Construction World February 2017

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Rapid hard for faster turnaround Giving a minimum strength of 30 MPa in just two days is the key advantage

completely consistent, so that customers can time their processes with precision, and without danger of breakage due to products not having achieved the required early strengths when removing from moulds.” AfriSam Rapid Hard Cement is the result of significant research and development to ensure that it met the demands of the CPM segment, the makers of concrete products such as bricks, blocks, roof tiles and hollow core slabs. In addition to precast concrete, the high early strength also makes this cement brand ideal for post-tensioned and pre-stressed members, and allows for earlier stripping of formwork to speed up projects. The product is much finer than other cements, resulting in an increased rate of hydration which produces higher early- strength. For more durability, it can be further blended with mineral components such as ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash or condensed silica fume. Dawneerangen says this higher rate

According to AfriSam national sales manager, Amit Dawneerangen, being in the 52.5R strength class gives Afrisam’s Rapid Hard Cement a substantially higher early strength at the same age as competitors’ products which fall into the 52.5N class and only needs to achieve 20 MPa within that time span. “This allows the manufactured concrete product to be released from the mould sooner, speeding up the production cycle and allowing the CPM factory more efficiency,” says Dawneerangen. “It is also vital that the strength performance is of AfriSam’s Rapid Hard Cement product, allowing concrete product manufacturers (CPMs) quicker turn- around times and confidence from one batch to the next.

of hydration also makes AfriSam Rapid Hard Cement suitable for use in cold weather conditions, as the high levels of heat generated by hydration can offset the retardation effect that low temperatures usually have on concrete. This characteristic also delivers a cost saving to CPMs, by reducing the time that products must be subject to heat curing; most of these precast products are heat treated for a number of hours to facilitate the hardening process. “In some applications, the performance of this cement reduces or even eliminates the heat curing stage, which could represent a substantial energy saving to the CPM,” he concludes. 

New grout technology

Condition monitoring experts increase capacity WearCheck’s oil analysis and reliability solutions services received a boost with the recent appointment of several professionals:

This multi-use high performance coloured mortar grouting may be used on widths from 1 – 15 mm. It is suited to ceramic, porcelain, marble, glass, mosaic and high absorption tiles for use both indoors in bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms and outdoors on patios, in pools, on balconies and on facades. It is available in three colour options, is flexible and waterproof and quick setting. The product’s Pure-Clean technology makes it very easy to clean and has high resistance to stains, in addition it shows no colour shading or carbonation commonly seen in grouting. Its Protect3 technology, the Ionic silver treatment incorporated into the product protects against microbiological growth, making it mould-resistant, bacteria-resistant and algae-resistant, all of which typically cause discoloration in current grouts available in the SA market. Saint-Gobain Weber recently put the new Premium Grout to the test, when they conducted product performance tests across the country. The objective was to test the workability, colour stability, stain resistance and waterproof properties of the product. The product was tested in a hotel kitchen, a This is the very first stain resistant grout, which has anti-fungal properties, available in South Africa. Weber’s Premium Grout incorporates both Protect3 and Pure- Clean technology. This is another innovative and easy-to- use tile grout, introduced by Saint-Gobain Weber.

Jacques Blignaut is the new chemist in WearCheck’s Pinetown laboratory. The capacity for this position has developed as the laboratory becomes busier due to the company’s expansion around Africa. Blignaut, who holds a Masters Degree in Chemistry, will also be assisting with research and development for WearCheck.

Paul Nhlapo has been promoted to handle business development and technical support for WearCheck Middelburg and the surrounding areas.

moisture-ridden bathroom, in a plant warehouse, and in a swimming pool in Cape Town & Durban, and in a corporate office environment in Johannesburg. In all tests the product performed as expected and showed colour consistency through-out, with superior stain resistance and no absorption of liquids when coffee was poured onto the dry grout. Premium Grout lives up to its name and

Jacoba Schwartz is WearCheck’s new agent in Kathu, covering the areas from Kuruman to Upington and surrounds, and develops sales, processes quotations and collects filled sample bottles to dispatch to the laboratory.

offers a range of benefits that no other product available on the South African market currently does. 

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2017