Henkel unveils upgraded Innovation and Application Lab in Sydney

New facility targets growth sectors in Australia and New Zealand

SYDNEY,
AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach – 17 February 2021 – Henkel Australia has officially
opened the upgraded Innovation and Application Lab in Seven Hills, Sydney,
Australia. As a global leader in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings,
the upgraded facility positions Henkel at the forefront of innovation for key
growth sectors in Australia and New Zealand, namely food and beverage,
packaging, engineered wood and general manufacturing and maintenance.

Aamir Qureshi (left), Operations & Supply
Chain Manager, and Stephen Liu (right), Product Development Chemist, cutting
the ribbon to mark the official opening of the upgraded Innovation and
Application Lab of Henkel Adhesive Technologies in Sydney. 

Daniel Rudolph, President of Henkel Australia and
New Zealand, said, “Henkel’s customers are looking for the latest
innovations to increase performance and efficiency, and improve their
sustainability footprint. The upgrading of our Innovation and Application Lab
allows us to test and tailor solutions to meet the requirements of the local
market, ranging from the latest in product design and food safety standards to
adapting to a circular economy.”

Mark Dorn, President of Henkel Asia-Pacific and
Global Head of Craftsmen, Construction and Professional Division, Henkel
Adhesive Technologies, said, “As a global market leader in the global
markets for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings we continue to grow our
innovation capabilities across the Asia Pacific.  Our upgraded Innovation
and Application Lab in Sydney enables us to offer the latest product
innovations to the market. From food safety and sustainability for the
packaging industry to raising the standards in engineered wood production, we
are excited to offer game-changing solutions to our customers.”

The Innovation and Application Lab is co-located
at Henkel’s adhesive manufacturing facility. This facilitates a rapid
transition and reduces the time to market from product concept and development
to volume production.

Micheal Hajj, Head of Technical for Adhesive
Technologies at Henkel Australia and New Zealand, highlighted several advanced
technical capabilities of the lab.

 

• Using state-of-the-art equipment, the lab conducts performance testing
  of customers’ samples to meet the international standards for engineered
  wood, namely AS/NZS 1328 for glue laminated timber and AS 5068-2006 for
  timber finger joints in structural products. Henkel is also able to
  validate the performance of new primer and wood species with our
  adhesives.
• With the Anton Parr rheometer, Henkel chemists can stringently test
  complex rheological behavior in food packaging solutions. 
• Tapping into its polymerization capability, the lab is looking into
  developing customized water-based technologies for the Australia and New
  Zealand markets.

The upgraded lab is equipped with state-of-the-art
technologies, allowing Henkel to test and tailor products to the requirements
of customers in key growth sectors in Australia and New Zealand, namely food
and beverage, packaging, engineered wood and general manufacturing and
maintenance.

The Innovation and Application Lab is co-located
at Henkel’s adhesive manufacturing plant in Sydney. This facilitates a rapid
transition and reduces the time to market from product concept and development
to volume production.