mc in brazil: a success story
TRANSCRIPT
MC Inside
Dr. Ekkehard zur Mühlen Joins Executive Board Page 3
MC News
Old Bridge Given a Face Lift Page 5
MC News
Pure Drinking Water for Lower Austria Page 9
MC Innovation
Heritage Conservation – With Cement-Free Renders Page 11
MC Report
MC in Brazil: A Success Story
THE MAGAZINE FOR
EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS
OF MC-BAUCHEMIE
1-2014
Page 6
2 | MC aktiv 1_2014
Contents
Credits
Cover photo
production, sales, distribution and personnel, and will need to adapt our
structures accordingly. Dr. Ekkehard zur Mühlen has been appointed as
our new Commercial Director to further secure and extend the success-
ful development of MC as we move forward.
As usual, you will find a range of interesting features in this issue con-
cerning current MC activities and new products. We report on prestig-
ious projects in Berlin and Equatorial Guinea and impressive undertak-
ings in the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. We also tell of exciting
technical developments such as our new surface coating for agricultural
structures MC-PowerPro HCR, our new cement-free “historic” renders, and
our MRT technology*.
I wish you continued success this year – and an enjoyable read!
Kind regards,
Dr.-Ing. Claus-M. Müller
2014 is a big year for sport, with
our company making its own mod-
est contribution. Many MC prod-
ucts were used in the construction
of the sports facilities for the Winter
Olympics in Sochi, as reported in
our last issue of MC aktiv. And now,
as we approach summer, all eyes
are on Brazil with excitement build-
ing for the FIFA Football World Cup.
Here again, the technical expertise
of MC has been in high demand for the construction, repair and restora-
tion of stadiums and infrastructure. Hence, in this issue, we are focusing
on the country famed for its Sugarloaf Mountain – with a special feature
on our Brazilian company and its activities.
Last year saw our group of companies undergo further growth, a trend
that we aim to maintain. We shall be further expanding our capacities in
Dear Reader,
Publisher:MC-Bauchemie Müller
GmbH & Co. KG
Am Kruppwald 1-8
46238 Bottrop, Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 20 41/1 01-0
Fax +49 (0) 20 41/1 01-688
www.mc-bauchemie.de
Responsible for content/Conception:
Saki Moysidis
Editorial role and design:
mediengruppe essen,
Essen
Our cover photo shows the legendary Estádio
Municipal do Maracanã, or Maracanã Stadium
for short, located in the Brazilian metropolis of
Rio de Janeiro. This venue, used for the final of
the 1950 Football World Cup, is one of the most
famous soccer stadiums in the world. Now it is to
be the principal venue for the 2014 World Cup –
with the final once again being played here. The
stadium was extensively expanded, upgraded and
refurbished for this special role, with MC supplying
tailored repair and protection systems to meet
the many and varied construction demands. Thus
MC, too, has contributed to making this famous
stadium fit and ready for its upcoming major
appearance on the world stage. (Photo: ME/Portal
da Copa).
MC Inside3 Dr. Ekkehard zur Mühlen Joins
Executive Board
… to secure the successful development of MC.
MC News4 Berlin Service Centre – Construction
Site Service in Germany’s Capital In Berlin, too, MC is a trusted partner in the
support of major construction projects.
5 Old Bridge Given a Face Lift MC product systems applied for the repair and
restoration of a pedestrian bridge in the Czech
Republic.
9 Pure Drinking Water for Lower Austria High-tech surface protection from MC protects
potable water tank in Hinterbrühl tower.
12 Automatic Repair of Manholes Fully automated application system for the long-
term protection of manhole shafts in Pulheim.
13 Mobile MRT* System for Hire Manhole rehabilitation “to go” with the MRT truck.
13 Concrete Additives for Equatorial Guinea MC superplasticisers used in the expansion of
Mongomeyen Airport.
14 Fast Systems Required MC and Botament work in tandem on demanding
refurbishment project for a REWE supermarket.
MC Report6 MC in Brazil: A Success Story
For over 12 years now, MC has been doing suc-
cessful business in the country hosting the 2014
Football World Cup.
8 “Right Place, Right Time” Interview with Jacques Pinto, MC Managing
Director in Brazil.
MC Innovation10 High Chemical Resistance for
Agricultural Structures
A new surface coating system from MC protects
concrete agricultural structures.
11 Conserving History – With Cement-Free Renders
“Historic” for heritage-listed structures.
MC Personnel15 Welcome to the Team
New employees at MC-Bauchemie.
15 New: Compliance Directive and Compliance Officer
MC code of conduct provides orientation
for day-to-day activities.
*MRT = Manhole Rehabilitation Technology by HDT
MC Editorial
MC aktiv 1_2014 | 3
MC InsideMC Inside
He was previously CFO of the
Renolit Group, a global leader in
the manufacture of high-grade
plastic film, sheeting and other
plastic products, where he held
executive responsibility for finance
and accounting, performance
management, legal affairs, IT and
mergers & acquisitions. “We are
delighted to have engaged Dr.
Ekkehard zur Mühlen as Commer-
cial Director of MC-Bauchemie. He
offers an excellent combination
of technical expertise, financial
know-how and extensive experi-
ence as a CFO. With him on board,
I feel sure we can look forward to
securing the long-term, success-
ful further development of MC,”
says Dr. Claus-M. Müller, Manag-
ing Partner of MC-Bauchemie.
“MC is an international group of
companies experiencing dynamic
growth that offers huge poten-
tial and an interesting range of
responsibilities. I am confident
of being able to make a tangible
contribution here with my expe-
rience and expertise,” says Dr. zur
Mühlen on surveying his new
challenge.
During his first few months, he
visited the individual companies
of the MC Group, a number of
production facilities and various
specialist departments, familiaris-
ing himself step by step with his
new field of activity. “MC is a multi-
faceted and regionally diversified
organisation. So my task at the
moment is to listen, ask questions
and acquire as much information
as I can in order to gain an over-
view of the company’s situation
and understand the interrelation-
ships that exist,” Dr. zur Mühlen
explains.
At the beginning of January, his
expertise and experience in the
field of mergers & acquisitions was
already in demand. He success-
fully completed the purchase of
shares in companies in the Middle
East. He also visited various MC
companies abroad.
His intention in the coming
months is to further consolidate
his knowledge base so that he
can engage more effectively in
his fields of responsibility and the
strategies pursued by the busi-
ness units. The strategic objective
overall is to identify further growth
possibilities and then to apply the
appropriate measures in leverag-
ing that potential. He will thus be
actively involved in the organisa-
tional expansion of the MC Group
as well as in various financing
projects. “In the coming months, I
will also be subjecting our report-
ing system to an in-depth analy-
Dr. Ekkehard zur Mühlen Joins Executive Board
Effective January 1, 2014, Dr. Ekkehard zur Mühlen joined MC-Bauchemie Müller GmbH Co. KG, Bottrop/Germany, as its new Commercial Director with special responsibility for mergers & acquisitions. Some of the countries in which the MC Group is active also fall under his directorship.
Dr. Ekkehard zur Mühlen (46)
studied physics at the Universities
of Bonn and Newcastle/Australia,
gaining his PhD in experimental
physics. Having held posts in
sales and product management,
he joined a major rigid plastics
film manufacturer where he was
ultimately responsible for the
Treasury, Corporate Finance and
Investor Relations departments.
Over the same period, he also
completed a career-based Execu-
tive MBA course at a renowned
business school. Around the
middle of 2006, this father of
three children latterly moved to
the Renolit Group where he was
initially Head of Group Financial
Control, later to be appointed to
the position of CFO. His respon-
sibilities included the creation of
administrative group structures
for this rapidly growing company,
managing global M&A projects
and assisting with the interna-
tional expansion of the group
organisation.
A brief introduction
Did you know that …… MC started in Brazil with 15 employees in 2001, and now boasts a workforce of
over 250 people?
MC Inside
sis,” says Dr. zur Mühlen, adding:
“Applying the usual MC passion
to get things done, Dr. Müller
and I want to manage the Group
together with the aim of adding
further chapters to the MC suc-
cess story.”
MC Aktuell
| MC aktiv 1_20144 | MC aktiv 1_20144
MC News
Berlin is booming. Planning and
construction is happening every-
where. Trusted partners and good
products are therefore in high
demand among clients, archi-
tects, specifiers and contractors
alike. MC’s Service Centre in Berlin
is well known not just for its tech-
nical know-how and its high qual-
ity, innovative systems but also for
its first-class support capability. “We
see ourselves as a partner to our
customers on site, recommending
to them solutions that they require
in order to execute their projects to
optimum effect,” says Simon Strat-
mann, Regional Sales Manager at
CC. Good contacts with site man-
agers and contractors are success-
fully further extended with each
beneficial collaboration. Prod-
uct systems from MC are currently
being used for many construction
projects in Berlin. “Our concrete cos-
metic products are still our bread-
and-butter business here in Berlin.
We have seen a significant increase
in demand for our Emcoril curing
agents. Also, our admixtures – par-
ticularly our PCEs* – are in very high
demand,” reports field sales rep-
resentative Detlef Pfaff, who sup-
ports a number of high-prestige
construction projects in the greater
Berlin area.
CityCube BerlinOne capital project in every sense
is the CityCube Berlin. This multi-
functional exhibition, conference
and events arena is being built in
order to upgrade the Berlin Exhi-
bition Centre to enable it to com-
pete more effectively for congress
business. It is designed for events
with up to 10,000 participants. The
site managers and contractors have
specified the releasing agent Orto-
lan SEP 711 for this major project.
As a classic separating product
for site usage, it is ideal for a wide
range of different types of form-
work and shuttering, enabling
problem-free demoulding with
zero adhesion.
Bikini BerlinIn the case of the “Bikinihaus”, a well-
known, transparent retail and office
building with a roof landscape, the
project involved the restoration of
extensive areas of fair face concrete.
MC-Rost-Ex, the cleaning agent for-
mulated to remove rust stains from
concrete surfaces, and the polymer
additive Repacryl, designed to fur-
ther upgrade the appearance of
the concrete cosmetic filler used,
together produced surfaces of radi-
ant splendour. Prior to this work,
MC had familiarised the applicators
in a concrete cosmetics training
course. In the field of concrete cos-
metics, MC offers not only cement-
bound, polymer-modified fillers of
various colours and grades but also
additives to improve certain prop-
erties, as well as especially devel-
oped application tools.
Federal Ministry for the InteriorMC supplied a range of concrete
cosmetic products for repair of the
fair face concrete and improvement
of the overall look of a new build
commissioned by Germany’s Fed-
eral Ministry for the Interior. Due to
particularly high security require-
ments, delivery proved to be a chal-
lenge. In addition to concrete cos-
metic fillers of various grades, the
easy-to-apply and quickly loadable
screed mortar Estrifan SN 60 T was
used to satisfy the requirements
placed on the floor surfaces.
[email protected] [email protected]
Berlin Service Centre –Construction Site Service in Germany’s CapitalGermany’s capital city is expe-riencing an economic upturn – with the construction industry also benefiting. MC products are currently being used in a number of major construction sites. Here, we report on a cou-ple of selected projects being supported by the CC busi-ness unit of our Berlin Service Centre.
In Winter, the Berlin Service Centre again
held a number of specialist seminars for site
managers and supervisors, informing them
of the latest technical developments and
demonstrating practical product application
techniques.
Berlin Service CentreCityCube Berlin
*PCE = Polycarboxylat ether-based admixtures
5MC aktiv 1_2014 |
MC News
Located near the town of Har-
rachov is a reinforced concrete
bridge that takes foot traffic over
the river Lužnice. Since its con-
struction in 1940/41, this bridge in
its idyllic, green setting – particu-
larly popular with hikers – under-
went only minimal maintenance,
i.e. a new coat of paint every now
and then. However, the tide of
time and heavy flooding in 2002
had weakened the fabric of the
bridge to such an extent that care-
ful, extensive repair and restoration
became increasingly urgent. In
2013, the city of Tabor made mon-
ies available to enable the bridge
to be returned to its former glory.
Reliable systemsIn April 2013, the old railings and
the paving were removed and the
substructure cleaned up and pre-
pared using high-pressure water
jetting. CFRP panels were then
adhesive-bonded in place to pro-
vide reinforcement and stabilisa-
tion. The contractor Libor Ryba, a
long-standing MC customer, used
the duromer MC-DUR 1280 for the
job. This two-component epoxy-
resin-based adhesive develops
high mechanical strength very
quickly, even at low temperatures.
In order to select suitable systems
for the concrete repairs, trials were
also carried out with MC’s Nafu-
fill product system, the results of
which appropriately impressed
both the client and the planning
engineers.
As a result, Nafufill KM 110 was
used to level the non-pedestrian
(i.e. unloaded) surfaces. The poly-
mer-modified fine mortar offers
high water retention capacity and
application flexibility, making it
ideal for the job. It is also resist-
ant to freeze/thaw and thermal
cycling. The bridge copings and
substructure were completely
reprofiled with Nafufill KM 250.
Further structurally relevant com-
ponents were refurbished using
MC’s fibre-reinforced PCC concrete
repair and replacement. The sys-
tem is resistant to de-icing salt and
chloride-proof and exhibits a high
degree of resistance to carbona-
tion. It can thus be relied upon to
protect the reinforcing steel. It is
also fire-resistant and structurally
effective.
Excellent protection for the coming yearsFinally, Nafufill BS was also applied
as a surface protection coat. The
ready-to-use, pigmented system
is non-flammable, weather-resist-
ant, UV-stable, and resistant to
acids, alkalis and salt solutions. It
is highly resistant to carbonation
and open to water vapour diffu-
sion. It can also be used in the de-
icing salt spray zone. For the first
time in the Czech Republic, the
unique surface protection system
MC-DUR 2496 CTP was used for
the bridge deck, offering not only
high mechanical strength but also
excellent application properties.
These allow it to be brushed, rolled
or sprayed onto the recipient sur-
face. MC-DUR 2496 CTP also exhib-
its a relatively long pot life yet
offers all the advantages of accel-
erated curing once applied, and is
particularly effective in the pres-
ence of moisture and low temper-
atures. The product is quickly over-
workable and excels in terms of
its high scratch, scuff and abrasion
resistance.
Thanks to advanced technologies
combined with excellent coordina-
tion and collaboration, hikers using
the bridge with its brand-new
steel railings will be unaware of its
age. And, for the next 70 years or
so, they can be sure that it will take
them safely over the Lužnice.
Old Bridge Given a Face Lift After 70 years of use, a pedestrian bridge over the Czech river Lužnice had to be completed refurbished. Product systems from MC were used to ensure that the bridge is properly protected for decades to come.
Did you know that …… Brazil is around 24 times
the size of Germany?
Before and after photos that tell a story:
After 70 years, the reinforced concrete
bridge for pedestrians has been superbly
rehabilitated for the coming decades follow-
ing a major repair and restoration project.
| MC aktiv 1_20146 | MC aktiv 1_20146
MC Report
The 2014 FIFA Football World Cup is almost upon us. Around the world, all eyes will be on Brazil in the coming weeks and months, with the beauty of this multi-faceted country also very much on show. MC-Bauchemie recognised early on the potential of Brazil as an emerging economic power and has been represented there by its own company since 2001, giving more than 12 years of success to look back on.
MC-Bauchemie Brazil was estab-
lished in September 2001 with a
small production facility in Taboão
da Serra near São Paulo and a team
of 15 employees. Since then, the
company has undergone some
quite dynamic expansion. Today,
MC Brazil has two major production
facilities with their own sales teams
and more than 250 employees in
all. The two operations in Vargem
Grande Paulista near São Paulo
and in Vitória de Santo Antão
near Recife (see MC aktiv 3/2012)
produced more than 60,000 metric
tons of additives in 2013. Since its
inception, MC Brazil has gradually
expanded its product range and
has bedded in well with its sales
divisions attached to Protection
Technologies (PT) and Construction
Chemicals (CC). The growth of the
Brazilian economy led to a true con-
MC in Brazil: A Success Story
partners tangible added value
while also contributing to the high
standard of quality encountered in
the construction, protection and
repair of structures and buildings in
Brazil. The company's partnership
network is nurtured in an approach
seldom encountered in Brazil. Con-
sequently, MC is highly regarded
and has grown its share of some
markets to as much as 25%. “These
achievements are down to the
entire team and its ability to work
together, from sales through to the
laboratory – ensuring that contact
people are constantly available, and
carrying out their responsibilities
with meticulous care and tireless
commitment,” says Jaques Pinto,
MC’s Managing Director in Brazil.
MC’s contribution to the Football World CupThis is also apparent in the exten-
sive restoration work undertaken at
the legendary Maracanã Stadium,
one of the main venues of the
2014 FIFA Football World Cup and
showcase for the final (see MC aktiv
1/2013). Cooperating closely with
the construction consortium and
the planning engineers, MC found
solutions to a wide range of techni-
cal construction problems encoun-
tered in the project, convincing
those responsible of its extensive
competence in both the building
and repair of stadiums.
Satisfying the hunger for energyThe Brazilian energy sector is also
booming. A major portion of the
electricity required in order to
satisfy the growing hunger for
energy encountered in Brazil’s
economic centres is generated
in the water-rich regions of the
country. MC is working for a
number of renowned energy
utilities, helping with construction
and restoration work at various
power plant megaprojects. The
company’s expertise and large
quantities of MC additives, spe-
cifically aligned to the prevailing
climatic, geological and techno-
logical conditions encountered,
have been utilised, for example,
for the huge Jirau Dam project
(see MC aktiv 1/2013). In addition,
numerous “old” reservoir dams
have been rehabilitated using
MC product systems as part of a
major governmental investment
programme. MC Brazil is able to
offer precisely the pool of project-
specific know-how required; both
the CC business unit and PT have
corresponding specialist teams,
each led by a manager who acts
as the key point contact for cus-
tomers throughout the country.
There is also extensive knowledge
and experience exchange at the
international level between all
MC’s experts from which custom-
ers in Brazil likewise benefit.
struction boom, particularly in the
infrastructure and energy sectors –
both of which require partners like
MC. Client trust in the company's
abilities quickly grew. As in other
parts of the world, MC is known in
Brazil not only for its high-quality
product portfolio and tailored
solutions but also for its application
know-how and first-class support
and advisory services. Its custom-
ers include ready-mix concrete
manufacturers, concrete precasters,
planning engineers, architects and
specifiers, property developers and
energy utility companies.
The MC Brazil recipe: competence and customer focusWith applicator qualification train-
ing courses and a range of other
instruction events all available in
the local language, MC offers its
Who’s who at MC BrazilMC Brazil’s management team numbers nine, of whom most have
been with MC for several years – with some even going back to 2001
when the company was founded. José Roberto Saleme is Head of PT,
Shingiro Tokudome manages the CC unit, Juan Silvano is responsible
for the Botament business in Brazil, Rafael Capella is Head of Finance,
Thais Alves runs Research & Development, Gabriel Castanho is Head
of Production, Samanta Miranda is responsible for Purchasing, Marcos
Eggers manages Logistics/Infrastructure and Vivian Luna is Head of
Human Resources.
MC aktiv 1_2014 | 7
Strong growth in wind powerWind power is currently the
energy source exhibiting the
highest rate of expansion. Wind
generator capacity has multiplied
and continues to grow rapidly.
MC has consistently beaten off its
competitors in this sector – with
a better product range for the
construction, protection and repair
of the sky-scraping masts, and with
everything from anti-graffiti coat-
ings to suitably tailored additives
(see MC aktiv 2/2013).
The Trairi wind park constituted
the biggest project handled by the
PT business unit in 2013. Siemens
Solutions awarded MC the order
to repair all the turbine propellers
of the coastal wind farm and to
provide the blades with protec-
tive coatings. The work was only
completed at the beginning of this
year. It involved 1,620 metric tons
of the hydraulically bound grout
mortar Emcekrete 80, 96,000 litres
of the surface protection system
EmceColor-flex and 5 metric tons
of the PCC-concrete replacement
system Nafufill KM 250.
Good prospects, with MC “in the mix”MC Brazil also serves a wide range
of different areas of application
beyond its core business seg-
ments. MC products are used for
floor coatings in the food industry,
and many CC products are being
used for the new, modern cement
factory of the Elisabeth Group, one
of the largest industrial companies
in Brazil, which is located in Paraíba.
MC expertise, products and service
are likewise in high demand for
infrastructure projects such as the
construction of bridges and tun-
nels. MC Brazil intends to further
develop its business activities in
the future and has expanded its
structures accordingly: Teams from
Research & Development, Produc-
tion, Finance, Human Resources
and Marketing work closely
together with MC’s corporate
headquarters in Bottrop, Germany.
And a new, fully automatic powder
tower is scheduled to be commis-
sioned soon in Vargem Grande
Paulista for the production of
further MC products, increasing
the powder output at the site from
a current 30,000 to 100,000 metric
tons per year. This will provide an
excellent platform for further grow-
ing the business.
MC expandingA few years ago, Botament also en-
tered the Brazilian market and has
since developed its business and
built up a good reputation for itself.
With home construction currently
flourishing, it has excellent potential
for further growth.
Nicolaus Müller, son of the man-
aging partner Dr. Claus-M. Müller,
has been in Brazil for the last three
years and is currently working on
Botament’s range of waterproof-
ing barrier, sealing and tile adhe-
sive products. As product manager,
he is in close contact with the in-
house R&D laboratory, enabling
the technology developed in Ger-
many to be effectively adapted to
the Brazilian market. He is also de-
veloping appropriate marketing
strategies together with the sales
team and orchestrating the over-
all strategic alignment of the Bra-
zilian company across its various
departments and divisions. In addi-
tion to driving such plans forward,
MC is also looking at the promising
wider aspects of the Latin Amer-
ican market. A trading company
was established in Chile at the be-
ginning of 2014 and a similar entity
is also to follow in Colombia (see
Interview, page 8). So things are
looking good for MC Brazil.
[email protected] www.mc-bauchemie.com.br
MC Brazil covers a wide range of applications. The company offers expertise for the energy
sector, as exemplified by its activities for and on behalf of the Trairi wind park (photo top left).
MC is also involved in the construction of the high-tech cement factory of the Elisabeth Group
(photo top right) and the Maracanã Stadium (bottom photo).
MC Report
| MC aktiv 1_20148 | MC aktiv 1_20148
MC Report
Jaques Pinto, MC Brazil’s Man-aging Director, has been part of the development and success of MC in Brazil right from the start.
Mr Pinto, how do you explain the rapid growth of MC in Brazil?MC was in the right place at the
right time. We have benefited from
the solid economic development
that the country has undergone in
the last 12 years, but we have also
had the right strategy, the right
products and the right personnel to
drive our own dynamic growth. Our
competitors such as Fosroc, BASF
and Sika have either been sold or
have changed their strategy, provid-
ing us with an opportunity to move
into spaces they have vacated –
something that we have done with
some considerable success.
How important are contacts with MC in Germany? We work very closely with our
headquarters in Bottrop. The
majority of our management team
were trained at least for a period of
time in Germany and we maintain
direct contacts with colleagues in
similar positions there. This ensures
that we receive all the support we
need and get all the updates on
new products, solutions and tech-
nologies as and when they become
available.
“Right Place, Right Time”
How are the future plans and prospects of MC Brazil looking?Looking forward, the Brazilian econ-
omy is unlikely to grow at quite the
speed we have seen in the past.
However, Brazil will continue to
invest heavily in expanding its infra-
structure. Demand for MC products
will therefore be correspondingly
high. There is also huge growth
potential in the home building sec-
tor, which we serve with our Bota-
ment unit. Our aim over the next
few years is to consolidate MC’s
market share, to further develop
our Botament business and to
expand into other countries of Latin
America.
What specific measures do you have in the pipeline?We will shortly be commission-
ing a new powder tower near São
Paulo, increasing our capacity and
enabling us to manufacture new
products. We will also be concen-
trating more and more on expand-
ing into the wider Latin American
market. We took the first steps
down this road with the estab-
lishment of a trading company in
Chile at the beginning of this year.
We are also planning to start a fur-
ther trading company in Colom-
bia, and the markets of Argentina,
Peru and Mexico are destined to
become of increasing interest to us
in the future.
On a more personal note, how have you enjoyed your time with MC?I am very much enjoying being the
Managing Director of MC in Bra-
zil. It’s been a pleasure right from
the start. I had a unique opportu-
nity to develop a company from
small beginnings and to guide it
through a period of rapid growth
– with all the associated chal-
lenges. I am very proud of the grat-
ifying development undergone by
our company and the successes
achieved by our employees. It is
a delight to be able to work with
a team that is so motivated and
committed. Together, we have
accomplished a great deal over the
last 12 years, and as I cast my eyes
into the future, I can see plenty of
still untapped potential to fire my
motivation.
MC shows appreciation of Brazil’s beautyMC Brazil is a sponsor of the “Brasil da Copa”
project, which encompasses a series of exhi-
bitions and an impressive illustrated book,
highlighting the beauty of the venues cho-
sen for the 2014 Football World Cup from a
cultural, historic and geographic perspec-
tive. The first exhibition was opened in Per-
nambuco where it could be seen through
to the end of March. It then moved to São
Paulo, near the Pacaembu Stadium, where it
will remain until June.
Although delighted with how MC Brazil has
developed in the past, Brazil’s Managing
Director, Jaques Pinto, continues to look to
the future, confidently setting his sights on
the wider Latin American market.
| MC aktiv 1_20148
MC Aktuell
9MC aktiv 1_2014 |
MC News
In 2012, the specialist construc-
tion company MM Kanal-Rohr-
Sanierung GmbH from Hartl near
Kaindorf, Austria, was awarded
a project by the regional water
board WLV to repair and refur-
bish the Hinterbrühl water tower
built in 1973. The work was to
be carried out in accordance
with a concept elaborated by
the contractor. Corroding steel
reinforcement meant that this
single-chamber water tower with
a useful capacity of 2,000 m3 was
in danger of becoming structurally
unstable. Only materials approved
for potable water were permitted
for use on the restoration project.
The regional water board decided
in favour of the purely mineral
product system MC-RIM-PW,
which met in full the requirements
of the ÖVGW (Austrian Gas and
Water Association). MC-RIM PW
10 and PW 30 exhibit exceptional
properties in terms of sealing
performance and chemical and
abrasion resistance. The coatings
offer values far below the specified
limits in relation to the water-
cement ratio for lining mortars,
fresh mortar air void content
and total air void content. These
exceptional characteristics are the
result of the DySC® technology
developed by MC which causes
coatings to actually improve in
terms of their sealing performance
and resistance after they have
been applied, with overall porosity
actually decreasing with usage.
High-tech in the drinking water tankAfter the old coatings had been
removed, the reinforcing steel was
cleaned of rust and then provided
with the mineral, cement-bound
and potable-water-approved cor-
rosion protection coating MC-RIM
PW CP, with gaps being refilled with
the concrete replacement system
MC-RIM PW 20. The first coating
was then manually covered using
the mineral, cement-bound and
potable-water-approved bond coat
MC-RIM PW-BC. Finally, the surface
protection system MC-RIM PW 10
was applied in two layers over the
walls and ceiling area using wet
spraying technology. The surface
protection system used for the floor
area, MC-RIM PW 30, was manually
applied and compacted. As in the
case of the walls, the surface was
smoothed to provide a mirror finish.
However, the ceiling surfaces were
left rough as sprayed to enable
condensate to drip more easily.
As a result, the main chamber of
the Hinterbrühl water tower now
boasts a well sealed, durable and
exceptionally reliable coating
system, proven around the world
as one of the most advanced of
its type for drinking water storage
applications.
Pure Drinking Water for Lower Austria
Successful partnershipMM Kanal-Rohr-Sanierung GmbH
and MC-Bauchemie have been
working successfully together for
more than 14 years now, with MM
using the innovative MC-RIM PW
system since it was first introduced.
The shared vision of the two partners
is to achieve optimal quality in the
repair and restoration of drinking
water storage facilities. Going far
beyond the minimum requirements
specified in the relevant standards,
they specifically aim to increase the
service life of such systems while also
reducing their lifecycle costs. To this
end, MM employees are regularly
trained each year by experts from
MC in the fields of concrete repair
and injection technology.
The internal surfaces of the main chamber of the Hinterbrühl drinking water tower are now ideally
protected by anti-corrosion coatings from MC, giving an exceptional seal combined with outstand-
ing chemical and abrasion resistance, plus a smooth, almost mirror finish in the wall area.
afterbefore
The local drinking water tower serving Hinterbrühl in Lower Austria had become unstable due to cor-rosion in its steel reinforcement. Rehabilitation was urgently required. And for this work, the contractor opted for the reliable and durable surface treatment technology available from MC, backed up by the experience and expertise of its coating specialists.
Did you know that …… every fifth person in
Brazil lives in one of its me-tropolises and that, with
17 million inhabitants, São Paulo is the largest city in
South America?
| MC aktiv 1_201410
MC InnovationMC Innovation
Slurry, liquid manure, silage effluent: In
agriculture, concrete structures are exposed
to attack from a wide range of aggressive
chemical substances.
With MC-PowerPro HCR, MC has developed a new coating system for the long-term pro-tection of agricultural concrete structures against chemical attack from substances such as slurry, liquid manure, silage effluent and biogenic sulphuric acid corrosion.
The fermentation process that
takes place in clamp silos gives
rise to organic acids – known as
silage effluent – with pH values as
low as 2. Unprotected steel-rein-
forced concrete is unable to with-
stand this kind of attack for long. In
biogas facilities, and particularly in
the gas contact zone, the concrete
has to withstand the highest expo-
sure class XA3 and/or biogenic sul-
phuric acid corrosion (BSAC) with
pH values down to <1. MC-Power-
Pro HCR serves to protect agricul-
tural concrete structures, length-
ening their useful service lifetimes.
HCR stands for “High Chemical
Resistance”. This flexible, duroelas-
tic surface coating exhibits very
good resistance not only to BSAC
and silage effluent (in compli-
ance with DIN 11622-2), but also
to a large number of organic acids,
salt solutions and alkalis. The prod-
uct system also offers very good
scuff/abrasion resistance, allow-
ing access with pneumatic-tyred
vehicles. It likewise has good crack
bridging properties (in accordance
with EN 1504 Part 2, crack bridg-
ing class A2). That means sub-
strates susceptible to cracking or
areas with cracking already pre-
High Chemical Resistance for Agricultural Structures
sent close to or at the surface can
be effectively protected, avoiding
contamination of groundwater by
chemical substances.
Resistant even to pH values close to 0 The construction materials test-
ing company Kiwa MPA Baut-
est GmbH has found in its inves-
tigations that concrete surfaces
coated with MC-PowerPro HCR
remain free of damage even after
six months of immersion in sul-
phuric acid-containing media with
a pH value close to 0. By contrast,
unprotected concrete exposed to
the same conditions suffers very
marked attack.
Wide range of applicationsThe range of applications for
which this surface coating is suita-
ble is extensive. Thanks to its out-
standing chemical resistance, par-
ticularly with respect to BSAC and
acids, it is ideal for use in, say, the
gas contact zone of covered facili-
ties or digesters. It is equally effec-
tive in slurry tanks, liquid manure
cellars, slurry channels, fodder fer-
menting silos, clamp silos, biogas
tanks, biogas fermenters and com-
posting plants.
Fast and simple placementThe new surface coating system
consists of an epoxy resin primer –
MC-PowerPro HCRprimer –
and the two-component,
pigmented polymer combination
MC-PowerPro HCR. Both are easy
and quick to apply. MC-PowerPro
HCRprimer can be brushed, rolled
or sprayed onto the recipient
surface, while MC-PowerPro
HCR can be applied by rolling
or trowelling. The system can be
installed on either cement-
bound substrates such as
concrete, reinforced concrete
or mortar, or straight onto steel
surfaces. The only prerequisite
is that the substrate be suitably
prepared for the coating.
MC aktiv 1_2014 | 11
MC InnovationMC Innovation
From time to time, historic build-
ings need to be rehabilitated in
order to prevent them from falling
into irreversible decay. Building
materials that match their his-
toric predecessors and yet offer a
functionality in line with modern
requirements are therefore very
much in demand in the field of her-
itage conservation. The cement-
containing moisture-regulating
render Exzellent from MC has
already been used on structures in
the Israeli town of Akko and in Jeru-
salem – and with very good results
indeed. The optimised salt transfer
of this moisture-regulating render
provides for maximum reliability in
the conservation of historic monu-
ments and structures.
However, there are many structures,
such as Magdeburg Cathedral, on
which modern cement-based ren-
ders cannot be used. In such appli-
cations, heritage authorities require
the use of renders that correspond
to their historic predecessors – and
these were cement-free. In order
to meet these authenticity require-
ments while still offering conser-
vators top-class products, MC has
now developed Exzellent historic,
the first cement-free moisture-reg-
ulating render, and Oxal NHL 3 his-
toric, a lime render suitable for both
internal and external applications.
Optimal moisture regulation for ancient masonryThe machine and manual render
Exzellent historic is the first cement-
free, highly functional render to be
developed for the long-term mois-
ture regulation of masonry of all
types, whether internal, external or
in the dado/splash zone. It is par-
ticularly suitable for areas heavily
exposed to salt attack and moisture
penetration. Instead of cement,
the binding agent used is nat-
ural, hydraulic (Roman) lime, a tra-
ditional building material of very
high quality. Exzellent historic
cures reliably even on damp walls
and external masonry, and can be
used without the need for com-
plex drying measures. The render
exhibits low shrinkage and a low
cracking tendency. Moreover, its
intrinsic lightness of weight con-
tributes to a high level of basic sta-
bility. The mortar is also mould-
inhibiting.
Historic render for cement-free refurbishmentWhile Exzellent historic is ideal for
masonry areas exposed to heavy
salt and moisture attack, Oxal
NHL 3 historic is suitable for use
on internal and external masonry
and façades subject to no more
than minor salt attack. Likewise
absolutely cement-free, this min-
eral-bound lime render is open to
water vapour diffusion and can
therefore be relied upon to create
a pleasant interior climate. On
façades and dado/splash areas it
offers the advantages of high resil-
ience, can be felted and can also
be mechanically applied with
the usual plastering machines. In
order to meet aesthetic require-
ments when used in conjunction
with Exzellent historic in a resto-
Conserving History – With Cement-Free RendersWhen it comes to preserving time-honoured buildings, heritage conservators frequently demand the use of building materials that are as close as possible to, and compatible with, their historic predeces-sors. The new cement-free “historic” renders developed by MC meet these requirements, offering high quality together with very good technical properties.
ration project, Oxal NHL 3 historic
can be provided with the same,
high-quality limestone aggregate
grading curve.
The two products are there-
fore well matched for use within
a single system, both helping to
return historic structures to their
former glory.
Did you know that …… Brazil’s Atlantic coast is
7,400 kilometres long?
MC Aktuell
| MC aktiv 1_201412 | MC aktiv 1_201412
MC News
Faced with the need to rehabili-tate all the sewerage manholes within the grounds of Brauweiler Abbey in Pulheim, the Rhine-land Regional Authority (LVR) opted for the MRT* automatic repair system developed by HDT of Bottrop (Germany), combined with a high-tech coating system from MC.
Automatic Repair of Manholes in Pulheim
The work was carried out between
July and September 2013 by Hei-
kaus KS Kanalsanierungen GmbH,
a Krefeld company with a long-
standing tradition in the sewerage
rehabilitation field that also offers
many years of experience with
MRT technology and the special-
ity ombran mortars involved. The
team started by blasting the walls
of the manholes down to a “sound”
base, ensuring optimum prepara-
tion of the substrate for the subse-
quent repair coating. The blasting
pressures applied in this operation
need to be in the region of 350 to
500 bar. The MRT system generates
these through a vertically traversing
water/granulate blasting unit cen-
tred within the manhole. This elim-
inates the need for a human oper-
ative to be located in such a con-
fined and dangerous space.
Fast and reliable applicationThe substrate preparation stage
was followed by the coating opera-
tion, performed by a spinning unit
working its way down the man-
hole shafts to depths of between
2.0 and 3.5 metres. Its rotating
head “slings” the high-tech ombran
MHP-SP mortar – specially formu-
lated for spray and spinning appli-
cation methods – onto the pre-
pared surface. Within the spinning
unit, the material is accelerated to
such a speed that it compacts on
impact with the manhole wall. The
DySC® technology of the reprofil-
ing and coating system promotes
further consolidation of the mortar
matrix during the service lifetime
of the coating, extensively prevent-
ing the penetration of aggressive
substances. Within three minutes,
the MRT system had created a new
layer of 15mm per square metre
with no spray shadows or uneven-
ness, greatly reducing the time con-
ventionally required to rehabili-
tate a manhole shaft. And because
the coating is not only easy and
quick to apply but also water-resist-
ant after just three hours, the sew-
erage system downtime was like-
wise kept to a minimum. To ensure
effective protection of the man-
holes against biogenic sulphuric
acid corrosion, LVR chose the high-
About HDTHDT Hochdruck-Dosier-Technik
GmbH is a sister company of MC
and one of the leading machine
construction and service companies
for high-pressure application and
metering technology in Germany. In
addition to manual sealing systems
for double-glazing production, it
also offers mobile, automated man-
hole rehabilitation technology (MRT)
in the form of machines that are
unique in the restoration industry.
www.h-d-tec.de
View of Brauweiler Abbey, Pulheim
View of the spinning head.
The sewerage manholes of the estate were automatically refurbished by units centrally lowered
down the shaft.
tech coating ombran CPS from MC
for the Pulheim project. A special
accessory in the form of a coating
head meant that this hybrid silicate
coating could also be applied with
the MRT system.
The entire rehabilitation process
was computer-aided with closed-
loop control. An integrated posi-
tion measuring system monitored
both the substrate preparation
stage and the coating process. Thus
the Pulheim manholes were effi-
ciently repaired and provided with
long-term protection in a fully auto-
mated process.
[email protected] [email protected]
* MRT = Manhole Rehabilitation Technology
MC Aktuell
13MC aktiv 1_2014 |
MC News
Mongomeyen International Airport, completed in 2009, is located in the middle of the jungle in the West African state of Equatorial Guinea. As part of an expansion project, further infrastructure construction works were undertaken in 2013, with MC superplasticisers among the materials used.
MRT truck ensures easy applica-tion and great time savings com-bined with high reliability, safety and quality.
The national government of Equa-
torial Guinea is currently having a
new city built in the middle of an
undeveloped tropical forest. Even-
tually, this will become the country’s
seat of government. The new inter-
national airport at Mongomeyen
has served to open up the hinter-
land close to the border, connecting
it with the new metropolis. Recently,
the government announced that
infrastructure expansion measures
needed to be carried out at Mon-
gomeyen International Airport,
which was built in 2009, in order to
provide new drainage channels and
concrete aprons for aircraft parking.
The Portuguese general contractor,
ZAGOPE, which belongs to the Bra-
zilian Andrade Gutierrez Group and
specialises in public sector construc-
tion projects, awarded the order for
developing the concrete formula-
Collaborating with the ombran
business unit of MC, the com-
pany HDT has launched an inno-
vation that adds mobility and fast
and simple application to its MRT
technology. After a year of devel-
opment work, a 7.5 metric ton MRT
truck has been launched in which
all the equipment and compo-
nents needed for the automated
rehabilitation of manholes have
been professionally integrated.
Engineers, sewerage system oper-
ators and applicators can rent the
MRT truck on a daily, weekly or
monthly basis.
Concrete Additives for Equatorial Guinea
Mobile Manhole Rehabilitation
tion to renowned concrete expert
Ana Maria Proença of the Faculty
of Construction Engineering at the
University of Porto, Portugal. The for-
mulation had to meet the specific
demands and conditions encoun-
tered in the construction project in
Equatorial Guinea. Factors prevailing
in central west Africa that needed to
be taken into account included the
site’s position in the middle of the
rain forest, the level of qualification
of the personnel on the ground, the
local cements and aggregates avail-
able, the equipment to be used
and also, in particular, the tropi-
cal climate of the area. Proença had
already collaborated successfully
with MC and, for the specified con-
sistency class F4, she recommended
the high-performance superplas-
ticisers MC-TechniFlow 91 and 95.
These have been especially devel-
This mobile unit contains a com-
plete MRT assembly together with
a machine room featuring a stand-
alone power generator, a high-
pressure water jetting system with
compressor, and a mortar mixing
zone with plate mixer and mor-
tar pump. The integral hydraulic
boom reaches beyond the tail lift,
enabling simple yet very accurate
oped for ready-mix concrete used
in highly demanding applications.
“We have maintained a very good
relationship with the University of
Porto for many years now. In the
Baixo Sabor Dam project, for exam-
ple, we worked together on devel-
oping a tailored solution to ensure
that the concrete retained its flowa-
bility despite impeding factors such
as the use of extremely hydrophilic
aggregates,” recounts Diana Boul-
hosa, Head of Sales at the CC busi-
ness unit of MC in Portugal (see also
MC aktiv 1/2013). Thanks to their
long-lasting plasticising and delay-
ing effect, the high-performance
superplasticisers were able to
deliver impressive results, reducing
the time and effort required on site
to pour, distribute and compact the
homogeneous concrete provided.
The current infrastructure expan-
sion activities are now close to com-
pletion, with a total of 63,375 m3 of
concrete containing MC additives
having been installed in the course
of construction.
operation with maximum flexibil-
ity. In addition, the MRT truck has
a mini staff room with microwave
oven, coffee machine and seat-
ing area for two people, a laptop
workstation, a toilet and a washba-
sin, and its own water storage tank
with a capacity of 500 litres. Once
an applicator’s personnel have
been properly familiarised with
the operation of the system, they
are able to use all its functions and
facilities unsupervised.
| MC aktiv 1_201414
MC News
Contracted by the property invest-
ment company VBW Bochum, con-
struction engineering firm Immel,
also of Bochum, carried out a
number of analyses on drill cores
taken from a commercial sau-
sage and cured meats kitchen.
These revealed structural and
hygienic defects that made a com-
plete refurbishment necessary.
VBW Bochum then commissioned
Immel with the planning and reha-
bilitation work, for which the engi-
neering firm was given just one
week, as the supermarket had to be
completely closed down. The pro-
ject therefore required very close
collaboration between all par-
ties involved and – of course – full
mutual compatibility between the
products used. These also had to
meet the usual strict specifications
applicable to food and beverage
processing facilities, which meant
they needed to be physiologically
harmless, hygienically cleanable
and also exhibit high resistance to
thermal, chemical and mechanical
stressing/attack. And for health and
safety reasons, the floors had to be
non-slip.
Relationships based on trustVBW wanted to leave nothing to
chance and therefore commis-
Fast Systems Required
sioned the Bochum building sur-
veyors Fröhlich to supervise the
work. Experienced PT sales repre-
sentative Luzian Haida presented
the client and supervising surveyor
with an integrated concept com-
prising well matched systems from
MC and its sister company Bota-
ment. He also asked Marcel Neu-
mann of Botament Sales to join the
project team. The concept offered
the client fast, reliable and smooth
project execution with a de facto
single-source supply arrangement,
and the results did not disappoint.
Solution-providers for strict schedulesAside from the required qual-
ity, maximum time efficiency was
essential. Consequently, particularly
fast systems from MC and Bota-
ment were used, offering short cur-
ing times to enable early overwork-
ing and loadability. The fast-set-
ting epoxy resin screed MC-DUR
1200 VK was selected with the spe-
cial sanding product SK2 to prepare
and level the floor. Accessible just
one day after its installation, this liq-
uid-tight screed provided an ini-
tial barrier layer of high mechani-
cal and chemical resistance. Thanks
to its rapid curing action, it also
allowed early application of the
porosity filler/leveller and scratch
coat in the form of MC-DUR Rapid
Primer, which further increased
both the mechanical and chem-
ical resistance of the floor cover-
ing. Because of its fast reaction, this
system is also often used in indus-
trial applications for tight-sched-
uled “weekend jobs”. The next stage
of the work involved products from
the Botament range. The sanded
Rapid Primer coating was covered
with crack-bridging, highly flexible
and chemically resistant Botament
AE-Bahn, a sealing and decou-
pling membrane that is particu-
larly suited to surfaces likely to be
exposed to the effects of water and
chemical attack – as commonly
encountered in commercial kitch-
ens, for example. The adhesive cho-
sen was the quick-acting and flex-
ible Botament M10 Speed, consid-
ered the fastest adhesive of its kind
on the market. Within 90 minutes,
the waterproofing membrane was
both trafficable and overworkable.
The tiles were then laid using the
thin-bed method. The tile adhesive
selected was the highly chemically
resistant epoxy joint and stoneware
mortar, Botament ES 500, the only
product of its kind on the market
with potable water and swimming
pool approval based on the latest
Seven days – that was the time window allowed for the refur-bishment of a large sausage and cured meats kitchen with its three cold storage rooms in a REWE supermarket in Bochum, Germany. A “fast” surface reha-bilitation solution for floors and walls approved for the food industry needed to be provided. MC and Botament came up with an integrated concept that ticked all the boxes.
criteria. The walls were prepared
with cement plaster and Botament
D11 depth primer prior to the lay-
ing of the AE-Bahn membrane, and
the wall-to-floor joints were sealed
with Botament SB 78 sanitary tape.
Through their ability to put
together a well-planned concept
and their commitment to close
cooperation, Luzian Haida and Mar-
cel Neumann were able to satisfy
in full the requirements specified
by the planning engineers and the
supervising surveyor. Despite the
tight timeframe, the product sys-
tem proved to have the quality, reli-
ability and compatibility required
for the job, much to the delight of
the client and its consultants.
[email protected] [email protected]
About BOTAMENTBotament® Systembau GmbH &
Co. KG, Bottrop, Germany is a sister
company of MC with more than 20
years of experience in the manu-
facture and sale of building chemi-
cal product systems for the tiling
and construction materials trade.
www.botament.de
Time was of the essence. But thanks to careful coordination, close collaboration, short curing times and the speed with which the products of
MC and its sister company Botament became overworkable, the job was successfully completed within the tight schedule specified.
MC aktiv 1_2014 | 15
MC Personnel
New employees at MC-Bauchemie
Welcome to the Team
Sören Gems, 31,
from Duisburg, Ger-
many, gained an In-
ternational Masters
degree in tourism
management and
leisure industries,
and previously worked as a personnel con-
sultant. He joins MC as part of its Human Re-
sources team.
Desmond Ng, 42,
is the Managing
Director of the MC
company newly es-
tablished in Singa-
pore last year, which
he joined on 1 No-
vember 2013. He has extensive experience
in sales and had previously spent six years as
a business manager in the cement additives
segment, working for a renowned chemicals
manufacturer in the Asia-Pacific region.
Joana Miranda, 24, from Espinho,
Portugal, success-
fully completed her
construction engi-
neering studies be-
fore joining MC in Bottrop for her two-year
trainee programme on 1 January 2014. She
will eventually represent MC’s interests in Por-
tuguese-speaking countries.
Richard Tsai, 52,
joined MC in Tai-
wan as its new
Managing Director
on 1 March 2014.
A construction en-
gineer, he also has
extensive experience in marketing, product
management and sales, having spent the pre-
vious five years as a sales manager for a major
building chemicals producer.
Luis González, 25,
from Murcia, Spain,
took a construction
engineering degree
and then worked as
the site manager of
a concrete production facility in Algeria. He
also joined the trainee programme on 1 Janu-
ary 2014 for the purpose of representing MC
in Spanish-speaking countries.
New: Compliance Directive and Compliance Officer
The new Compliance Directive issued by
MC-Bauchemie is intended as a practical
guide for all employees of the MC Group
in the conduct of their daily activities. It
provides support in all kinds of decision-
making situations so as to ensure compli-
ance with established ethical principles and
statutory requirements. At the moment, all
employees in Germany are being succes-
sively familiarised with the contents of
the newly introduced directive through
a specifically developed information and
training programme. This will then
be extended to employees of the
foreign companies of the MC Group.
Michael Reisen has been appointed
as the Compliance Officer of the MC
Group. In addition to performing his
functions as HR Manager for Further
Training and Personnel Development,
he is therefore now also the first point
of contact for compliance issues.
Innovation in Building Chemicals
Cement-free render system for heritage conservation
EXZELLENT historic: cement-free render for the moisture-regulating repair of heritage structures.Based on Roman lime and special treatment additives, EXZELLENT historic combines “monumental” efficacy with proven heritage compatibility. Its outstanding moisture-regulating effect and optimised salt transfer ensure maximum reliability in the conservation of historic buildings and monu-ments. 100 % heritage suitability thanks to 0 % cement content!
Talk to us!
Sometimes no cement is the best solution.
Exzellent historic_Anzeige_04Ausgabe_EN.indd 1 11.04.14 08:47