Press Releases

Resin flooring is the flooring of choice for industrial applications, including manufacturing and warehousing due to the excellent performance characteristics and ability to provide a seamless, hygienic, durable and slip-resistant floor. Other industries such as the food processing sector, present a diverse range of industrial environments that can be aggressive to flooring and a damaged floor can reduce efficiency, cause personal injury and lead to unhygienic conditions. The high cost of re-installing a floor in terms of disruption, inconvenience and loss of production makes it important to get the floor right first time. This requires a thorough understanding of the environment, the best possible design and the choice of the most suitable product for the job. Even with the correct floor design and finish specified, the correct installer is needed to make the floor work.

If concrete is not sealed, especially in wet processing areas, spalling can occur where the trowelled layer wears away. Water containing high levels of chlorine, acids and food products will also attack unsealed or uncovered concrete. Exposed aggregate is a potential home for microbes where they will be extremely difficult to remove. A correctly specified resin floor appropriate for the conditions under which it will be used can provide a seamless surface with greatly enhanced performance compared to the concrete base on which it is applied by withstanding heavy mechanical loads over long periods, helping to prevent slips and trips, protecting the substrate from the ingress of liquids and remaining hygienic and easy to clean.

Resin flooring offers a number of advantages from a hygiene point of view:

Easy to clean and disinfect: As with all floors, good housekeeping and the correct cleaning regimes are important, but a dense, seamless, resin flooring will facilitate easier cleaning. Many resin floors are unaffected by abuse from the use of water, cleaners, sanitisers, acids and lubricants and some are designed to be regularly steam cleaned. Continuous impermeable surfaces allow the minimum of joints where dirt and bacteria can collect. An almost unlimited range of colours means that corporate identities can be maintained and separate zones and walkways easily identified within the factory.

Impervious and non-absorbent: Correctly specified resin flooring is effectively impermeable to water and non-absorbent, unlike concrete, which is inherently porous.

Washable: Many resin flooring systems can be pressure washed at 60°C (sufficient to disperse most contaminants), and some grades are fully steam cleanable up to 120°C.

Durable: With a strong, permanent bond to the concrete base and a minimum requirement for joints, resin flooring reduces the possibility of mechanical breakdown and facilitates maintenance. As a consequence, there are resin floors in arduous environments still giving good service after 15 to 20 years. Resin flooring types are available that are slip resistant, even when wet, and are resistant to abrasion, impact from dropped equipment and tools, fork-lift traffic and pallet trucks.

Versatile: A variety of different types of synthetic resins are available to form the binder of a flooring system. These include epoxy, polyurethane, methacrylate and polyaspartic resins. Different resin types give different combinations of application characteristics and in-service performance and the considerations which affect the selection of a particular type should be discussed with the specifier.

Sustainable: Synthetic resin flooring is extremely tough and durable and can have a life expectancy in excess of 20 years when specified and installed correctly. In such cases, the majority of the life cycle cost will be in regular cleaning and maintenance. However, resin flooring is easier to clean than most types of flooring and a wide range of high-performance, specially formulated cleaning products are available to help with the job. The choice of good cleaning chemicals is key to success. In addition, resin flooring can generally be refurbished by overcoating with a lower thickness than applied originally.

Fosroc are delighted to announce the launch of Nitoflor PAFS. Nitoflor PAFS is a new and innovative low odour, taint-free polyaspartic-based high build floor coating system. This FeRFA Type 3 system, offers the user a seamless and durable surface finish that can have anti-slip aggregates, flakes or coloured quartz incorporated within it. Nitoflor PAFS is fast curing – around 1 hour per coat depending on temperature. Unlike traditional fast curing resin flooring systems, Nitoflor PAFS creates very little odour on application, and as it has been certified as having no potential to taint by Campden BRI, this makes it ideal for use in food and beverage projects. Nitoflor PAFS can be used internally and externally, and it is this versatility that makes it an excellent choice for a variety of commercial and industrial flooring projects.

About Fosroc
Fosroc delivers cutting-edge and innovative constructive solutions globally, backed by over 80 years
of British manufacturing heritage. As a single-source manufacturer of construction materials, Fosroc
offers a superior level of quality assurance, knowledge, continuity, and technical support. Working
closely alongside architects, structural engineers, contractors and owners, bespoke solutions are
developed using a range of long-lasting and low maintenance products.

• Admixtures
• Adhesives
• Protective Coatings
• Concrete Repairs
• Industrial Flooring- Grouts & Anchors
• Joint Sealants
• Surface Treatments
• Grinding Aids
• Waterproofing

For further information please contact Chris Orme on 07747 762 277 / chris.orme@fosroc.com

The new Swansea Arena, opened earlier this year, has been described as the ‘crowning jewel’ of a £135m regeneration of the Swansea marine frontage. This new facility is part of a wider £1 billion scheme to rejuvenate the city as a whole and provide an exciting new focus for business and leisure.

The Arena is now fully operational and hosting major international acts from The Kaiser Chiefs to Will Young and Rhod Gilbert. However, the first thing anyone will notice as they enter the foyer of the building is the very impressive polished concrete floor. In fact, there are 1,633sq metres of polished concrete throughout entrance and the main concourse.

“This is polished concrete with a difference – a distinctive red, high gloss finish, with aggregate exposed,” says Mark Jackson, TPS360’s Sales Director for the Central, North and East Regions. “It does look absolutely stunning and it was achieved without the use of acrylic or any other top layer. The high gloss appearance is achieved by diamond polishing with our remote controlled, planetary grinding machines, according to our technique perfected over more than ten years. I would say that our experience in the field of polished concrete is unique, and it is very strongly highlighted on this project. Like most major projects, there have been challenges along the way, but part of what we do is to overcome challenges and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be involved in this landmark development for Wales.”

It was TPS360’s experience and excellent project portfolio which opened the door for them on this project initially. The company worked with the main contractor from a very early stage to develop the spec and to bring to reality the architect’s specification for polished concrete. This high level of involvement is typical of the way that TPS360 works with partners on construction projects and in this case it also enabled the company to win the contract for 4,300sq metres of resin flooring in addition to the polished concrete areas.

TPS360 specified and installed a FeRFA Type 5 Resin system throughout, including the main arena, kitchens, corridors, both indoor and outdoor stairs, dressing rooms and back of house areas. 

“This project was unusual in featuring significant areas of both polished concrete and resin on the one job,” says Mark Jackson. “We put a FeRFA Type 5 solution forward, as it is the hardest-wearing of the decorative resins and is often used in arena applications. It looks great and will keep looking good for at least ten years, given an appropriate cleaning regime.’’

The advantages of polished concrete on the other hand include the fact that it will last up to 25 years, with very little ongoing maintenance and the cleaning process is environmentally friendly, requiring only water and a diamond pad.

The appropriate maintenance procedures will ensure that both the polished concrete and the resin flooring areas at Swansea Arena, installed by TPS360, will look outstanding for many years to come, so that this remains a popular venue within the cultural landscape of South Wales for many years to come.

The architects on the project were ACME and AFL, and the main contractor was Buckingham Group Contracting.

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CONICA will become the new track partner of European Athletics as of 2023. Conica and EA are jointly pursuing the goal of further developing and advancing the sport of Track & Field. Both parties want to benefit from each other’s know-how and experience. The track manufacturer and the association want to set new standards, especially in the field of athletics track research and development. These are intended to benefit track and field athletes in all disciplines in order to support their performance, while at the same time protecting their musculoskeletal system.

European Athletics has 51 national members, including the world’s largest national association, the German Athletics Association (DLV). Conica was able to conclude a cooperation agreement with the DLV only last year. Conica is one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of in-situ (The system components are delivered in liquid form and processed and cast on site by trained workforce) athletics running tracks (formerly known as tartan tracks). The Swiss manufacturer’s running tracks are installed in numerous well-known stadiums, such as the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, the Stade Louis II in Monaco and the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Conica is also a partner of the Diamond League events in Zurich, Lausanne and Monaco. Every year, the company equips around 100 stadiums worldwide with its technology. 

Research and development in close coordination with the athletes

Conica CCO Lara Guillod: “The cooperation with the European Athletics organisation is in line with our corporate strategy, especially since this year as we have started focusing even more strongly on international expansion in the sports & leisure sector. We can offer system solutions in sports facility construction that can be tailored to both climatic conditions and the desired sports characteristics.”

Julio Fernando Fadel, Head of Marketing & Communication adds: “The cooperation with EA enables us to work more intensively than before with the end users of athletics tracks (athletes, coaching teams, event organisers and federations).  It allows us to make them aware of the technical and qualitative differences of the respective tracks so that they can use them for their benefit, maximizing their performance both in training and competition.”

About Conica

Conica has been developing and manufacturing innovative seamless flooring solutions based on polyurethane and epoxy resins for sports, games, leisure as well as other areas for over 40 years. Conica is one of the world’s market leaders and innovation drivers in this field. The user-oriented requirements for technical and sports functional performance, as well as usability while guaranteeing health aspects of the material itself and for the user, are the focus of product development. Conica is part of the Serafin group of companies based in Munich.

Surface preparation, removal and finishing operations
generate dust. As the one-stop-shop for surface
preparation projects from 5m2 to 50,000m2, there’s no
dust on us here at The Preparation Group when it comes
to dust extraction.

Our machines, equipment and professional teams tackle
projects in factories, warehouses, power plants and
more industrial facilities; and as such we are acutely
aware of and vigilant about the hazardous, and
potentially toxic, risks of dust.

Click here for more information.

Husqvarna Construction has launched the first wave of its recently rebranded Blastrac and Diamatic surface preparation product range. The fully integrated offering including floor scrapers, scarifiers and floor grinders are available to order in all key markets.

Click here for more information.

Mapei has re-opened its Specification Centre – Mapei World London City – following a full refurbishment. The dedicated specification space, at 6 Great Sutton Street in the heart of Clerkenwell, showcases Mapei’s extensive range of products and systems for all stages of construction. The striking new space features a new ‘zoned’ interior design, new product installations and displays by the Mailen Design team and Contractors, Heydon & Carr.

Mapei’s newly refurbished centre flows through three zones: Welcome – a social and inspirational area; Learning – featuring finished product displays and CPD space and Technical – which includes larger meeting spaces and technical support resources.  The contemporary white design is punctuated with colourful furniture and gallery-style sample displays; key finished products feature throughout application and display areas, from the bespoke Ultratop Loft micro-cement flooring to an eye-catching grout installation which features the latest shades in the new range. Wall coating and cementitious flooring samples are displayed in a wide colour spectrum and the technical area features a range of construction samples for systems ‘beneath the surface’.

Mapei specialists are available to provide product advice, samples and recommend the best solutions for all project sectors, helping solve challenges at every stage of construction – from foundation to roof.

Many of Mapei’s 23 individual product lines are represented at Mapei World London City. They include systems for the installation of ceramic and stone tiles, products for the installation of resilient, textile and wood flooring, cementitious and resin flooring, protective and decorative wall coatings, products for masonry repair, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, waterproofing, roofing, marine, structural strengthening and concrete repair – and many more niche offers including admixtures for concrete, tunnelling and grinding aids.  Celebrating its 85^th Anniversary this year, Mapei is now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the building industry and has contributed to the construction of some of the most important architectural and infrastructural works worldwide. For more information, please contact: info@mapei.co.uk or find more about the Specification Centre here.

During 2022, Husqvarna Construction will launch its new range
of versatile H-class dust extractors. Created to complement
working with grinders, power cutters, drill motors and other
light construction equipment, the five dust extractors in the
range include two battery driven models and are designed
to contribute to a healthier working environment while
increasing productivity.

For further details click here