Sika Romania, which runs a concrete additives factory in Braşov, announced that it expects a 5% turnover increase this year, to 19 million Euros, after seeing an increase of 17% in 2011, to 18 million Euros. In the next three years, Sika Romania is looking at investments of 1 million Euros and expects an increase in turnover of 5% from one year to the next. "The investments we expect to make over the near future, will focus on the modernization of the research and development laboratories, the building of a center for training in construction materials which will include a concrete and mortar laboratory, and one for the testing of adhesives, as well as towards the construction of purification station", said Ileana Nicolae, General Manager of Sika Romania.

As for the company's turnover, Ileana Nicolae expects an annual turnover increase of about 5% a year over the next three years, on the back of the growth of the retail division, among other things.

In its ten years on the Romanian market, Sika has invested 2.5 million Euros. The investments were directed towards the plant of Braşov, which was inaugurated in 2008, towards the central headquarters of Braşov and the warehouse, towards the R&D facilities for the development of concrete, as well as towards the frontage competencies, which was completed in 2011, which will supply the subsidiaries of Sika in Central and Eastern Europe.

* The market for construction chemical materials could grow 5%

Ileana Nicolae estimates that this year, the overall market for construction materials will increase 5%, to 900 million Euros. Last year, the company raised the prices of several of its products, by 5% on average, due to the rise of the price of raw materials between 8% and 23%.

In 2011, concrete additives made in Brașov accounted for a significant portion of the company's turnover. In its 10 years