SEALANTS
Sika drives abattoir excellence
Sika
Built and sealed to withstand demanding conditions, the flooring system at Namibia’ s largest privately funded abattoir complies fully with stringent European Union certification standards.
Sika South Africa supplied specialist flooring systems for the new Savanna Beef Abattoir in Okahandja, Namibia – the country’ s largest privately funded facility.
From the earliest stages, the supplier worked with the project team to deliver flooring solutions designed for the highest levels of hygiene, durability, and safety – all essential in international food and beverage facilities.
Tough operating conditions
Abattoirs present some of the toughest operating conditions: constant moisture, high traffic, thermal shock, aggressive cleaning regimes, and heavy impact.
Conventional epoxy floors could not be applied. Due to the tough operating conditions, epoxies often fail in service. The project team required proven systems that would guarantee compliance, long-term performance, and lower lifecycle costs.
Benefits of the system
• Food safety and compliance: HACCP approved, Halal certified, and tested to hygienic standards comparable to stainless steel.
• Sustainability: LEED v4 contribution, Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold certification, and ultra-low VOC formulation.
• Worker safety: Validated slip resistance and robust hygienic coving minimise risks in wet, high-traffic areas.
• Lifecycle value: Reduced downtime, extended refurbishment cycles, and guaranteed durability lower total cost of ownership.
Product applied
With over 3 000m ² of Sika ® Ucrete ® flooring and 2 300m of hygienic coving seamlessly installed, the company says the Savanna Beef Abattoir project demonstrates the adaptability and reliability of its systems in the most demanding environments. The result is a world-class facility that secures Namibia’ s position in global beef markets while setting a new standard for sustainable, compliant, and durable food industry construction.
Three polyurethane-based products were applied in these specialised circumstances:
• Sika ® Ucrete ® UD 200 applied at 6mm for normal production areas and 9mm in the high traffic / high stress zones;
• Ucrete ® RG was applied to skirtings; and
• PRO-3 Purform ®, an advanced polyurethane joint sealant with ultra-low VOC emissions, watertightness, chemical resistance, and longterm flexibility.
72 autumn 2026 | www. tobuild. co. za
The abattoir was financed by Namibian farmers, creating a privately funded solution to strengthen the national beef industry. The project not only ensures EU export readiness but also supports job creation, rural development, and farmer empowerment.