Sika Automotive to Present Three Technical Papers At SAE World Congress in Detroit

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., Feb. 17, 2004 -- Sika Automotive will be presenting three technical papers at the 2004 SAE World Congress in Detroit at the Cobo Center. The SAE World Congress will run March 8 through March 12, 2004. The SAE World Congress is the largest OE service, parts and components exhibition in the world.

  Sika's presentations include:

  Validation of Epoxy Foam for Structural and Crash Application
  Authored by Wenlung Liu (9:30 am)

This technical paper explores Finite Element Analyses and tests performed in order to verify appropriate use of material models to represent epoxy foam in FEA.

  Structural Adhesives - Improvements in Vehicle Crash Performance
  Authored by Dr. Jan Olaf Schulenburg (10:30 am)

This technical paper will identify applications of structural adhesives being used in conjunction with spot welding to provide increased stiffness and stability. The paper will outline new developments in high structural, crash resistant adhesives that allow for increased vehicle performance during crash events.

Expandable Epoxy Foam: A Systematic Approach to Improved Vehicle Performance

Authored by Kevin Casey and Phil Weber (4:00 pm)

This technical paper will examine the key steps in utilizing a systematic approach to selecting, designing and modeling structural expandable epoxy foam solutions used in conjunction with metallic and non-metallic carriers.

These papers will be presented on Monday, March 8 in Room O3-45.

Sika Automotive, based in Madison Heights, MI, a division of Sika Corporation, is an industry leader in the development and production of high performance acoustic, bonding, reinforcing and sealing systems. Sika Automotive provides automobile manufacturers with proven material, application engineering and validation expertise to improve interior sound quality and structural performance in vehicles worldwide. Sika Automotive optimizes cost effective, complete solutions in its dedicated, state of the art, Acoustic Test Facility, located in Madison Heights, MI. Visit the Sika Automotive website www.sikaautomotive.com .

Sika Corporation is a leading supplier of specialty chemical products and industrial materials serving construction and industrial markets including transportation, marine, and automotive. Sika Corporation is a subsidiary of Sika AG, Baar, Switzerland. Sika has annual sales of approximately US$1.5 billion (CHF 2.1 billion), over 8,500 employees and operations in 64 countries. Visit the Sika website at www.sika.com .