40 years of Future with Sika Windshield Adhesives
Sika aftermarket solutions have been driving the automotive industry worldwide for more than 40 years. Click on the timeline to see Sika’s trendsetting history for safer, faster, simpler applications which are compatible with assisted driving technologies and on top have a low environmental impact.
1980 - 1990: Safety
While the VCR revolutionized home television, Sika was setting new standards in safety. This decade was all about safety.
In fact, the FM-VSS 212 standards were drawn up as a result of passenger safety considerations calling for bonded windshields in cars. By extension, polyurethane windshield adhesives became the global norm in car construction. Primerless Sikaflex® was first used by leading car manufacturers. This product was far easier to use than conventional when replacing car glass.
1985: Sika launched first primerless winscreen adhesive (Sikaflex®-255)
1986: First Sika Direct Glazing Application at leading car manufacturer
1987: First Sika Crash Test
1990 - 1999: Speed
Speed was not only required when playing with the Game Boy, but also when replacing wind-shields.
Speed was not only required when playing with the Game Boy, but also when replacing windshields. A new line of business emerged since car workshops found themselves replacing more and more adhesive-bonded windshields, while customers were increasingly demanding shorter waiting times after installation. Sika was the pioneer, developing fast-curing windshield adhesives and establishing new drive-away standards. This decade was shaped by short drive-away times and absolute safety. Sika – and the Sikaflex® brand - also led the way in terms of speed and performance. Indeed, new SikaBooster® technology and reduced drive-away times helped set new benchmarks in the sector.
1991: First hot-applied fast cure adhesive – SikaTack® Ultrafast
1993: Development of Sika Safe Drive-Away Time Standards (crash testing/lab standards)
1997: First 1h safe drive away product – SikaTack® Plus Booster
2000 - 2009: Simplicity
The cell phone made communication quite simple. Sika also strived for simplicity and created innovative all-in-one solutions.
Auto glass technicians were faced with choosing between high and low modulus adhesives, while also determining the correct drive-away time based on the prevailing climatic conditions. To counteract these issues, Sika developed adhesives that ensured a constant drive-away time at temperatures of between -10 °C and +40 °C. What’s more, all-in-one modulus adhesives reduced mistakes and provided peace of mind.
2002: Launch of SikaTack® ASAP and SikaTack® MOVE (1 hour SDAT) First All-in-One Modulus Product
2006: Introduction of the All-Seasons Activator
2008: Crash Test Series for shorter SDAT
2010: Launch of SikaTitan® – Primerless to glass adhesives
2010 - 2019: Assisted Driving
The smartphone emerged as an indispensable helper in everyday life. In cars, assistance systems presented the industry with new challenges.
Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) helped to further improve road safety and lower damage costs for insurers. However, these systems required significant calibration work after replacing the windshield. Since a windshield significantly contributes to a car body’s structural stiffness, this necessitated the use of more advanced, full-cure adhesives. By developing the PowerCure system, Sika was once again able to provide a simple, market-ready solution that met customers’ challenges.
2015: 60min OE cure product: SikaTack® ELITE
2015: 30min safe drive-away time product: SikaTack® PRO
2015: Established new drive-away timestandard with 95th percentile crash test dummies
2020 - FUTURE: Less Exposure
The mobility of the future has to be sustainable. Sika is leading the way - with solutions that are even safer and more environmentally friendly.
We are currently experiencing a trend that favors healthy lifestyles. In Asia, people are concerned about risks associated with chemicals, e.g. smells. Meanwhile, the EU has now set out certain precautions that must be respected when working with chemicals, including handling PU adhesives. Sika’s latest innovation not only performs better, it also results in less exposure for users and customers alike.
2022: Launch of the new Purform technology with the SikaTack® PRO Purform and SikaTack® ELITE Purform
2022: Launch of the new Sikaflex® SOLO (Primerless to glass application with only 3h MDAT)
Safety without Compromise
Sika is the expert when it comes to windshield bonding. Since 1980 Sika is supplier and manufacturing partner to the Automotive Industry.
We offer hot-applied, cold-applied, primerless to glass and pre-treatmens for the use in installing auto glass replacement windshields. Each product has different minimum drive-away times (MDAT) to meet the specific needs of technicians in the field while also providing safety for vehicle owners.
All Sika auto glass adhesive systems have been crash tested and exceed rigorous federal safety standards (FMVSS 212)
