We choose waterproofing, tile adhesives, and sealants based on experience, since a structure’s lifespan depends on them. The Sika logo is associated with a company that manufactures construction chemicals and materials to protect and join construction elements. Under the Sika brand, mixtures used in the construction and repair of buildings are produced.
Kaspar Winkler founded Sika in 1910 in Zurich. It began by producing additives for cement mortars. The first product, called Sika 1, provided concrete waterproofing and gained recognition in the domestic market. In the 1920s, the company expanded beyond Switzerland. By the 1930s, branches had been opened in Germany, Austria, and France. In 1936, the company introduced epoxy resins for industrial coatings.
After World War II, the company strengthened its position in the United States. In 1954, a plant was launched. During this period, the company began developing polyurethane adhesives and sealants for the automotive industry. In the 1970s, the company entered the Asian market. It opened production facilities in Japan and Singapore.
In the 1980s, Sika developed solutions to repair and reinforce concrete structures. In 1990, the company’s shares began trading on the Swiss Stock Exchange. The Winkler family retained control. In the 1990s, the firm expanded into Eastern Europe and Latin America.
In the 2000s, Sika completed a series of major acquisitions that strengthened its position in the global construction chemicals market. A key deal was the 2010 purchase of Greenstreak in the United States. In 2021, the company acquired the Belgian MBCC Group for 5.5 billion euros.
From 2020 to 2024, Sika continued expanding geographically. The company invested in new production facilities in Asia and Latin America. During this period, it implemented a digital platform for contractor training.
The company operates more than 400 plants in 100 countries. It offers over five hundred products for construction and industry. The Winkler family retains control through Schenker-Winkler Holding.
Meaning and History
What is Sika?
It is a Swiss company operating in construction and industrial chemistry. It develops and produces materials for waterproofing, bonding, reinforcement, and structural protection. Its portfolio includes concrete additives, adhesives, sealants, flooring systems, and repair compounds. The products are used in construction, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, and the automotive industry.
1910 – 1918
Kaspar Winkler & Co. entered the Swiss market in 1911. The company worked in construction chemicals and waterproofing, so the early logo was tied to the city, buildings, and the practical value of its products. It looked like an old seal: strict, dense, and slightly decorative.
The logo is executed in black. The upper part shows a city silhouette. On the left, houses with sloped roofs evoke Swiss architecture. On the right is an industrial building with a tall chimney. The scene explains the company’s profile: construction materials, repair materials, and building protection products.
Below are 3 lines of text. The first line, “KASP. WINKLER & Co,” is set in a large serif typeface. Under it are thinner lines indicating the company’s field of activity and its address in Zurich’s Altstetten district. At the bottom, a small star completes the composition.
A decorative frame with scrollwork and thin lines runs along the edges. This design is connected to industry, craftsmanship, and urban construction.
1918 – today
It is hard to imagine that the name “Sika” entered the world not as a company name, but only as a construction product. When Swiss entrepreneur Kaspar Winkler began producing the waterproofing additive “Sika-1” in the early 20th century, it was an ordinary construction material. They used it to waterproof tunnels in preparation for electrifying the Gotthard Railway. The product proved so successful that the word “Sika” soon became a full-fledged brand, surpassing Winkler’s own name in recognition.
The logo appeared almost at the same time as the product. Winkler decided to give his product a memorable image. A red upward-pointing triangle appeared, with a bright yellow inscription inside. The name written inside the triangle is slightly slanted to the right. The tall letters “S” and “k” give the inscription an unusual look. The yellow color against the red background draws the eye.
One version says the word “Sika” is connected to Esperanto and means “dry.” For a waterproofing brand, such an image proved fitting. The company’s official history emphasizes the “Sika-1” product and Kaspar Winkler’s name, while avoiding confirmation of the Esperanto theory. Nevertheless, the version remains logical and persistent.
Over the decades, the “Sika” logo has barely changed. The red triangle and yellow inscription preserved the connection with the early product and the construction environment. The brand grew from a waterproofing additive into a major name in construction chemicals. At the same time, the old visual image stayed with it.




