PCI Augsburg GmbH Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Three quarters of a century of PCI success story
12.03.2025
This year, PCI Augsburg GmbH is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1950 as Poly-Chemie-Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, the former two-man operation has grown into one of Germany’s leading manufacturers of construction chemical products, driven by numerous innovations. As part of Sika in Germany, the company continues to build on its success story.
The company made its market breakthrough in 1951 with the groundbreaking development of "Beton-Emulsion," a product that improved the adhesive properties of cement-based mortars. The founders, engineer Karl Strehle from Augsburg and businessman Hans W. Schulz from Frankfurt, introduced the mortar adhesion additive at the perfect time for Germany’s post-war economic boom. By 1954, the product accounted for approximately 75% of the company's total revenue. Today, this product is still available under the name PCI Emulsion.
Innovative products continued to shape PCI’s success, such as the 1959 introduction of PCI FT adhesive mortar—the first cement-based tile adhesive designed for thin-bed installation. In the following decades, PCI became an industry pioneer. By 1981, the company secured market leadership in German-speaking countries for tile installation materials with the launch of the first powdered specialty tile adhesive. Today, PCI Flexmörtel has become a generic term for an entire product category.
PCI introduced sustainable products as early as the 1970s. In 1974, PCI Gisogrund became the first solvent-free synthetic resin primer for gypsum substrates. Today, 93% of PCI products are solvent-free, and about 82% are classified as very low-emission, carrying the EC1 or EC1 PLUS seal from GEV-EMICODE.
Further innovations in sustainability included nanotechnology and lightweight mortar products such as PCI Nanolight. The addition of recycled glass in Flexmörtel production reduces material consumption and CO₂ emissions. Its lightweight properties also cut transportation-related CO₂ emissions by up to 33% per square meter of installed tiles compared to standard tile adhesives. In 2003, PCI Nanolight received the EC1 PLUS environmental seal for very low-emission products.
Another innovation, PCI Durapox Premium Multicolor, became the first industry-wide grout available in hundreds of colors to match any tile, complemented by the PCI Colorcatch Nano digital color reader for professional consultations. PCI Durapox Premium/Multicolor was named "Best Product of the Year 2019" by the internationally recognized PLUS X AWARD.
A Changing Company History Leads to a New Home at Sika
Since the late 1970s, PCI was fully owned by SKW Trostberg AG, which later became part of Degussa’s Construction Chemicals division in 2001. In 2006, PCI joined BASF when it acquired Degussa’s construction chemicals business. A significant milestone came in 2017 when BASF acquired Henkel’s Western European construction chemicals business, including the THOMSIT brand, integrating it into PCI. This acquisition expanded PCI’s product portfolio, particularly in flooring technology.
Today, PCI Augsburg GmbH is a successful and growing company, a leading manufacturer of construction chemical products, and the market leader in tile installation materials in German-speaking regions. The company continues to invest in its three locations—Augsburg, Hamm, and Wittenberg. Since May 2023, PCI Augsburg GmbH, along with its brands PCI and THOMSIT, has been part of Sika in Germany. Its products are now distributed under the newly structured Sika Handel Bau division.
Strong Innovation Over the Last Few Years
In 2020, PCI introduced THOMSIT-SMP parquet adhesives based on its proprietary VISKO-FLEX technology, offering enhanced performance, improved installation comfort, and significant time and cost savings. These adhesives accelerate construction progress, allowing installers to cover more square meters than before.
In response to increasing market demands, PCI further improved its proven PCI Nanolight Flexmörtel in 2023. The new formula, based on lightweight mortar technology, offers better stability, extended adjustment time, and an even smoother and easier application process.
A major milestone came in 2024 with the launch of PCI Nanorapid, the world’s first deformable tile adhesive using CSA (Calcium Sulfoaluminate) technology. As part of PCI’s high-tech and sustainable Nano product line, this innovation provides installers with extended working and adjustment times while maintaining rapid setting. The CSA technology significantly reduces the carbon footprint of fast-setting tile adhesives.
Also in 2024, PCI introduced a new generation of THOMSIT leveling compounds, offering fast readiness for covering and reliable work progress. Thanks to modern, sustainable binders and special additives, these compounds provide crack-free results—even in challenging conditions like high humidity or low temperatures.
Despite the ongoing construction crisis, especially in new builds, PCI remains well-positioned for the future under Sika’s leadership. The company continues to focus on system solutions for renovation, refurbishment, and modernization—helping craftsmen complete complex renovation projects with ease, ensuring compatibility of materials, and guaranteeing a smooth workflow. In response to skilled labor shortages, PCI is developing easy-to-use systems that ensure job site safety, supplemented by digital and analog support tools.
Sustainability is a Core Focus at PCI
Sustainability is a key priority for both Sika and PCI Augsburg GmbH, shaping daily business operations and forming a cornerstone of Sika’s 2028 corporate strategy. PCI prioritizes environmentally friendly raw materials in production, sustainable and recycled packaging materials, and lightweight products to reduce transportation emissions. Various environmental certifications, including the well-known “Blue Angel” eco-label, highlight PCI’s contribution to healthier indoor air quality and user well-being.
Sika aims to lead the construction and manufacturing industries in achieving net-zero emissions. The company supports the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and is part of a growing group of leading businesses whose emissions reduction targets align with the Paris Agreement. Sika is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
"From a two-man operation in post-war Germany to one of the leading manufacturers of construction chemicals—this is something to be proud of," said Joachim Straub, Chairman of PCI’s Management Board. "Our success has always come from knowing what the market needs, allowing us to adapt to changing conditions."
Daniela Schmiedle, Managing Director of Sika Germany, added: "This success is only possible through close collaboration with distributors and craftsmen, as well as the dedication of our employees. We want to take this opportunity to thank our customers and the PCI team for 75 years of trustful cooperation, and we look forward to a bright future."
For more information about PCI Augsburg GmbH and its history, visit: Three-Quarters of a Century of Success: PCI
PCI Augsburg GmbH Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Augsburg, March 12, 2025 – This year, PCI Augsburg GmbH is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1950 as Poly-Chemie-Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, the former two-man operation has grown into one of Germany’s leading manufacturers of construction chemical products, driven by numerous innovations. As part of Sika in Germany, the company continues to build on its success story.
The company made its market breakthrough in 1951 with the groundbreaking development of "Beton-Emulsion," a product that improved the adhesive properties of cement-based mortars. The founders, engineer Karl Strehle from Augsburg and businessman Hans W. Schulz from Frankfurt, introduced the mortar adhesion additive at the perfect time for Germany’s post-war economic boom. By 1954, the product accounted for approximately 75% of the company's total revenue. Today, this product is still available under the name PCI Emulsion.
Innovative products continued to shape PCI’s success, such as the 1959 introduction of PCI FT adhesive mortar—the first cement-based tile adhesive designed for thin-bed installation. In the following decades, PCI became an industry pioneer. By 1981, the company secured market leadership in German-speaking countries for tile installation materials with the launch of the first powdered specialty tile adhesive. Today, PCI Flexmörtel has become a generic term for an entire product category.
PCI introduced sustainable products as early as the 1970s. In 1974, PCI Gisogrund became the first solvent-free synthetic resin primer for gypsum substrates. Today, 93% of PCI products are solvent-free, and about 82% are classified as very low-emission, carrying the EC1 or EC1 PLUS seal from GEV-EMICODE.
Further innovations in sustainability included nanotechnology and lightweight mortar products such as PCI Nanolight. The addition of recycled glass in Flexmörtel production reduces material consumption and CO₂ emissions. Its lightweight properties also cut transportation-related CO₂ emissions by up to 33% per square meter of installed tiles compared to standard tile adhesives. In 2003, PCI Nanolight received the EC1 PLUS environmental seal for very low-emission products.
Another innovation, PCI Durapox Premium Multicolor, became the first industry-wide grout available in hundreds of colors to match any tile, complemented by the PCI Colorcatch Nano digital color reader for professional consultations. PCI Durapox Premium/Multicolor was named "Best Product of the Year 2019" by the internationally recognized PLUS X AWARD.
A Changing Company History Leads to a New Home at Sika
Since the late 1970s, PCI was fully owned by SKW Trostberg AG, which later became part of Degussa’s Construction Chemicals division in 2001. In 2006, PCI joined BASF when it acquired Degussa’s construction chemicals business. A significant milestone came in 2017 when BASF acquired Henkel’s Western European construction chemicals business, including the THOMSIT brand, integrating it into PCI. This acquisition expanded PCI’s product portfolio, particularly in flooring technology.
Today, PCI Augsburg GmbH is a successful and growing company, a leading manufacturer of construction chemical products, and the market leader in tile installation materials in German-speaking regions. The company continues to invest in its three locations—Augsburg, Hamm, and Wittenberg. Since May 2023, PCI Augsburg GmbH, along with its brands PCI and THOMSIT, has been part of Sika in Germany. Its products are now distributed under the newly structured Sika Handel Bau division.
Strong Innovation Over the Last Few Years
In 2020, PCI introduced THOMSIT-SMP parquet adhesives based on its proprietary VISKO-FLEX technology, offering enhanced performance, improved installation comfort, and significant time and cost savings. These adhesives accelerate construction progress, allowing installers to cover more square meters than before.
In response to increasing market demands, PCI further improved its proven PCI Nanolight Flexmörtel in 2023. The new formula, based on lightweight mortar technology, offers better stability, extended adjustment time, and an even smoother and easier application process.
A major milestone came in 2024 with the launch of PCI Nanorapid, the world’s first deformable tile adhesive using CSA (Calcium Sulfoaluminate) technology. As part of PCI’s high-tech and sustainable Nano product line, this innovation provides installers with extended working and adjustment times while maintaining rapid setting. The CSA technology significantly reduces the carbon footprint of fast-setting tile adhesives.
Also in 2024, PCI introduced a new generation of THOMSIT leveling compounds, offering fast readiness for covering and reliable work progress. Thanks to modern, sustainable binders and special additives, these compounds provide crack-free results—even in challenging conditions like high humidity or low temperatures.
Despite the ongoing construction crisis, especially in new builds, PCI remains well-positioned for the future under Sika’s leadership. The company continues to focus on system solutions for renovation, refurbishment, and modernization—helping craftsmen complete complex renovation projects with ease, ensuring compatibility of materials, and guaranteeing a smooth workflow. In response to skilled labor shortages, PCI is developing easy-to-use systems that ensure job site safety, supplemented by digital and analog support tools.
Sustainability is a Core Focus at PCI
Sustainability is a key priority for both Sika and PCI Augsburg GmbH, shaping daily business operations and forming a cornerstone of Sika’s 2028 corporate strategy. PCI prioritizes environmentally friendly raw materials in production, sustainable and recycled packaging materials, and lightweight products to reduce transportation emissions. Various environmental certifications, including the well-known “Blue Angel” eco-label, highlight PCI’s contribution to healthier indoor air quality and user well-being.
Sika aims to lead the construction and manufacturing industries in achieving net-zero emissions. The company supports the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and is part of a growing group of leading businesses whose emissions reduction targets align with the Paris Agreement. Sika is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
"From a two-man operation in post-war Germany to one of the leading manufacturers of construction chemicals—this is something to be proud of," said Joachim Straub, Chairman of PCI’s Management Board. "Our success has always come from knowing what the market needs, allowing us to adapt to changing conditions."
Daniela Schmiedle, Managing Director of Sika Germany, added: "This success is only possible through close collaboration with distributors and craftsmen, as well as the dedication of our employees. We want to take this opportunity to thank our customers and the PCI team for 75 years of trustful cooperation, and we look forward to a bright future."
For more information about PCI Augsburg GmbH and its history, visit here
Innovative products continued to shape PCI’s success, such as the 1959 introduction of PCI FT adhesive mortar—the first cement-based tile adhesive designed for thin-bed installation. In the following decades, PCI became an industry pioneer. By 1981, the company secured market leadership in German-speaking countries for tile installation materials with the launch of the first powdered specialty tile adhesive. Today, PCI Flexmörtel has become a generic term for an entire product category.
PCI introduced sustainable products as early as the 1970s. In 1974, PCI Gisogrund became the first solvent-free synthetic resin primer for gypsum substrates. Today, 93% of PCI products are solvent-free, and about 82% are classified as very low-emission, carrying the EC1 or EC1 PLUS seal from GEV-EMICODE.
Further innovations in sustainability included nanotechnology and lightweight mortar products such as PCI Nanolight. The addition of recycled glass in Flexmörtel production reduces material consumption and CO₂ emissions. Its lightweight properties also cut transportation-related CO₂ emissions by up to 33% per square meter of installed tiles compared to standard tile adhesives. In 2003, PCI Nanolight received the EC1 PLUS environmental seal for very low-emission products.
Another innovation, PCI Durapox Premium Multicolor, became the first industry-wide grout available in hundreds of colors to match any tile, complemented by the PCI Colorcatch Nano digital color reader for professional consultations. PCI Durapox Premium/Multicolor was named "Best Product of the Year 2019" by the internationally recognized PLUS X AWARD.
A Changing Company History Leads to a New Home at Sika
Since the late 1970s, PCI was fully owned by SKW Trostberg AG, which later became part of Degussa’s Construction Chemicals division in 2001. In 2006, PCI joined BASF when it acquired Degussa’s construction chemicals business. A significant milestone came in 2017 when BASF acquired Henkel’s Western European construction chemicals business, including the THOMSIT brand, integrating it into PCI. This acquisition expanded PCI’s product portfolio, particularly in flooring technology.
Today, PCI Augsburg GmbH is a successful and growing company, a leading manufacturer of construction chemical products, and the market leader in tile installation materials in German-speaking regions. The company continues to invest in its three locations—Augsburg, Hamm, and Wittenberg. Since May 2023, PCI Augsburg GmbH, along with its brands PCI and THOMSIT, has been part of Sika in Germany. Its products are now distributed under the newly structured Sika Handel Bau division.
Strong Innovation Over the Last Few Years
In 2020, PCI introduced THOMSIT-SMP parquet adhesives based on its proprietary VISKO-FLEX technology, offering enhanced performance, improved installation comfort, and significant time and cost savings. These adhesives accelerate construction progress, allowing installers to cover more square meters than before.
In response to increasing market demands, PCI further improved its proven PCI Nanolight Flexmörtel in 2023. The new formula, based on lightweight mortar technology, offers better stability, extended adjustment time, and an even smoother and easier application process.
A major milestone came in 2024 with the launch of PCI Nanorapid, the world’s first deformable tile adhesive using CSA (Calcium Sulfoaluminate) technology. As part of PCI’s high-tech and sustainable Nano product line, this innovation provides installers with extended working and adjustment times while maintaining rapid setting. The CSA technology significantly reduces the carbon footprint of fast-setting tile adhesives.
Also in 2024, PCI introduced a new generation of THOMSIT leveling compounds, offering fast readiness for covering and reliable work progress. Thanks to modern, sustainable binders and special additives, these compounds provide crack-free results—even in challenging conditions like high humidity or low temperatures.
Despite the ongoing construction crisis, especially in new builds, PCI remains well-positioned for the future under Sika’s leadership. The company continues to focus on system solutions for renovation, refurbishment, and modernization—helping craftsmen complete complex renovation projects with ease, ensuring compatibility of materials, and guaranteeing a smooth workflow. In response to skilled labor shortages, PCI is developing easy-to-use systems that ensure job site safety, supplemented by digital and analog support tools.
Sustainability is a Core Focus at PCI
Sustainability is a key priority for both Sika and PCI Augsburg GmbH, shaping daily business operations and forming a cornerstone of Sika’s 2028 corporate strategy. PCI prioritizes environmentally friendly raw materials in production, sustainable and recycled packaging materials, and lightweight products to reduce transportation emissions. Various environmental certifications, including the well-known “Blue Angel” eco-label, highlight PCI’s contribution to healthier indoor air quality and user well-being.
Sika aims to lead the construction and manufacturing industries in achieving net-zero emissions. The company supports the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and is part of a growing group of leading businesses whose emissions reduction targets align with the Paris Agreement. Sika is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
"From a two-man operation in post-war Germany to one of the leading manufacturers of construction chemicals—this is something to be proud of," said Joachim Straub, Chairman of PCI’s Management Board. "Our success has always come from knowing what the market needs, allowing us to adapt to changing conditions."
Daniela Schmiedle, Managing Director of Sika Germany, added: "This success is only possible through close collaboration with distributors and craftsmen, as well as the dedication of our employees. We want to take this opportunity to thank our customers and the PCI team for 75 years of trustful cooperation, and we look forward to a bright future."
For more information about PCI Augsburg GmbH and its history, visit: Three-Quarters of a Century of Success: PCI
PCI Augsburg GmbH Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Augsburg, March 12, 2025 – This year, PCI Augsburg GmbH is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1950 as Poly-Chemie-Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, the former two-man operation has grown into one of Germany’s leading manufacturers of construction chemical products, driven by numerous innovations. As part of Sika in Germany, the company continues to build on its success story.
The company made its market breakthrough in 1951 with the groundbreaking development of "Beton-Emulsion," a product that improved the adhesive properties of cement-based mortars. The founders, engineer Karl Strehle from Augsburg and businessman Hans W. Schulz from Frankfurt, introduced the mortar adhesion additive at the perfect time for Germany’s post-war economic boom. By 1954, the product accounted for approximately 75% of the company's total revenue. Today, this product is still available under the name PCI Emulsion.
Innovative products continued to shape PCI’s success, such as the 1959 introduction of PCI FT adhesive mortar—the first cement-based tile adhesive designed for thin-bed installation. In the following decades, PCI became an industry pioneer. By 1981, the company secured market leadership in German-speaking countries for tile installation materials with the launch of the first powdered specialty tile adhesive. Today, PCI Flexmörtel has become a generic term for an entire product category.
PCI introduced sustainable products as early as the 1970s. In 1974, PCI Gisogrund became the first solvent-free synthetic resin primer for gypsum substrates. Today, 93% of PCI products are solvent-free, and about 82% are classified as very low-emission, carrying the EC1 or EC1 PLUS seal from GEV-EMICODE.
Further innovations in sustainability included nanotechnology and lightweight mortar products such as PCI Nanolight. The addition of recycled glass in Flexmörtel production reduces material consumption and CO₂ emissions. Its lightweight properties also cut transportation-related CO₂ emissions by up to 33% per square meter of installed tiles compared to standard tile adhesives. In 2003, PCI Nanolight received the EC1 PLUS environmental seal for very low-emission products.
Another innovation, PCI Durapox Premium Multicolor, became the first industry-wide grout available in hundreds of colors to match any tile, complemented by the PCI Colorcatch Nano digital color reader for professional consultations. PCI Durapox Premium/Multicolor was named "Best Product of the Year 2019" by the internationally recognized PLUS X AWARD.
A Changing Company History Leads to a New Home at Sika
Since the late 1970s, PCI was fully owned by SKW Trostberg AG, which later became part of Degussa’s Construction Chemicals division in 2001. In 2006, PCI joined BASF when it acquired Degussa’s construction chemicals business. A significant milestone came in 2017 when BASF acquired Henkel’s Western European construction chemicals business, including the THOMSIT brand, integrating it into PCI. This acquisition expanded PCI’s product portfolio, particularly in flooring technology.
Today, PCI Augsburg GmbH is a successful and growing company, a leading manufacturer of construction chemical products, and the market leader in tile installation materials in German-speaking regions. The company continues to invest in its three locations—Augsburg, Hamm, and Wittenberg. Since May 2023, PCI Augsburg GmbH, along with its brands PCI and THOMSIT, has been part of Sika in Germany. Its products are now distributed under the newly structured Sika Handel Bau division.
Strong Innovation Over the Last Few Years
In 2020, PCI introduced THOMSIT-SMP parquet adhesives based on its proprietary VISKO-FLEX technology, offering enhanced performance, improved installation comfort, and significant time and cost savings. These adhesives accelerate construction progress, allowing installers to cover more square meters than before.
In response to increasing market demands, PCI further improved its proven PCI Nanolight Flexmörtel in 2023. The new formula, based on lightweight mortar technology, offers better stability, extended adjustment time, and an even smoother and easier application process.
A major milestone came in 2024 with the launch of PCI Nanorapid, the world’s first deformable tile adhesive using CSA (Calcium Sulfoaluminate) technology. As part of PCI’s high-tech and sustainable Nano product line, this innovation provides installers with extended working and adjustment times while maintaining rapid setting. The CSA technology significantly reduces the carbon footprint of fast-setting tile adhesives.
Also in 2024, PCI introduced a new generation of THOMSIT leveling compounds, offering fast readiness for covering and reliable work progress. Thanks to modern, sustainable binders and special additives, these compounds provide crack-free results—even in challenging conditions like high humidity or low temperatures.
Despite the ongoing construction crisis, especially in new builds, PCI remains well-positioned for the future under Sika’s leadership. The company continues to focus on system solutions for renovation, refurbishment, and modernization—helping craftsmen complete complex renovation projects with ease, ensuring compatibility of materials, and guaranteeing a smooth workflow. In response to skilled labor shortages, PCI is developing easy-to-use systems that ensure job site safety, supplemented by digital and analog support tools.
Sustainability is a Core Focus at PCI
Sustainability is a key priority for both Sika and PCI Augsburg GmbH, shaping daily business operations and forming a cornerstone of Sika’s 2028 corporate strategy. PCI prioritizes environmentally friendly raw materials in production, sustainable and recycled packaging materials, and lightweight products to reduce transportation emissions. Various environmental certifications, including the well-known “Blue Angel” eco-label, highlight PCI’s contribution to healthier indoor air quality and user well-being.
Sika aims to lead the construction and manufacturing industries in achieving net-zero emissions. The company supports the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and is part of a growing group of leading businesses whose emissions reduction targets align with the Paris Agreement. Sika is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
"From a two-man operation in post-war Germany to one of the leading manufacturers of construction chemicals—this is something to be proud of," said Joachim Straub, Chairman of PCI’s Management Board. "Our success has always come from knowing what the market needs, allowing us to adapt to changing conditions."
Daniela Schmiedle, Managing Director of Sika Germany, added: "This success is only possible through close collaboration with distributors and craftsmen, as well as the dedication of our employees. We want to take this opportunity to thank our customers and the PCI team for 75 years of trustful cooperation, and we look forward to a bright future."
For more information about PCI Augsburg GmbH and its history, visit here
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PCI Press Release: PCI Augsburg GmbH Celebrates 75th Anniversary
