A hundred-year balance Annual Report 2010 - Uzin Utz AG

which are produced at different locations within the
Uzin Utz Group, can be produced worldwide according
to the same standards. We will therefore be able in future
to produce identical product qualities in all works.
At the same time, this will also create the requirements
to achieve delivery reliability of products in emergency
management scenarios by means of a redundant system.
In the event of a production stoppage at one works, delivery
reliability could then be maintained by an alternative
production location. The fundamental component
of this project is the harmonisation of testing methods
and product specifications in all corresponding works of
the Uzin Utz Group. In the first step, the central department
of Quality Management has made various regular
target and method agreements with the responsible local
quality assurance personnel of the subsidiary companies.
Testing methods, specifications and quality assurance
procedures have been further standardised, and the
conclusiveness of modern testing procedures investigated.
The main results of these quality assurance measures will
now be systematically recorded and centrally evaluated.
» In addition to the products and activities of the year
2010 described here, and in order to maintain our innovation
lead, numerous other product optimisations were
implemented, and other work carried out which will not
be described separately at this point.
UZIN switchTec
Changed user behaviour and requirements for
healthy living
In Europe and the western European foreign markets of
Uzin Utz AG, a change has occurred in recent years in
demand behaviour in the construction and renovation of
residential and commercial properties. In the case of renovation
in particular, users are increasingly less prepared
to accept the stoppage times and hindrances usually associated
with such work. They now demand fast and flexible
solutions, which are also reversible with little effort.
» Investors and end-consumers are also becoming more
sensitive to internal room hygiene and living quality, and
therefore the need to use products which wherever possible
do not give off substances into the room air, and
that these emissions do not pose any health risk.
» The switchTec dry adhesive technology has, since the
beginning of its development in the 1960’s, been a synonym
for fast, clean and flexible renovation with very
low emissions.
EMICODE
In order to emphasise our pioneering role for a healthy
room climate, we have modified our area products Uzin
Sigaway, Uzin Supertape7900, Uzin Sigan1, Uzin Sigan2
and Uzin Sigan3 according to the latest GEV classification
criteria for the EMICODE. At the beginning of the
Uzin Jubilee year 2011, all these area products now fulfil
the criteria for the highest class EMICODE EC1PLUS:
“very low-emissionPLUS”.
Blue Angel
The products Uzin Sigan1, Uzin Sigan2 and Uzin Sigan3,
together with the corresponding edge tapes Sigan1Tape,
Sigan2Tape and Sigan3Tape, have been re-formulated to
comply with the material criteria for the quality seal of
the “Blue Angel”, which is well known by end-customers.
» The products have also been made significantly more
robust against conditions occurring during normal use
(e.g. moisture penetration due to cleaning etc.). All Sigan
products are easy to apply, are guaranteed to be able to
be applied bubble-free and can be easily repositioned if
required. Adhesion forces adapted to the relevant application
purpose guarantee reliable use and residue-free
removal even after years of intensive use, something
which is unique in this product quality.
Uzin Planus
In order to offer complete systems, the dispersion primer
Planus has also been re-formulated in accordance with
the requirements for the Blue Angel, and upgraded to a
modern raw material basis. Here we have succeeded in
developing a very low-emission, film-forming special primer,
based on aqueous dispersion polymers, which also
has improved application characteristics. Following the
philosophy of the switchTec product line, the new Planus
also demonstrates excellent resistance to the usual
effects of such things as moisture and softeners. The
new formulation can also be sanded, and can therefore
could easily be re-worked if required, which further
increases the flexibility and recyclability of the system.
» Uzin Planus also complies with all the requirements
for EMICODE EC1PLUS “very low-emissionPLUS” and the
Blue Angel.
» Uzin is therefore the first supplier of a complete system
consisting of a dry adhesive (Sigan 1) in conjunction
with a primer (Planus) with the combined designation
“very low-emissionPLUS” and “Blue Angel”.
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