for its Adhesive Technologies business.

The state-of-the-art facility will feature labs, research and testing facilities, office space and 
conference rooms with room for more than 350 employees. 

In the innovation center customers will experience the technology leadership of Adhesive Technologies and together with the Henkel experts develop new high-impact solutions. 

Groundbreaking ceremony of the new innovation center (from left to right): Carsten Knobel, CFO, Hans Van Bylen, CEO, Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah, Chairwoman of the Shareholders’ Committee & Supervisory Board, Jan-Dirk Auris, Board member for the Adhesive Technologies business and Michael Todd, Head of Global Innovation for the Adhesive Technologies business

On the occasion of the groundbreaking (from left to right): The major of Düsseldorf, Thomas Geisel, (left), Hans Van Bylen, CEO, Dr. Simone Bagel-Trah, Chairwoman of the Shareholders’ Committee & Supervisory Board and Jan-Dirk Auris, Board member for the Adhesive Technologies business, in front of a model of the new innovation center 3D-printed with Henkel materials.