Research and development activities
Research and development (R&D) expenses in the Group amounted to around EUR 14,599 thousand (13,652) in 2024. On average, 141 (133) employees worked in R&D, which together contributed to a product novelty rate of 25.2% (28.5) for all development locations of the Uzin Utz Group. The disciplinary management of the local R&D departments is the responsibility of the respective managing directors of the national companies. The central R&D headquarters in Ulm is responsible for the technical management and coordinates the global directive competence for a further 11 R&D laboratories (excluding the two locations of Uzin Utz Tools GmbH & Co. KG.) within the Uzin Utz Group. The expenses for R&D at Uzin Utz SE amounted to EUR 6,743 thousand (6,006) in 2024. The average of 58 (57) employees in the SE achieved an SE novelty rate of 37.7% (36.0) for the Uzin brand in the 2024 reporting year. Products with unprecedented or greatly improved properties are classified as "new" if their marketing utilization can be proven and they are not older than five years. The products developed by Uzin Utz SE at the main development site in Ulm have a Blue Angel/Emicode EC1 Plus rate of 97.4% (97.1) in relation to sales. This rate again clearly underlines the sustainability efforts of Uzin Utz. The Group's key R&D figures are as follows in the table overview 2024:
| R&D Key figures of the Group | |||
| Total number of R&D locations (without two locations of Uzin Utz Tools GmbH & Co. KG.) | 12 (12) | ||
| R&D expenses | 14,599 KEUR (13,652) | ||
| Number of R&D employees (cut-off date, full-time equivalent) | 141 (133) | ||
| Novelty ratio | 25.2% (28.5) | ||
| R&D ratio | 3.1% (2.8) | ||
| Number of projects processed (without two locations of Uzin Utz Tools GmbH & Co. KG.) | 140 (161) | ||
| Number of newly developed products (brand: Uzin and without location Sursee) | 14 (14) | ||
| Blue Angel/Emicode EC1 Plus ratio (based on sales revenues, Uzin Utz SE site) | 97.4% (97.1) | ||
Description of the product range
The innovative strength of Uzin Utz SE is documented by the total of 14 (14) new products that were prepared for launch for the Uzin brand in 2024. In January 2024, the first part of the new Uzin FusionTec levelling compound generation was successfully launched with Uzin NC 580 and Uzin NC 570, as presented in last year's R&D management report. For the further rollout in this process, the other new products Uzin NC 585 F, NC 560 and NC 550 were prepared for the upcoming market launch in the course of the reporting year. The three FusionTec products mentioned above in the second launch phase, like the products launched in the previous period, not only combine the positive attributes of cement and gypsum levelling compounds, but also set quickly and almost crack-free even under unfavourable construction site conditions and also make a significant contribution to reducing the Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to conventional cement levelling compounds. This continues the sustainability trend of Uzin Utz's previous years.
The most important other Uzin Utz SE activities of the R&D departments in cooperation with cross-divisional departments and the cross-location investment laboratories of the Uzin Utz Group for the Uzin brand (excluding the Sursee site) are described below in a keyword overview table:
Dry mortar products (UZIN)
| Product name | Description |
| UZIN NC 585 F | Marking-free and fiber-reinforced FusionTec leveling compound with self-leveling properties and fast setting in the layer thickness range of 3-20 mm, as well as suitable for renovation work and very high loads. |
| UZIN NC 560 | Label-free FusionTec object filler with self-levelling properties in a layer thickness range of 0-20 mm and suitable for residential and commercial areas subject to medium and high loads. |
| UZIN NC 550 | Label-free FusionTec object filler with self-leveling properties in a layer thickness range of 0-20 mm and suitable for residential and commercial areas subject to medium and high loads. |
| UZIN NC 182 MT | Harmonization of a moisture-resistant, stable cement filler for the US dry mortar plant in Waco. |
| UZIN NC 196 | Harmonization of a cementitious thin screed in the layer thickness range of 3-40 mm for the French dry mortar plant. |
| UZIN NC 553 | Gypsum filler in a thickness range of 3-10 mm for the French market. |
| UZIN NC 555 F | Fiber-reinforced gypsum filler in a thickness range of 3-30 mm for the French market. |
| UZIN NC 105 | Harmonisation of a gypsum levelling compound for the Polish dry mortar plant |
| UZIN NC 110 SF | Gypsum levelling compound in a thickness range of 1.6-25 mm for the US market |
| UZIN NC 150 F | Fiber-reinforced cementitious filler in a thickness range of 3-25 mm for the US market. |
Liquid products (UZIN)
| Product name | Description |
| UZIN EasyLift Primer | Aqueous dispersion primer as a switchable system component for applications on any self-levelling floor levelling compounds, to make PVC and rubber floor coverings bonded with Uzin KE 66 (after variable service life) removable again without residue at the push of a button, making additional substrate preparation of the existing levelling compound surfaces unnecessary as a work step in further renovation cycles. |
| UZIN SI 24 | Versatile silicate impregnation for cement screeds and concrete surfaces (1-component application) as well as for industrial fillers (2-component application). |
| UZIN SIL Pro 50 | Neutral curing construction silicone for grouting and sealing expansion and connection joints as well as for applications in combination with various glass building blocks. |
| UZIN SIL SA | Water-dilutable smoothing agent concentrate as an ideal supplementary product for the building silicone Uzin SIL PRO 50. |
The most important activities of the other brand of the Uzin Utz umbrella brand are also described in key words below:
PALLMANN Products
| Product name | Description |
| PALL-X 96 POWER | One-component, water-based 1K sealer, specially developed for heavily used residential and commercial surfaces, with very high mechanical resistance and user-friendliness. |
| MAGIC OIL 2K Line | Two-component, solvent-free oil-wax combinations that achieve an open-pored, breathable and diffusible surface. By replacing conventional oils with hemp oil from regional, organic cultivation, CO2 emissions are reduced compared to conventional parquet oils. |
| OUTDOOROIL | One-component oil based on natural oil for outdoor use (terraces) with a strong impregnating effect, which increases the resistance of the treated surfaces to mechanical stress and thus extends the usability and service life of the oiled surfaces. |
Arturo Products
Uzin Utz Nederland offers a high-quality product portfolio with the Arturo brand. These are synthetic resin floors that can be produced "on demand" and delivered promptly. Arturo flow coatings and sealers are available in almost all colors within three working days.
| Product name | Description |
| EP6600NEW | Arturo EP6600 New is a solvent-based, 2-component primer based on epoxy resin with a moisture-blocking effect. The primer can be filled with Arturo Sand at a ratio of 1:0.5, especially for layer thicknesses of up to 1 mm (previously up to 0.5 mm). |
codex Products
No new products were launched under the codex brand in the 2024 reporting year.
Sifloor Products
| Product name | Description |
| Ultratac 1,3 mm | A foam tape specially developed to achieve high adhesive performance on rigid skirting boards such as metal, MDF and plastic. |
| Dryfix 750 | An improved version of the textile surface tape, which is ideal for applications with rubber in hospitals and transportation due to its increased adhesive strength and load-bearing capacity under heavy loads. |
| Plurafilm Hydro | Double-sided vapor-barrier adhesive tape that enables the installation of resilient and textile floor coverings on damp cementitious substrates, thus reducing construction time and costs. |
| Plurafilm ESD | A universal, conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive system with plasticizer resistance, strong adhesive strength and stable conductivity for resilient floor coverings. |
WOLFF Products
| Product name | Description |
| Maverick | Small ride-on stripper up to 600 kg |
| Lupo | Hand-guided, demountable stripper for small to medium-sized areas |
Pajarito Products
| Product name | Description |
| Surface spatula Pajaquick Black | Surface spatula in a special ergonomic shape. |