Monthly Archives: November 2025

Client Focus

CHRYSO DELIVERS SPECIALTY WATERPROOFING SOLUTIONS FOR CONCRETE AND BRIDGE STRUCTURES

As infrastructure networks age and traffic demands increase, the long term protection of bridges, overpasses, culverts and other critical concrete structures has become a top priority for engineers and contractors. 

Within the Saint-Gobain group, GCP’s internationally proven waterproofing technologies – available in South Africa through Chryso Southern Africa – are providing advanced solutions for both new construction and rehabilitation projects. These products, including BITUTHENE® 5000 and ELIMINATOR® Bridge Deck Waterproofing, are engineered to extend service life, improve safety and reduce costly maintenance on vital transport infrastructure.

BITUTHENE® 5000 is a heavy duty composite membrane developed for use beneath hot-applied asphalt concrete wearing courses. It incorporates a moisture and water resistant rubberised asphalt layer reinforced with a puncture and heat resistant polypropylene mesh, providing dimensional stability, flexibility and excellent adhesion. 

Supplied in rolls with a protective release paper for easy handling, the membrane is cold applied, requiring no heating or hot bitumen bedding. It is suitable for both new construction and repair applications, offering effective waterproofing for bridges, overpasses and other vehicular traffic structures as well as parking decks.

In rehabilitation projects, BITUTHENE® S5000 strips are recommended for restoring concrete pavements with asphalt overlays, preventing premature deterioration caused by reflection cracking and sub-base erosion. The membrane’s high resistance to water, combined with its ability to remain flexible over extreme service temperatures, ensures performance even during harsh winter cycling over small cracks. 

On structures where detailing is critical, BITUTHENE® Liquid Membranes and BITUTHENE® 5000 Mastic can be used to seal terminations, edges and overlaps, ensuring complete waterproofing integrity.

“BITUTHENE 5000 is designed with the realities of modern infrastructure projects in mind,” Andries Janse van Rensburg, Business Development Manager – Specialty Building Materials at Chryso Southern Africa, says. “Its robust construction, flexibility and proven ability to withstand extreme conditions make it a trusted choice for protecting concrete structures against water ingress and deterioration. The fact that it is cold applied means faster, safer and more consistent installation on site.”

The ELIMINATOR® Bridge Deck Waterproofing membrane offers equally impressive performance for steel and concrete bridges which are constantly exposed to water, chlorides and frost – conditions that can lead to deterioration and even structural failure. 

This cold spray-applied system is based on ESSELAC® advanced resin technology, creating a fully bonded composite layer between the bridge deck, waterproof membrane and asphalt surfacing. The result is a membrane that withstands punishing climate conditions and heavy traffic loads while maintaining its bond and integrity. 

ELIMINATOR® can be applied in virtually any climate, curing in just one hour even in high humidity or low temperatures, preventing costly weather delays and allowing for greater scheduling flexibility. A two colour application process enables on-the-spot quality assurance, while the membrane’s ability to withstand asphalt surfacing temperatures up to 250°C eliminates overcoating time constraints and accelerates project completion.

“ELIMINATOR has a proven global record of protecting thousands of bridges over decades of service,” Janse van Rensburg adds. “Its rapid curing time, adaptability to almost any climate and long term durability are significant advantages for contractors and road authorities who cannot afford prolonged closures or recurring maintenance. It is a cost effective way to protect the substantial investments made in these essential structures.”

With proven track records on thousands of bridge and concrete structures worldwide, both BITUTHENE® 5000 and ELIMINATOR® provide engineers and contractors with reliable long lasting waterproofing systems. Supplied in South Africa by Chryso Southern Africa, these GCP technologies safeguard critical infrastructure against water ingress, chloride attack and freeze-thaw damage, extending service life, enhancing safety and reducing the long term costs associated with maintenance and repair.

Client Focus

AFRICA WELCOMES FIRST-EVER FULLY ELECTRIC SANDVIK MOBILE CRUSHING PLANT

The African mining and aggregate industries are marking a major milestone with the arrival of the first fully electric Sandvik mobile crushing plant on the continent. Sold through Sandvik Rock Processing distributor, S&R Enterprises, the Sandvik UJ443E heavy jaw crushing plant has already been sold into the market, with significant interest building as the sector accelerates its move towards lower carbon, more cost effective operations.

“This is the first time Africa will see a Sandvik mobile plant built from the ground up on a fully electric track platform,” Jaco Benade, Distributor Manager at Sandvik Rock Processing, says. “It is a gamechanging development that helps customers cut operating costs while advancing their sustainability goals.”

Benade says the introduction of the fully electric mobile crushing plant is a step change in efficiency and sustainability. “A key differentiator of the Sandvik UJ443E is its energy flexibility,” he explains. “The unit can operate directly from the electrical grid, bringing customers considerable savings through reduced fuel costs, lower emissions and quieter operation. Where grid power is not available, it can switch to diesel or renewable biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).”

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By offering multiple energy pathways, the Sandvik UJ443E allows customers to adapt to site-specific conditions while preparing for the broader shift towards electrification in mining, quarrying and construction. Benade notes that where reliable grid electricity is available, operators can also benefit from extended drivetrain service intervals, leading to reduced downtime and lower lifecycle costs.

Proven Technology, New Platform

Built on a fully electric track platform, the Sandvik UJ443E is fitted with the proven CJ412 jaw crusher. This latest generation unit features smart technology for real-time performance monitoring and adjustment as well as an unblock facility that improves safety and reduces downtime. Other innovations include three-speed electric tracks for precise movement, a redesigned feed station with hydraulic tilt access for easier maintenance and a downstream 125 amp connection for integrating other electric equipment such as screening plants.

“This machine consumes about 90% less hydraulic fluid than its predecessors which means lower maintenance costs and a lighter environmental footprint,” Benade explains. “It also offers flexible configurations – from a vibrating grizzly feeder for clean rock to an under-screen option for fines removal.”

Market Preparation and Support

The first Sandvik UJ443E unit in Africa is already in preparation for delivery. To ensure seamless commissioning, Sandvik Rock Processing and S&R Enterprises have invested in advanced training for local service teams. A Sandvik factory technician will also be on site for the installation, guiding both distributor and customer teams through the process.

“Comprehensive lifecycle support underpins this introduction,” Benade says. “We have ensured that our distribution network is ready with spares, technical expertise and tailored aftermarket packages. The Sandvik My Fleet telematics will further enhance support by enabling remote diagnostics and performance monitoring.”

The arrival of the Sandvik UJ443E in Africa signals a turning point in mobile crushing technology on the continent. Customers can now access a solution that not only delivers on productivity but also drives progress toward decarbonisation and reduced operating costs.

“This first Sandvik UJ443E mobile crushing plant is just the beginning,” Benade concludes. “With the level of market interest we are seeing, we expect more units to be placed soon – helping reshape the future of mobile crushing in Africa.”

Client Focus

NEXT INTELLIGENT SOLUTIONS DRIVE SMARTER, MORE EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE

Leveraging the power of data and digital technology, Weir’s NEXT Intelligent Solutions have been benefiting customers through performance and condition monitoring – allowing performance optimisation and preventing unplanned downtime.

Using Insight – one of three packages within NEXT Intelligent Solutions – a customer was recently able to gain the visibility they needed into the separation process on their hydrocyclones, according to Marina Eskola, Director of Digital Solutions Management at Weir.

“We created the Insight package to give our customers clearer visibility into their plant processes by providing real-time data flow,” says Eskola. “When applied to hydrocyclone operations, this package includes a solution called roping index monitoring, which focuses on tracking the hydrocyclone’s separation efficiency.”

She describes how Weir was able to monitor the throughput and separation efficiency of the customers’ hydrocyclones, as well as the roping index. 

“We observed that the figures were consistently low for a specific material size which prompted the customer to take a closer look,” she says. “The root cause was traced and resolving it only required a relatively simple adjustment. Without the visibility offered by Insight, however, identifying where to direct the investigation would have been far more challenging.”

The long-term value of this adjustment was significant, enabling the customer to optimise both the hydrocyclone’s separation efficiency and throughput, ultimately improving recoveries. In another example, this time focused on equipment condition, she highlights the benefits of vibration monitoring on a pump. In that instance, elevated vibration levels and temperatures were detected, signalling a potential issue.

“The customer took immediate action and was able to prevent a bearing failure that could have led to six to ten hours of unplanned downtime,” she says. “The production loss from such a disruption would have been significant, but thanks to NEXT Intelligent Solutions, it was completely avoided.”

These predictive insights do more than just protect components and equipment from damage and unplanned downtime – they also enable more effective planning of maintenance strategies, she explains. In turn, better maintenance contributes to a lower total cost of ownership for the equipment, she adds.

Insight, along with Uptime and Production, make up the three packages in NEXT Intelligent Solutions. Each package aligns with a stage in the journey that customers can take in partnership with Weir towards smart and more sustainable mining. These tools leverage real-time data in making informed decisions, applying cutting-edge sensing technologies and boosting operational efficiency.

“Weir partners with customers to help them unlock increasing value from this intelligent technology as they advance through each stage of implementation,” she says.

While the Insight package gives the customer access to vital information about equipment performance and condition, Uptime allows customers to extend the operational lifetime of their equipment. Predictive capabilities are added, so that forecasts can be made of the remaining useful lifetime of critical components. 

The third package, NEXT Production, then allows customers to maximise their process efficiency with AI-powered optimisation. Taking the data gathered through the Insights and Uptime packages, it gives recommendations to metallurgists, process engineers and operators based on their operational priorities.