At Henkel we strive for the best technological solutions to develop innovative products and services for consumers, industry clients, and partners. We use digitalization to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our processes, production, and services. In this context, our applications take an active role in key areas of the digital revolution:
Tech-driven Business Models
From electromobility and 3D printing to the digital twin: Our technology-driven solutions and processes make us leaders in the markets of today and help us to shape the markets of tomorrow.
SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRY
As industry and application experts in the manufacturing sector, we leverage our expertise worldwide to work together with industry clients and partners to develop future technologies.
Mobility of the Future
Our expertise has played a key role in car production for more than 50 years and will continue to do so in the future: we are helping to develop the mobility of the future. Our experts work with our industry clients to produce electric cars that meet consumers’ expectations – in terms of performance, battery safety, and affordability. With more than 300 applications in the fields of adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, Henkel makes electronic vehicles safer, more sustainable, and more comfortable.
3D Printing
3D printing technologies revolutionize industrial production. Henkel is helping to develop this technology – with the broad range of materials knowledge and many years of experience in the transformation of manufacturing processes in a wide variety of sectors. Our teams work together with leading manufacturers to drive forward the introduction of 3D printing, from prototyping to industrial component production. We also produce innovative materials for 3D printing applications, based on our renowned Loctite resin.
SOLUTIONS FOR CONSUMERS
The digital revolution is changing consumers’ habits and lifestyles. We are reacting to these changes and helping to shape them with our technologies. Our aim is to make day-to-day life easier, safer, and more sustainable.
Smart Technologies
Henkel is ceaselessly developing smart technologies for consumers. With Somat Smart, for example, we offer an intelligent dosing device for dishwashers that automatically releases an optimized amount of detergent at the best time in the cycle. Henkel launched HomeControl in 2017 – the world’s first Internet of Things mosquito-repellent device that also uses Artificial Intelligence. Since 2019, Henkel has been targeting end consumers directly with the joint venture eSalon, providing online advice on suitable personalized hair coloring and care products. In addition, with the SalonLab Smart Analyzer consumers can have a professional hair analysis performed in the salon, based on which they can order hyper-personalized hair care products and have them delivered to their homes.
SOLUTIONS FOR PRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS
Henkel is using the digital technologies characteristic of Industry 4.0 to optimize processes. Thousands of sensors in over 170 factories capture real-time information on sustainability, efficiency, quality, and safety, enabling cloud-based analysis for diagnostics, predictions, and optimization measures. Furthermore, the digitalization of our supply chain logistics helps to raise service levels, ensure better utilization of production facilities, improve material flows, and reduce our ecological footprint.
Digital Backbone
A key element of the digitalization of our global production network is the Digital Backbone – a cloud-based data platform that links more than 30 factories around the world in real time. The technology enables us to benchmark each site and provides valuable information on how we can increase quality and efficiency. We can also use the Digital Backbone system to help us achieve our sustainability goals, measuring energy and utilities consumption of each site in real time.
Digital Twins
A further essential building block for our transformation towards Industry 4.0 comes in the shape of Digital Twins. These are digital copies of many Henkel production sites. Sensors on the equipment in these factories capture key parameters, creating data points that can be used to further optimize processes and identify potential damage or faults at an early stage. We have already received several awards from the World Economic Forum for our digitalization activities in production, emphasizing us as pioneer for Industry 4.0.
