Saudi Arabia - Saudi Readymix sponsored the second workshop on Concrete Deterioration and its Prevention, organised by the Centre for Engineering Research at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). The workshop was opened by H.E. Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM.
The workshop highlighted a potentially industry changing advancement in concrete technology, self-compacting concrete (SCC), and shed some light on its numerous applications throughout the construction industry. Willfried Krieg, Saudi Readymix's Technical Director, presented an in-depth look at SCC to an audience of 150 industry professionals, including H.E. Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM.
"With the ability to flow freely within formwork (molds), expel entrapped air and set itself, SCC has been described as the most revolutionary development in concrete technology in several decades," said Mr. Krieg. "This technology is especially significant for GCC countries where the construction boom is still going strong and construction deadlines are getting tighter. SCC is a great solution and can meet the needs of these fast paced projects as it reduces the requirements for both equipment and manpower and speeds up construction."
Saudi Arabia is a prime market for a product like SCC, and has already been successfully developed by Saudi Readymix and supplied to several landmark projects, including Al-Sweiket Tower in Khobar, the tallest building in the Eastern Province.
"The construction market, like any market, is evolving with the times," said Fadi Mujahed, Marketing Director at Saudi Readymix. "Saudi Readymix is one of the few ready-mixed companies in the Kingdom that continue to invest in the development and research of new products that will change and influence the construction market as a whole."
"There are numerous technical advantages to the use of SCC in comparison to conventional concrete", explained Mr. Krieg. "One of the main technical advantages is the uniform and complete compaction SCC offers which results in smooth, dense, and abrasion-resistant concrete surfaces. Improved durability due to high concrete densities at minimized air voids and extremely low permeability is another significant advantage. A third advantage is the increased bond strength between concrete and reinforcement, which has been confirmed by tests to be 50-70 percent higher in SCC than in thoroughly compacted conventional concrete."
"Technological advantages are not the only benefits of using SCC," added Mr. Krieg. "There are also numerous economical benefits to using this new technology, including payroll savings, as the entire compaction crew is obsolete and finishing works are greatly simplified and require fewer workers. It can also help increase the speed of work as the number of layers in vertical formworks is reduced. SCC can also help eliminate capital investment as well as the operating and maintenance costs of vibration equipment."
"SCC has been developed, tested and adopted as the primary construction material for all applications in numerous international markets. We hope to bring the benefits SCC provides to our customers all across the Kingdom thereby containing the locally prevailing risk of premature deterioration of concrete structures," concluded Mr. Krieg.
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About Saudi Readymix
Saudi Readymix is the leading producer and supplier of ready-mixed concrete and related products in Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1978 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khalid Ali Alturki & Sons group of companies (Alturki Group), a leading industrial conglomerate.
Saudi Readymix employs a total workforce of over 2,000 managerial, administrative, technical and operational staff. Its teams of technical experts offer technical advice and assistance to customers throughout the Kingdom. They operate local, regional and central laboratories, which develop mix designs, conduct routine testing and analysis on its concrete products and research new products under development. They also conduct in-house technical training of all its employees.
Since its establishment, Saudi Readymix has worked on an impressive array of prestigious projects for both the public and the private sectors. Most of the Company's stations are officially approved as suppliers to major governmental and industrial authorities, such as Saudi Aramco, SEC, SABIC, the Royal Commission, MoDA, among others.
The Company's network of plants and stations are strategically located throughout the Kingdom in order to cover all major commercial and industrial areas, including: Dammam, Sihat, Aziziyah, Hofuf, Jubail, Khafji, Khursaniyah, Riyadh North, Riyadh South, Riyadh West, Al-Kharj, Jeddah North, Jeddah South, Jeddah Briman, Makkah, Madina, Rabigh and Yanbu.
The Company currently operates the largest fleet of ready-mixed concrete equipment in the country with over 380 truck mixers and 130 mobile pumps.
Its products include an immense library of concrete recipes, many of which are unique to the Company; hot mix asphalt; quarry products and concrete masonry units.
Issued on behalf of Saudi Readymix Concrete Company by Hill & Knowlton.
For more information, please contact:
Sami Amin
Tel: +97317533532
Fax: +97317533370
E-mail: sami.amin@hillandknowlton.com
© Press Release 2007
