growing business in new directions - mapeiat keeping projects dry mapei corporation introduced its...

AMERICAS

[ ]RealtàMAPEI

ISSUE 22

MAPEI growth • 2016 trade shows • Architectural program • Global building trends

Growing business in new directions

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

New avenues of growth for MAPEI Americas

Gary Hamel, the world’s leading expert on business strategy according to Forbes

magazine, has been quoted as saying, “An adaptable company is one that

captures more than its fair share of new opportunities. It’s always redefining its

‘core business’ in ways that open up new avenues for growth.”

Since 1978, when Dr. Giorgio Squinzi and his father Rodolfo, the founder of

MAPEI, built their first manufacturing plant in the Canada, MAPEI Americas has

been known for its quality systems for the installation of tile, stone, wood, vinyl and

resilient floor coverings. The entry into the Americas benefited from the well-earned

reputation that MAPEI’s installation products had established in Europe since the

company’s inception in 1937. However, Giorgio and Rodolfo both knew that they

had to open up new avenues of business if the company was to continue its growth

and success.

Dr. Squinzi sustained his father’s vision by redefining MAPEI as a company that

had a presence in many areas of the construction industry, especially those sectors

where cement and concrete play a role. And now MAPEI Americas is finding avenues for growth

in these sectors, backed by the sound reputation of MAPEI’s global research and development

teams and the advanced concrete products that they have created.

As you will see in the Top Story of this issue of Realta MAPEI Americas, we are introducing a

variety of new product categories to customers in North America and the Caribbean, including

below-grade waterproofing, underground construction technology and cement additives for

cement producers. We are also adding to our concrete admixtures line with a strong selection

of well-tested products that are already available in Europe and other locations. Plus, we are

expanding offerings for the decorative and protective coatings market with our Elastocolor® line,

which was introduced last year.

MAPEI looks to continued growth in the future because every employee is constantly thinking

forward. We do not get too complacent with today or spin our wheels worrying about tomorrow.

We think, and we do. Like salesman and writer Cullen Hightower said, “Worry compounds the

futility of being trapped on a dead-end street. Thinking opens new avenues.”

I invite you to open new avenues in your business in 2016 and look for opportunities to use

MAPEI’s new product offerings to help you grow.

Sincerely,

Luigi Di GesoPresident and CEO,MAPEI Americas

EDITORDiane Choate

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORSFrancesco Doria, Mike Granatowski, Giovanni Natale, Dr. Giorgio Squinzi, Jim Whitfield

PRODUCTION EDITORSBrian Hedberg, Corey Siggins

GRAPHIC DESIGNERStephen Gil

PRODUCTION MANAGER Jeremy Mitchell

OPERATIONAL MARKETING MANAGER Steven Day

PRESIDENT AND CEOLuigi Di Geso

PUBLISHERMAPEI Corporation,Headquarters of the Americas1144 E. Newport Center DriveDeerfield Beach, FL 33442

MAPEI GLOBAL CORPORATE HEADQUARTERSMapei SpAVia Cafiero, 22 – 20158 Milan (Italy)

PRESIDENT AND CEOGiorgio Squinzi

DIRECTORAdriana Spazzoli

COORDINATIONMetella Iaconello

1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734)

www.mapei.com

Copyright ©2016 by MAPEI Corporation (“MAPEI”) and all rights are reserved. MAPEI does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of this publication. Nor does MAPEI assume any responsibility arising from the reader’s reliance on the information in this publication. MAPEI denies all liability for damages of any kind arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this publication, or resulting from any reader’s reliance on this publication. Therefore, MAPEI disclaims all express and implied warranties, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of MERCHANTABILITY and FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. All intellectual property rights and other information contained in this publication are the exclusive property of MAPEI (or its parent or related companies), unless otherwise noted. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of MAPEI.

NOTE: The electronic version of this publication is found on MAPEI’s website at www.mapei.com and shall be exclusively governed by that website’s terms and conditions of use.

CONTENTS

TECHNICAL DO'S & DON'TS 31 Grouting commercial kitchens

SINGLE-SOURCE SYSTEM 34 Brewing up a durable industrial tile floor

41 MAPEI TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

42 BUSINESS NEWS

TOP STORY2 MAPEI Americas is growing to serve

customers in new markets

TECHNICAL FEATURE7 Cementitious decorative overlays

SPECIAL FEATURES17 MAPEI exhibits growth at 2016 trade shows38 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum presents

Alberto Burri

INSIDE SCOOP15 Inside the MAPEI architectural program

PROJECT REFERENCES12 Girdwood School23 One Light Luxury Apartments35 Dusit Thani Guam Resort

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS21 Ultraplan ® Lite33 Kerapoxy ® IEG CQ

WORLD OF MAPEI25 How MAPEI innovates to succeed and grow27 Trends in the global building industry

RM Americas 22 / 2016 1

ON THE COVERMAPEI's new product categories are serving new segments of the construction industry

2

Keyword: MAPEI Americas

2 RM Americas 22 / 2016

TOP STORY | MAPEI AMERICAS GROWTH


MAPEI Americas is growing to serve customers in new markets

MAPEI has long been known in the Americas as a supplier of quality systems for the installation of all types of flooring – carpet, vinyl, wood, tile and stone. Next, products for the repair and renovation of concrete used in buildings and infrastructure were added to the portfolio. Now, MAPEI is introducing more new categories of products to the Americas – products that have been developed and proven in other MAPEI markets, as well as brand-new products.

MEETING MORE CONSTRUCTION

NEEDS



Concrete admixtures add strength and flexibility

MAPEI Americas entered the concrete admixture market in the United States through the acquisition of General Resource Technology, Inc. (GRT) in 2014. However, MAPEI’s Research and Development (R&D) teams in Europe have been working to supply concrete mixing plants, the precast concrete sector and large construction companies with concrete admixtures since 1992. These admixtures have helped build some of the largest edifices and major infrastructure projects around the world.

A regional admixtures manufacturer that was founded in 1993, GRT marketed concrete admixtures and auxiliary products for the concrete industry in the central United States. The company’s products have been routinely used to produce high-performance concrete mixes that are called upon to perform in all weather conditions. With MAPEI’s resources and innovation, this new Americas subsidiary will continue to incorporate the latest product technology available to meet customer needs and focus on continuing the development of next-generation concrete admixture products.

“MAPEI Group has been in the admixture business for a long time globally, and GRT will certainly help us move forward in that market in the Americas,” said Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of MAPEI Americas. By developing synergy with GRT’s existing product lines, MAPEI expects to expand its concrete admixtures footprint in North America.

A new plant for the production of concrete admixtures is already under construction in Garland, Texas, and plans are on the drawing board for additional facilities in New Jersey and California. “With the addition to our portfolio of an admixture manufacturer based in the Americas, our growth rate in this category should increase even more quickly,” Di Geso added.

Cement additives optimize manufacturers’ processes

MAPEI’s cement additives provide innovative solutions for cement producers. For example, the company’s cement additives allow a reduction of clinker content while offering the same mechanical performance of the cement, thus guaranteeing a 5% to 10% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions plus a savings in non-renewable raw materials.

The division of MAPEI that is involved in cement additives was founded in 2001. It has grown 30% every year in terms of sales and volume, thanks to innovative and high-quality products combined with superior technical support and dedicated R&D. Today, supported by the Group’s structure and expertise, MAPEI’s cement additives division is supplying all major cement groups worldwide, offering new technologies and local technical assistance. The cement additives division is able to guarantee high levels of customer assistance and product quality by combining high-quality raw materials; fully computer-based production facilities; and expertise in product chemistry, industrial processes and grinding plant technology.

The dedicated scientists at MAPEI’s Research Centers not only develop new raw materials and cement additive components, they are also active in customer support. MAPEI’s state-of-the-art laboratories allow the cement additives division to perform specific and in-depth clinker and cement analyses in order to optimize the use of grinding aids. The labs also offer customized solutions for enhanced cement performance and improved production.

The cement additives being introduced in the Americas include grinding aids, strength enhancers, pack-set reducers and Cr(VI)-reducing additives for all types of cement, as well as air-entraining agents for masonry cement.

MAPEI has established production lines for cement additives in many of its facilities around the world. Cement additive production has also extended to the Americas through a facility location in Madison, Illinois. Two more locations will be added in the United States – in Texas and New Jersey.

“We look forward to serving the large cement producers in North America with the support of our global organization,” Di Geso said. “Our cement additives will help these companies to achieve their own sustainability efforts as we contribute to the improvement of the environment and help to reduce the costs of cement production.”

Admixtures for ConcreteCement Additives


Underground construction team offers technology and products

MAPEI has entered the underground technology arena in North America with a team of specialists who are working with contractors, engineers and owners’ representatives for tunneling, hard-rock mining and other large underground projects. This integrated approach – pulling from the expertise of MAPEI engineers, R&D personnel and on-site representatives – stems from a visionary global program that the company initiated in Europe. The technology has already been successfully utilized in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

“We feel that MAPEI has a solid core group of products to meet the needs of this market segment, and the depth and breadth of knowledge of our R&D people will help us find solutions for the challenges that engineers encounter in this field,” said Wesley Morrison, Country Manager for MAPEI Americas’ Underground Technology Team (UTT).

MAPEI’s product solutions for underground construction encompass:

• Admixtures, alkali-free accelerators and hydration control for the improvement of sprayed concrete.

• Soil-conditioning systems, sealants, abrasion control and annulus grouting systems for mechanized tunneling.

• Injection products that include micro-cements, polyurethane (PU) technology, acrylic resins, mineral grouts and anchors.

• Sprayable membranes, PVC sheet membranes and ancillary products for waterproofing.

• A sprayable mortar-based system for fire protection plus epoxy final coatings.

• Gunite and repair mortars for rehabilitation.

“As we develop our portfolio of North American projects, we hope to increase MAPEI brand awareness and establish ourselves as a ‘go-to resource’ in the underground construction category,” Di Geso said.

Below-grade waterproofing excels at keeping projects dry

MAPEI Corporation introduced its Below-Grade Waterproofing Systems product line to the North American construction market at the 2016 World of Concrete show. MAPEI has been heavily engaged and very successful in below-grade waterproofing markets elsewhere around the world for some time, to say nothing of the company’s long history of providing waterproofing solutions in many other complementary market segments.

Among the below-grade waterproofing systems that MAPEI is offering are Mapeproof ™ sodium bentonite geotextile waterproofing membranes for blindside waterproofing. Mapeproof membranes are constructed using a layer of woven and nonwoven, puncture- and tear-resistant polypropylene fabrics. Encased within these fabrics is high-swelling, self-sealing sodium bentonite. Mapeproof membranes are offered in a standard-grade version (Mapeproof HW ) and an alternate grade designed specifically for sites where contaminated or salt groundwater is present (Mapeproof SW ).

Another range of below-grade waterproofing products includes Mapethene™ self-adhering, rubberized-asphalt sheet waterproofing membranes for positive-side

waterproofing. Mapethene membranes are constructed of a 4-mil-thick, impact-resistant, cross-laminated, high-density polyethylene (HPDE) film laminated onto a proprietary, 56-mil-thick rubberized-asphalt compound. Mapethene membranes are offered in both high-temperature (Mapethene HT ) and low-temperature (Mapethene LT ) versions.

Supporting these waterproofing products is a complete line of detailing and accessories, including: • Mapedrain™ – A product group that

includes seven three-dimensional drainage composites, each engineered for specific site-drainage requirements.

• Mapebond ™ – A product group that includes four contact adhesives, which meet the varied site conditions and the various VOC regulations in place at different locations.

“I am very excited to be leading the effort to introduce these outstanding products to the North American construction market,” said Jason Covington, Business Development Leader and Product Line Manager for MAPEI’s Below-Grade Waterproofing Systems. “MAPEI has the unique distinction of being the only certified ISO 9001 QMS [Quality Management Systems] and ISO 14001 [Environmental Management Systems] company supplying these products to the Americas market. This distinction cements MAPEI’s commitment to product quality. We devote a remarkable 12% of our employees and 5% of our annual revenues to research and development activities to continually improve and innovate.”

As MAPEI’s below-grade waterproofing products are accepted into the American market, Covington will gradually introduce additional products and systems.

Products for Underground Construction

Below-Grade Waterproofing Systems



Elastomeric coatings provide the perfect finish

The Elastocolor ® product line of wall coatings is the latest extension to MAPEI’s Concrete Restoration Systems (CRS) category and also showcases MAPEI’s creativity and innovation. Ideally suited for the concrete restoration and waterproofing market, Elastocolor Flex, Elastocolor Coat and Elastocolor Paint provide decorative and protective finishes for vertical, above-grade building facades and structures. These products enable building owners to make the right performance decisions based on specific conditions that they encounter on their projects.

The usefulness of the Elastocolor range is typified by an ongoing project in Miami, Florida. Due to the proximity of the Blue Lagoon Condominiums to one of the busiest airports in the country (Miami International), the effect of carbon dioxide can be extremely aggressive on the 320,000 square feet (29 729 m2) of building facade. The resistance of Elastocolor Coat to carbon dioxide and wind-driven rain, plus the product's hiding power and breathability, made it the ideal choice for protecting the exterior facade of the condo buildings. MAPEI also custom-matched the white, blue and gray colors of the existing decor to maintain the fresh, crisp ambiance of the condos.

“These coatings are engineered to meet high performance standards and protect against the deleterious effects of harsh environmental conditions,” said Kevin Smith, National Sales Director for CRS. “The Elastocolor range provides yet another reason to choose MAPEI for single-source repair and protection solutions.”

As MAPEI brings new additions to its portfolio of products for the Americas, the company opens up new avenues of growth and continues to build its brand globally. Wherever construction is underway, MAPEI has a product for it.

Elastomeric coatings



TECHNICAL FEATURE | CEMENTITIOUS DECORATIVE OVERLAYS

CEMENTITIOUS DECORATIVE OVERLAYS

Introduction

For simplicity’s sake and for the purpose of this article, the term “overlays” will be used instead of “polishable self-levelers” or “wear-course self-levelers.”

Overlays were born in the modern era out of necessity. When concrete needed to be refurbished and restored but could not be elevated to the decorative concrete status, another material was needed to fill the void. Thanks to manufacturers’ research and development labs, formulations of engineered cements, commonly known as overlays, were developed. Overlays exhibit characteristics similar to concrete, but in a much thinner version – typically 3/8" to 2" (10 mm to 5 cm). Designers have come to expect overlays to look and perform similarly to concrete.

Many components within the decorative overlays are very similar to those of concrete – mainly the sands, Portland cement, and the aesthetic. These similarities cause concrete and overlays to be classified in the same family of building materials. Overlays are designed to give a concrete substrate the functionality of concrete and offer optimal wear performance.

Concrete has historically been used as a supporting material for structural applications and as a bed or substrate for embellished coverings. Only recently has the popular term “decorative concrete” evolved and led the industry to think more in terms of concrete as a finished product and not only as a supporting structural building material. This is a new tool in the design professional’s toolbox that can complement certain decor styles.

Any time concrete is to be transformed and used as a decorative final wear course, the concrete must be evaluated to ensure that it is in suitable shape. Designers should check the uniformity because patching and repairing concrete often leaves a sporadic, discolored look that is not aesthetically pleasing.

Concrete may be unusable in terms of decorative applications when:• Cracks needing repair cannot be

camouflaged and will stand out because of their shapes and color difference once repaired.

• Spalls or rough concrete in need of repair shows visible color variations and

non-symmetrical shapes once repaired.• Additions of new concrete slabs

adjacent to old existing slabs show color differences as well as highlight the aggregates that different concretes contain.

These are only a few reasons why the existing concrete may not be suitable for a decorative makeover. Whenever concrete is unable to be directly treated and refined into a decorative concrete floor, the use of a decorative cementitious overlay can be a solution.

by Giovanni Natale

An example of where an overlay would be used to restore deteriorated concrete that could not be treated

This article originally appeared in the December 2015 issue of Construction Canada.

Overlay is used to restore old stairs and concrete floor with the addition of topical dyes and clear resin topcoats.



Overlays are designed and manufactured to restore concrete to its original condition – similar to what it may have looked like on the day after it was poured and finished. From that point, numerous other decorative options are possible. The most popular solutions are those requiring diamond polishing and clear resinous protective coatings. Both these systems can be pigmented and can contain integrated terrazzo strips or sawcuts to define shapes, color schemes and logos. They can also incorporate broadcast stone, glass or metal. By using these ideas, the possibilities are almost limitless for the designer.

Surface preparation

The first step in the successful installation of decorative overlays is to have a properly prepared substrate. All repairs or alterations to the concrete are usually done prior to the surface preparation. In general, fast-curing, polymer-modified mortars that achieve high early strength are used for the repairs to accelerate the delivery of the project.

The non-profit industry association International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) provides a guideline to surface preparation for those dealing with concrete repair. The ICRI also provides a system of concrete surface profile (CSP) chips numbered from CSP 1 to 10 that give a clear visual indicator of the profile needed. Manufacturers recommend the appropriate CSP required for their products, simplifying the task for a design professional when writing specifications for tender.

A profile of CSP 3, produced by means of shotblasting, seems to be relatively common within the industry. Additionally, the use of a two-component, 100%-solids epoxy primer – into which a 16-mesh, clean, silica quartz sand is broadcast to refusal – can create a suitable profile for the overlay.

Overlay characteristics

Basic concrete is a composite made of Portland cement, sand, aggregate and water. More complex concrete designs are readily available; however, this basic concrete recipe will easily yield concrete in the range of 3,625 to 5,075 psi (25 to 35 MPa) of compressive strength. In contrast, a typical cementitious overlay will provide anywhere from 4,350 to 7,250 psi (30 to 50 MPa) in compressive strength.

The engineering of an overlay is much more elaborate in its basic formulation, mainly because it is used in very thin applications – most commonly at 3/8" to 3/4" (10 to

ABOVE: An example of a profile of primer and sand broadcast needed for decorative overlays. BELOW: An example of a diamond-polished overlay with the addition of decorative sands and black pigment.

19 mm) in thickness – far below the 2" (5 cm) minimum requirement for concrete. Therefore, when using thin construction materials such as cementitious overlays, these materials require superior adhesion, better cohesiveness of the cement matrix, higher compressive strength, and greater flexural strength to perform similarly to the concrete mass on which they are installed.

To meet these requirements, sophisticated formulations using special hydraulic cements are used to accelerate curing times and minimize shrinkage. Polymers are used in the formula to increase adhesion

and flexural capabilities and to improve the cohesiveness of the cement matrix.

Rheology-modifying agents are used to minimize segregation and bleeding, in order to achieve high fluidity and long working time. High-efficiency super-plasticizers are incorporated in those formulas. The result is an “engineered cement” – in this case, an overlay – and these formulations require extensive testing to offer high performance.


Installation of overlays

Once the primer has set and the un-bonded excess sand has been removed, the overlay is ready to be installed. Experienced crews versed in overlay placement understand the importance of properly staging workstations, strategically planning the size and direction of the pour, and having the correct number of skilled workers on hand. The use of such specialized crews is highly recommended, because final results rely greatly on correct installation of the overlays.

At this stage, the floor may have been designed with decorative separator strips or metal inserts, or simply formed in some other way to make shapes and color patterns. In either case, the color pigments, forms and shapes allow almost inexhaustible options for the design professional. Decorative glass, stone, sand and metals can also be incorporated into the finish, yielding interesting effects when exposed by diamond polishing.

Once the overlay is installed, it is comparable to an artist’s canvas. Color pigments can be integrated within or installed over the top of the overlay with such products as stains or dyes once the overlay has set, creating even more design possibilities.

Overlays can be advantageous because they:• Are more economical than replacing

concrete.• Can be laid down as thin as 3/8" (10 mm)

and as thick as 2" (5 cm).• Lend themselves well to designs.• Lend themselves well to coloring or

addition of aggregates and decorative elements.

• Offer a unique look and feel.

On the other hand, overlays have certain disadvantages because they:• Are cement-based, which can result in

cracks.• Require skilled craftsmen.• Are man-made products and can

potentially have a mottled variable look.

Color, lines, designs and logos can be incorporated into overlays, offering a completely unique and customized look.



Clear protective resin coatings

One option for finishing overlays is to use clear protective coatings such as epoxy, poly-urethane or polyaspartic coatings, or specialized waxes. This final step ensures the stain protection needed for a durable long-lasting floor.

Advantages of these coatings include: • Relatively fast execution. • The ability for re-coating years later if

needed.• Being an economic option.• The ability to provide a good barrier

against staining.• Salt resistance.

Some of the disadvantages of these coatings include:• A synthetic and plastic look that may be

undesirable.• Being subject to scratching (especially

for epoxies).• The tendency of certain products to

darken the color of the floor.• The production of outgassing traces, in

the form of pinholes, moon or fish eyes on the surface due to displacement of air/moisture from the substrate through the coating before it has a chance to cure.

Diamond polishing

As another technique for finishing decorative concrete, diamond polishing of decorative overlays is similar to polishing marble, granite, terrazzo or concrete. The goal is to bring out the natural beauty of the sand and tiny aggregates, giving a luster and depth to the product while offering light reflectivity as a bonus.

Once the material is cured according to manufacturer’s recommendations, the process of grinding, honing, densifying, polishing and protective waxing begins. Specialized craftsmen, using planetary grinding equipment, diamond tooling and HEPA-certified dust extractors, are capable of attaining a honed or highly polished surface. Though the surfaces are refined through polishing, they still are capable of providing slip resistance according to building codes. A growing number of overlays on the market cater to this style of flooring.

A distinct advantage of overlays is their lack of large aggregates that concrete contains. Diamond-polished overlays offer a true salt-and-pepper look, which many people find very desirable. Design professionals have access to non-profit associations,

such as the Concrete Polishing Association of America (CPAA), which offer aid with written specification guides for design professionals wishing to accurately specify the required slip resistance, level of shine, distinction of image, clarity and the type of polish (abrasive or topical). These specifications greatly reduce margins for misinterpretation between contractors and specifiers.

Advantages of overlay polishing include: • Better abrasion resistance than resinous

coatings.• Increased light reflectivity.• A natural look and feel.• Easy, low-cost maintenance.• The ability to be re-waxed and burnished

periodically.• The ability to be re-honed and polished.

However, overlay polishing can be disadvantageous because it can:• Be relatively costly.• Have poor salt resistance.• Be more porous, resulting in the need to

address spills immediately.

LEFT The initial grinding phase of diamond polishing using remote-controlled planetary grinder along with dust extractor to capture airborne dust RIGHT This 5/8" (16-mm) natural gray overlay was diamond-polished in restoring the concrete floor beneath.


Conclusion

Decorative overlays offer a solution for the look and feel of concrete when the existing concrete is unable to attain this due to blemishes, cracks, pitting and necessary repairs. Design professionals can fashion decorative overlays in many ways to attain specified requirements. However, it is important to refer to qualified consultants, manufacturers and craftsmen regarding the installation and polishing processes because overlays are prone to limitations similar to concrete.

Installation requires precision and must be properly planned and staged. There is only one shot at making overlays work perfectly, so any naturally or unnaturally occurring incidents during placement may affect the final product. For these reasons, installations should be entrusted

to industry experts who are experienced with these overlays and types of projects.

Ultimately, the look of concrete or overlays will not satisfy everyone; and whether overlays are the correct building material for a given project remains in the domain of personal taste. However, those who work with decorative overlays are often repeat users who enjoy working with these products, because they offer an opportunity to create a look and feel totally unique and customizable.

Giovanni is a second-generation cement finisher/contractor with 35 years of industry experience. In his career he has been responsible for the supervision and coaching of installation crews,working with concrete repair systems, flatwork, decorative concrete, floor and wall coatings, and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) systems. More recently, in his work with MAPEI Giovanni has assisted professionals with concrete restoration solutions.

About the author: Giovanni Natale

LEFT: This museum’s floors are an overlay with black tint, covered with a clear coat resin with a matte finish. RIGHT: A diamond-polished white overlay in a residential setting.


PROJECT REFERENCE | GIRDWOOD SCHOOL

DECORATIVE CONCRETE FLOORS REFLECT THE ENVIRONMENT

MAPEI’s Ultratop ® PC provides durable floor surface for Alaskan school

Girdwood School – Girdwood, Alaska


Girdwood School is located in Girdwood, Alaska, which is a year-round resort town surrounded by the peaks of the Chugach Mountain Range and famous internationally for its 5-star ski resort, Alyeska. The town is 36 miles (57,9 kg) southeast of Anchorage and just a short distance off from the flats of Turnagain Arm – a branch of Cook Inlet that progressively narrows, producing extreme tidal changes with bore tides as tall as 10 ft. (3,05 m) in height.

The daily ebb and flow of the tides in Turnagain Arm produce unique features on the sand flats: Multi-color striations, transparent bubbles and ever-changing reflections of sunlight on the rippled contour of the sandscape. Other defining features are the abundant wildlife and long winters with lots of snow. Fresh animal and snowshoe tracks are part of the daily Girdwood winter landscape. Anchorage architectural firm McCool Carlson Green (MCG) was chosen to design both the expansion and the renovation to the original parts of the school (constructed in 1982). Charged with the mission of developing a “Learning Signature” for the new school, MCG incorporated the essence of the Girdwood education and outdoor experience into a unique decorative motif for the school’s interior. MCG’s concept called for leveling and smoothing all of the floors with a self-leveling concrete topping that could be stained and polished to a high gloss. MCG consulted with Geoff Knock, the MAPEI specialist at Anchorage Sand & Gravel Co., Inc., and with Greg Hutchins of Performa, Inc. MAPEI’s Ultratop PC polishable concrete topping was recommended for the project and approved by MCG.

MCG looked to a local Girdwood artist, Sheila Wyne, to evoke the Girdwood outdoor living experience in the floors by using Ultratop PC and her creative concepts. Wyne was awarded the commission for the school’s main public art project due to the exceptional idea that she submitted. She found inspiration for Girdwood School’s new commons area and auditorium in the unique interplay of sunlight and topography within the Turnagain Arm sand flats.

Moose, ptarmigan and snowshoe tracks were created by Anchorage artists Jim Dault and Shala Dobson in the hallways of the school as part of a second project. Dault and Dobson used aluminum to fashion these tracks. A major challenge for the artists was how to translate a concept from the drawing board to a medium that could be attached to a concrete slab; that would stand up to heavy foot traffic, abrasion, cleaning chemicals, etc.; and that would provide long-term performance and low maintenance.

First, Mapecem® Quickpatch concrete patch was used to repair a minor defect in the floor. Then, Planibond ® EBA bonding agent was applied to the entire floor to ensure a perfect bond of the Ultratop PC to the floor. While the application was fresh, #16-grit sand was seeded into it at about 1 lb. per sq. ft. (4,88 kg per m2); the excess sand (i.e., the sand that was not bonded in the Planibond EBA) was removed.

Wyne decided on having the various smaller pieces of her artwork CNC cut from 1/4" (6-mm) aluminum sheet stock to represent the bubbles that appear after the tides recede in Turnagain Arm. She also used 1/2" (12-mm) tall aluminum strips to replicate the striations in the sand flats created by the ebb and flow of the Turnagain tides. The aluminum strips were epoxy-anchored in place on the concrete slab in the form of curves.

CNC-cut snowshoe tracks and moose tracks, as well as the bubble circles that are found in the sand flats, were hand-placed and epoxy-anchored to the slab by Wyne, Dault and Dobson per their master plans.

Planibond AE anchoring gel was used to anchor the aluminum strips and the other embedded pieces to the Planibond EBA and sand surface. After these aluminum pieces were laid out and Planibond AE had dried, Hutchins and his crew from Performa came in and began pouring Ultratop PC in the hallways and the common areas/auditorium, flowing it just over the surface of the embedded aluminum pieces that created the various themes.


PROJECT REFERENCE | GIRDWOOD SCHOOL

TECHNICAL DATA

Girdwood School, Girdwood, Alaska (USA)

Original designers: Sheila Wyne, Jim Dault and Shala Dobson

Period of construction: 2015

Year of MAPEI involvement: 2015

Where MAPEI products were used: MAPEI’s Ultratop PC polishable concrete topping was used in a public arts project at an elementary school in Alaska. The public art had a practical side, as Ultratop PC formed a durable yet artistic floor for students to walk on.

Project owner: Anchorage School District

Project manager: Greg Hutchins – Performa, Inc.

General contractor: Watterson Construction

Decorative concrete contractor: Performa, Inc.

MAPEI distributor: Anchorage Sand & Gravel Co., Inc.

MAPEI coordinator: Tom Lundgren

MAPEI ProductsPreparing the surface for the cementitious decorative

topping: Mapecem Quickpatch and Planibond EBA

Anchoring aluminum strips to the surface before

application of the cementitious decorative topping:

Planibond AE

Applying the cementitious decorative topping:

Ultratop PC

Hutchins and his crew felt that Ultratop PC was very well-suited to the project and were especially happy with how it poured. They were able to drill-mix it to a fluid consistency very easily, and there was plenty of working time to flow Ultratop PC around all of the embedded aluminum strips and design features. The concrete topping set at a uniform and predictable rate, enhancing the crew’s production rates throughout the common areas/auditorium and hallways.

After the Ultratop PC had cured for 24 hours, Hutchin’s team started the grinding and polishing procedures. The Ultratop PC had to be cut down to the surface of the embedded aluminum strips, snowshoes, moose tracks, etc., in order to fully expose them within the floor. The technicians used coarse diamond grinding pads at first and gradually progressed to finer and finer diamond pads until a smooth, scratch-free surface appeared.

One challenge resulted from grinding the aluminum and the concrete topping. The technicians did three different mockups in Performa’s shop, using different techniques to minimize any issues caused by grinding the two different surfaces. They spent 80 hours in the shop on the mockups before going down to the jobsite, so they were well prepared. The aluminum grinding created a black film over the surface of the Ultratop PC. If the black film was not properly cleaned off of the concrete topping, it could ruin the look of the project, so careful cleaning was mandatory.

Next, five different acetone-carried stains were applied per Wyne’s color scheme to evoke the natural striations and bubbles created in the Turnagain Arm sand flat by the daily tides. The stains were applied, scrubbed and cleaned; then, the process was repeated a second time. After the stains were dry, a lithium densifier was applied to lock in the color of the stain. The final steps involved the use of a polishing diamond, followed by a coat of sealer. A second coat of sealer was applied, and then the final shine was brought out by using burnishing pads on a large buffer. Again, Hutchins was very pleased with the way that the stained Ultratop PC material responded to the densifier and could be brought up to a high polish, bringing the embedded aluminum details to life.

The Girdwood School project is special for many reasons. The floor art is unique and captures the essence of daily life and nature in rural Girdwood. The difficulty factor in turning the architects’ and artists’ concepts into reality rested with the skill of the installer in polishing both concrete and aluminum – which are vastly different in hardness – and with blending stains and dyes to achieve the color nuances that were required to deliver the intended artistic impact. Ultratop PC provided a level and uniform medium for dying and staining and created a uniform shine. These artistic floors were the first project in Alaska to use Ultratop PC, and its success has already begun to generate other projects using this product. MAPEI thanks all of the players who made this a showcase project.


INSIDE SCOOP | MAPEI ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM

How the relationship began

Throughout its history, MAPEI has always had a working relationship with the architectural community. Over the years, many of the products that MAPEI has developed have come from collaborating closely with architects on a design challenge and producing products to meet the needs of the job.

For many years, the general MAPEI sales team was responsible for calling on the Architectural & Design (A&D) community in addition to working with contractors and distributors. Over this time, there was discussion about having a dedicated architectural sales team.

Under the guidance of our current CEO, Luigi Di Geso, it was decided in 2010 to implement a program to build a stronger relationship with architects and designers. At the time, I was a regional sales manager in the western United States. Because I had many years of experience working with the A&D community, our National Sales Director, Carol Hould, asked me to head up this program.

The best approach to building the relationship

The program started with just four architectural representatives, located in New York City, Chicago, and large metro areas of Texas and Southern California. Working closely with Carol Hould, we put

together a three-part plan that we felt would make an impact and get maximum results in the shortest time.

Part 1: National accounts

The first part of the plan was to establish connections with national accounts. These accounts were composed of restaurants, retail stores, hotels, health clubs, etc., that have multiple locations throughout the United States and, in many cases, international locations. As these companies continue to build, expand and remodel, being able to work with them by providing installation solutions allows our business to grow with their business.

To help facilitate these connections with national accounts, the architectural sales team and I began participating in specific trade shows – Restaurant Point, Hotel Point and Store Point – that targeted these select groups of national accounts. We also work closely with MAPEI distributors, assisting them in putting together packages of the finished flooring and all setting materials. This collaboration ensures that the national accounts get the products that they have specified.

From this effort, MAPEI has been able to secure multiple joint specifications and numerous proprietary specifications. At this time, the team works with more than 150 accounts, including McDonald’s, P.F. Chang’s, Chick-fil-A, Pei Wei, Benihana,

Five Guys, Bank of America, Victoria’s Secret, PINK, Kate Spade, Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt… to name a few well-known brands. Our goal is to increase this list significantly each year.

Part 2: Major metropolitan firms

The second part of the plan involved building relationships with the major architectural firms in the larger metropolitan areas of the United States. These are the firms that have multiple offices across the United States and internationally, and they are responsible for the vast majority of the design work performed on major projects. Most of the major firms originally knew MAPEI only as a U.S. company that provided grout for tile installations. The architectural team needed to educate and inform these firms about MAPEI’s wide array of construction materials, our expertise in the market and our international presence.

To meet members of the larger A&D firms, we joined marketing groups that allowed us to meet the decision makers in one-on-one meetings where we were able to communicate the size and strength of MAPEI. The team listened closely to these architects, resulting in the development of tools that make it easier for architects to know MAPEI and to specify our products.

The architectural team collaborated with the Marketing Department at MAPEI to produce an Architectural Solutions Book

INSIDE THE MAPEI

ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM

Why MAPEI’s relationship with the architectural community has been so successful

by Mike Granatowski, National Architectural and Commercial Projects Manager


INSIDE SCOOP | MAPEI ARCHITECTURAL PROGRAM

that shows, in a schematic format, all of the areas of construction where MAPEI can provide products and systems for architects to specify.

MAPEI also updated its Master Specifications with ARCOM MasterSpec, the go-to resource for all of the major architectural firms. In addition, specifications can also be written and downloaded from ARCAT, another tool available to the architect and designer.

To further help the architect with specifications, our architectural team worked with the Technical Services Department to develop CAD drawings and corresponding specifications that were then uploaded to MAPEI Americas’ Website. Technical Services periodically reviews and writes new/updated master specifications and job-specific applications.

In order to keep their licenses active, architects and designers need to complete a number of learning units per year. To assist them in these efforts, MAPEI wrote and registered with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) a total of 35 approved presentations, which cover concepts from the basics of simple installation procedures to more technical topics of concrete repair and moisture issues. The architectural sales team learns and gives at least 30 of these presentations per year.

To support the demand for education, especially by architects who practice in areas where attendance at on-site training events is difficult, MAPEI has recently added a number of the presentations to an online portal on MAPEI Americas’ Website.

Working effectively with architects and designers depends a lot on building a relationship with them. As a way to encourage understanding and commitment, each member of the MAPEI architectural team belongs to an organization such as AIA, Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and others, and we are all actively involved.

Part 3: Tracking projects from specification to application

The third part of the plan recognized the importance of tracking major construction projects from specification to application. To make sure that the specification is followed and MAPEI products are being used where specified, we needed to be able to follow the project through the various phases of construction.

The architectural team looked at various companies that could provide information on projects that were in planning, design, bidding and construction. A major construction data provider that delivers daily updated information on projects of all sizes and in all phases of the construction process was selected.

Each MAPEI architectural team member develops search criteria for projects in his/her area. He/she then looks for projects where MAPEI has been specified and notifies the local MAPEI sales representative. The local representatives work with contractors with whom they have built relationships to bid the project, securing pricing from local distribution.

If the architectural team member identifies a project that does not have MAPEI specified, he/she visits the architect to secure a specification. All selected projects are entered into MAPEI’s customer relationship management (CRM) system, where they can easily be tracked for information regarding the project. The architectural team representative and the local MAPEI sales team representatives meet periodically to discuss the projects.

Successful relationships bring more growth

By consistently employing this three-pronged plan, the architectural program met with success and our team was increased to 10 people. MAPEI now has architectural representatives in New England, New York, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, Florida,

the Midwest, the western U.S. (including Denver and Texas), the Southwest (including Hawaii), Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. In 2016, the team plans to add a person for the Ohio region. To consistently maintain a strong team, we look for experienced architectural sales people with backgrounds in architecture, design and/or general construction.

Over the past few years, MAPEI has added to our portfolio of offerings such diverse product lines as wood-flooring products, sports/turf installation materials, products for structural strengthening, care and maintenance products for flooring, and a unique decorative/protective elastomeric coatings line.

In 2016, as you have seen in our Top Story (pages 2-6), we will be adding more lines, including below-grade waterproofing systems and products for underground construction.

This is another example of MAPEI being the single source for many construction needs and the supplier of choice throughout construction sites. This expanded product portfolio gives the architectural team additional opportunities to talk with the developer and the A&D team, making MAPEI an integral part of the total design.

Mike is the National Manager of Architectural and Commercial Projects for MAPEI. Mike has been working within the flooring industry for more than 35 years. He has specialized in tile and stone installation systems, where he has been involved with installation, distribution and sales, focusing on design professionals.

About the author: Mike Granatowski

SPECIAL FEATURE | 2016 TRADE SHOWS


MAPEI EXHIBITS GROWTH AT 2016 TRADE

SHOWS

MAPEI hosted booths at both The International Surface Event (TISE) and the International Builders’ Show (IBS) during the third annual Design & Construction Week. This mega event was held in Las Vegas from January 19-22, with an anticipated 110,000 guests at all four partner trade shows (TISE, IBS, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show [KBIS] and the International Window Coverings Expo [IWCE]).

MAPEI business managers and sales representatives spoke with customers at MAPEI’s TISE booth about new and popular MAPEI products designed to make work easier for installers. New introductions included Mapesil™ T 100%-silicone sealant for heavy traffic and movement joints; MAPEI Ultralite™ S1 Quick rapid-setting, lightweight tile mortar;

and Ultraflex™ LHT ™ large-and-heavy-tile mortar, and three new special-purpose self-leveling underlayments – lightweight Ultraplan® Lite, Ultraplan LSC liquid skimcoat, and extremely fast-setting Ultraplan QuickTraffic.

At the IBS show, MAPEI exhibited floor-covering, tile and stone installation system solutions for residential builders and remodelers. Individual kiosks representing the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, home office, patio and workshop displayed the combinations of MAPEI products that builders could use to create a warranted single-source system for their flooring-installation needs. Attendees could see at a glance that MAPEI was at work everywhere in the home, adding to their sense of comfort and well-being.



One highlight of TISE for MAPEI was when the company received six Clear Seas Research awards for preferred brand of cementitious grout; cement-based medium-bed mortars; single-component grouts; cement-based thin-set mortars; organic-based adhesives; and self-leveling and patching underlayments. Clear Seas, a market research company covering the flooring industry, surveys the members of the National Tile Contractors Association every two years, asking for their preferred manufacturer in 16 different categories. These six awards represented a record number that Clear Seas has given to a single tile and stone installation systems manufacturer, and is a testament to MAPEI’s continuous efforts to be customers’ supplier of choice.

TISE attendees enjoyed demonstrations of new products by the MAPEI demo team, and many turned out for MAPEI’s VIP hospitality event. MAPEI’s public relations and business management personnel hosted one-on-one meetings with members of the media, giving personal tours and answering individual questions.

Clear Seas' Beth Surowiec (far right) presents Most Preferred Brand awards to MAPEI management.


The numbers are in, and Informa Exhibitions reported, “World of Concrete 2016 exceeded expectations across the board. This signature event for the concrete industry drew 60,110 registered professionals, up from 55,779 in 2015, and featured more than 1,532 companies exhibiting across more than 743,889 net square feet [69 110 m2] of space, an increase of more than 67,000 net square feet [6 224 m2] from 2015. This was the largest World of Concrete in seven years.”

MAPEI exhibited the company’s growth in the Americas during the show, which was held in Las Vegas on February 2-5. In the main booth within the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall, MAPEI displayed and gave demonstrations of its Elastocolor ® protective and decorative coatings, as well as its MapeWrap™ products for structural strengthening of buildings and infrastructure. MAPEI also introduced the new Mapeproof ™ and Mapethene™ lines of below-grade waterproofing products, which generated strong interest from booth visitors.

In the North Hall, MAPEI/GRT promoted its concrete admixtures with the support of the sales and marketing team for this line of products that were introduced into the Americas with the acquisition of General Resource Technology, Inc., in 2014. Many GRT customers came by

the booth to talk about current business and to discuss the new concrete admixtures that MAPEI is adding from its European product offerings.

In the outdoor display area, MAPEI partnered with WerkMaster – a leading manufacturer of grinding and polishing machines, to demonstrate the beautiful polished concrete finish that can be achieved with Ultratop® PC, a high-flow, quick-setting, self-leveling, cementitious topping optimized for polishing.

MAPEI demo team demonstrations, the VIP hospitality event and individual media meetings were also highlights of this show.



MAPEI’s participation at Construct Canada in Toronto, Ontario, on December 2-4, was a huge success. With over 30,000 attendees registered for the event, MAPEI had the opportunity to interact with many local customers and showcase key systems from several of the company’s product lines, including: Concrete Restoration Systems, Floor Covering Installation Systems, Tile & Stone Installation Systems, and Products for Structural Strengthening. MAPEI highlighted its structural-strengthening products, which were used during the recent Scotia Plaza building renovation in Toronto.

MAPEI’s participation at Buildex Vancouver – the largest tradeshow in western Canada – on February 24-25, was another great success for MAPEI’s Canadian team. With 600+ exhibits, 14,000 attendees and more than 70 educational seminars at the event, the show offered many informational and educational opportunities for the construction, renovation, architecture, interior design and property management industries.

MAPEI representatives had the opportunity to interact with many local customers, showcasing key systems from several of the company’s product lines, including: Concrete Restoration Systems, Tile & Stone Installation Systems, Floor Covering Installation Systems, Products for Wood Flooring, and Products for Structural Strengthening.


Lightweight, Self-Leveling Underlayment

Ultraplan Lite is a polymer-modified, calcium-aluminate-based, lightweight, self-drying, self-leveling underlayment. It has been specifically designed for use for leveling substrates that are not rated to carry the full weight of a traditional self-leveling underlayment. Ultraplan Lite mixes easily and flows out to a suitable finish with a final dry density of about 67 lbs. per cu. ft. (1 073 kg per m3) at 28 days.

Features and Benefits• About 50% the density of traditional self-

leveling underlayments

• Up to 2" (5 cm) in thickness in a single pour

• 25 lbs. (11,3 kg) of Ultraplan Lite provides coverage equal to 50 lbs. (22,7 kg) of a standard self-leveler

Uses• For leveling, smoothing and repairing floors

before installation of flooring systems and coverings

• For use over radiant-heated floors and to encapsulate hydronic and electric radiant-heated floors

• Interior residential applications (rental apartments, condominiums and homes)

• Interior commercial applications (office buildings, hotel rooms/hallways, restaurants and cafeterias)

• Interior institutional applications (hospitals, schools, universities, libraries and government buildings)

NEW! Ultraplan® Lite

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Product Performance PropertiesLaboratory Tests ResultspH 11

Wet density 74 lbs. per cu. ft. (1 185 kg per m3)

Cured density 65 to 67 lbs. per cu. ft. (1 041 to 1 073 kg per m3)

Compressive strength – ASTM C349

1 day > 2,000 psi (13,8 MPa)

7 days > 2,400 psi (16,6 MPa)

28 days > 3,500 psi (24,1 MPa)

Flexural strength – ASTM C348 (CAN/CSA-A23.2-8C)

28 days > 750 psi (5,17 MPa)

Shelf Life and Product Characteristics (before mixing)

Shelf life 1 year when stored in original, unopened packaging at 73°F (23°C) and 50% RH

Physical state Powder

Color Gray

VOCs (Rule #1168 of California’s SCAQMD) 0 g per L

Protect containers from freezing in transit and storage. Provide for heated storage on site and deliver all materials at least 24 hours before work begins.

Application Properties at 73°F (23°C) and 50% relative humidity

Mixing ratio 4.8 to 5.4 U.S. qts. (4,54 to 5,11 L) of water per 25 lbs. (11,3 kg) of Ultraplan Lite

Mixing time 1 to 2 minutes

Profile required CSP #2 to #3

Temperature range for application 50°F to 90°F (10°C to 32°C)

Flow time* Up to 15 minutes

Thickness range for single-lift application 1/8" to 2" (3 mm to 5 cm)

Drying time before installation of non-moisture-sensitive floor coverings at 73°F (23°C) 6 hours

Drying time before installation of moisture-sensitive floor coverings at 73°F (23°C) at 2" (5 cm) thickness 48 to 72 hours

* Flow time varies based on jobsite conditions.

A NEW LEVEL OF SUPERHEROESSworn to flatten your villainous subfloor problems

Super fluid abilities to smooth out substrates in thin layers, replacing trowel-applied counterparts

Able to flatten floors using about half the Density of normal self-leveling compounds

Contact your local MAPEI superhero sales representative for details.

Ultraplan®

LiteUltraplan®

LiteUltraplan®

LSCUltraplan®

LSCIncredibly fast-curing properties that allow for solid vinyl floor installations within 3 hours of application

Ultraplan®Ultraplan®

QuickTraf�cQuickTraf�c

PROJECT REFERENCE | ONE LIGHT LUXURY APARTMENTS

HIGH-RISE DOWNTOWN

MAPEI floor products help build landmark Kansas City residential tower

One Light Luxury Apartments – Kansas City, Missouri


Overview: MAPEI products for the surface preparation and installation of ceramic tile, vinyl plank and carpet tile were used to complete stylish new luxury apartments located in the Power & Light District of Kansas City.

With combined municipal and private investments, One Light Luxury Apartments represents the first residential tower built in downtown Kansas City since 1976 and the first new high-rise construction within the freeway loop since 2006. One Light is just one of almost 80 projects – totaling investments of more than $1.7 billion – that are a part of the rejuvenation of downtown Kansas City that began in 2012.

One Light was developed by The Cordish Companies as a 25-story high-rise residential building in the heart of Kansas City’s Power & Light District. The multi-story building includes 307 residential units, two retail tenants on the first level, club rooms, 7,000 square feet (650 m2) of office space for The Cordish Companies, and two penthouse floors.

The 325 apartments range in size from 595-square-foot (55,3-m2) studios to 1,395-square-foot (130-m2) penthouses, with each residential unit featuring views of the Kansas City skyline, according to One Light's Website. Shopping, dining and entertainment are a short walk away; within the apartment complex itself, residents can find a fitness center, theater, pool, community kitchen and club rooms.

Two installer companies were selected for the flooring and wall installations – FDC Contract for carpet, wood and vinyl plank, and Metro Tile Contractors for tile. One Light is a high-end project, and both installers relied on MAPEI’s installation materials for success.

MAPEI products on the jobsite

Teams from FDC Contract began their work by using Planiprep™ SC skimcoating and patching compound to produce a smooth, even substrate for the placement of luxury vinyl plank. Because the teams were working on a multi-unit high-rise project, it was important to provide sound reduction between floors.

To accomplish this task, the teams used Ultrabond ECO® 360 high-performance adhesive to lay down a total of 150,000 square feet (13 935 m2) of Eco-Silencer HD FOF acoustical underlayment. Over this underlayment, the teams again used Ultrabond ECO 360 – with its easy trowelability for quick installation – to set Shaw’s “Native Origins” luxury vinyl tile (LVT).

FDC Contract installers also set 5,000 square feet (465 m2) of 3/8" (10-mm) engineered hardwood in the club room, community kitchen and entrance to the outdoor pool on the fourth floor of One Light. For this installation, the installers used Ultrabond ECO 995 – MAPEI’s premium adhesive for all types of wood flooring and bamboo. Ultrabond ECO 995 can be used in a single-coat application method that provides a superior bond and moisture vapor emission control on concrete slabs. Ultrabond ECO 995 also provides sound-reduction properties, making it suitable for use in multi-unit housing projects.


PROJECT REFERENCE | ONE LIGHT LUXURY APARTMENTS

TECHNICAL DATA

One Light Luxury Apartments, Kansas City, Missouri (USA)

Architect: Humphreys & Partners Architects, L.P.

Period of construction: 2015

Years of MAPEI involvement: 2015

Where MAPEI products were used: MAPEI products for the installation of tile, vinyl plank and carpet tile were used to complete stylish new luxury apartments located in the Power & Light District of Kansas City, Missouri. Ultrabond ECO 360 was used to install 150,000 square feet (13 935 m2) of acoustical underlayment throughout the 325 apartments, and also to install 150,000 square feet (13 935 m2) of luxury vinyl tile over the underlayment.

Client: The Cordish Companies

Project managers: Kevin Coffman (Metro Tile Contractors) and Todd Saunders (FDC Contract)

General contractor: J.E. Dunn

Tile and stone installer: Metro Tile Contractors

Floor-covering installer: FDC Contract

MAPEI distributor: Carpet Cushions & Supplies (Kansas City)

MAPEI coordinator: Brett Robben

MAPEI ProductsPreparing and waterproofing surfaces in apartments: Planiprep SC, Mapelastic AquaDefense and Mapelastic CI

Setting and grouting tile on floors and walls in apartment bathrooms and in lobby area: Ultraflex LFT and Ultracolor Plus

Installing carpet tile in hallways: Ultrabond ECO 810

Installing acoustical underlayment and luxury vinyl plank in apartments: Ultrabond ECO 360

Installing engineered hardwood in 4th-floor common areas: Ultrabond ECO 995

FDC also installed carpet tiles in the hallways of the 21 residential floors by using Ultrabond ECO 810. This professional carpet tile adhesive provides quick drying times and an enhanced, aggressive tack for fast-track vinyl-backed carpet tile installations.

For the tile installed in apartment bathrooms and in lobby areas on the main floor, Metro Tile Contractors used a strong MAPEI system. They began by applying Mapelastic® AquaDefense to waterproof interior corners of all walls in the bathroom showers. They then used Mapelastic CI for crack isolation on bathroom floors. The walls in the showers were set with a Crossville 6" x 24" (15 x 61 cm) porcelain stone tile called "Shades," while the bathroom floor tiles were set with Daltile 12" x 24" (30 x 61 cm) “City View” porcelain tiles. Both the wall and floor tiles were set with MAPEI’s Ultraflex™ LFT ™ mortar for large-format tile, which is formulated with Easy Glide Technology™ for ease of application. All of the tile joints in the bathrooms were filled with Ultracolor® Plus premium sanded grout.

“This was a pretty straightforward job,” said Kevin Coffman, project manager for Metro Tile. “One very interesting thing for us was the way this job flowed. We

worked the project from bottom to top, and thanks to the general contractor, J.E. Dunn, it was a true design-and-build process. While we were tiling bathrooms on the fifth floor, they were pouring concrete on the 17th floor, and by the time we were working on the 10th floor, the 25-story building was being topped off. Once we had chased the building to the top penthouses, we then returned to the main floor to tile common areas on the main floor.”

On the main floor, Metro Tile crews set 18" x 36" (46 x 91 cm) large-format tiles from an imported series by Daltile on the walls and floors of the lobby and waiting areas. The installers cut the tile surrounding the fireplace down to 9" x 36" (23 x 91 cm) to create a beautiful floor-to-ceiling backdrop for the lobby. In these areas, Metro Tile also used Ultraflex LFT and Ultracolor Plus.

“MAPEI was the materials manufacturer of choice on the project for both the tile contractor and flooring contractor,” said MAPEI coordinator Brett Robben. “Both contractors knew that we had solutions to help them with the tight construction timeline and specific requirements of the project. They looked at MAPEI for solutions to these issues and we were able to deliver recommendations with confidence. This tower will be a staple in the Kansas City skyline for years to come.”


WORLD OF MAPEI | MAPEI GROUP RESULTS

HOW MAPEI INNOVATES TO SUCCEED AND GROW by Dr. Giorgio Squinzi, CEO and President of the MAPEI Group

As one of the world’s leading companies in the manufacturing of chemical products for the building industry, MAPEI constantly sets new quality standards through its innovative products to fulfill its desire to compete and excel on a global scale.

Through the enthusiasm of our employees and the team spirit that inspires everything we do, we exhibit the strength of a group that is heading into the future with determination and confidence.

The MAPEI Group, which always focuses on a medium-/long-term growth strategy, pays careful attention to its customers,

markets and new technologies. With great faith in the fact that we offer products of the highest standard and quality to every market in which we operate, we were able to make 2015 a good year for MAPEI as the company grew worldwide at a rate of almost 13%.

This figure needs to be interpreted in conjunction with various different local situations, bearing in mind countries with depressed markets – such as Italy and France – along with worldwide regions like North America and the Asia-Pacific area where growth was as high as 20%. The Group also performed well in Germany, Great Britain, Hungary and the

2015 was a good year for MAPEI as the company grew worldwide at a rate of almost 13%.

+13%

WORLD OF MAPEI | MAPEI GROUP RESULTS

Scandinavian countries. These positive results were due to the fact the Group is very competitive on the global market, but they can also be attributed to MAPEI’s constant commitment to its three key strategies: research, internationalization and specialization.

Investments in Research and Development into new products and technologies have increased and are always aimed at meeting the demands of every single market in which we operate, as we strive to become the leading player in all these markets. Plus, we strive to accomplish this goal while reinforcing our commitment to developing industrial processes and products in a sustainable way: We create products designed to reduce energy consumption and VOC (volatile organic compound) emission levels that are also safe for the environment, production staff, installers and end-users.

MAPEI’s commitment to protecting health and the environment is also embodied in our design work, such as the construction of manufacturing plants using local and eco-sustainable materials. In this respect, too, we are global in the right way: MAPEI’s

internationalization has deep roots entrenched in an awareness of being able to design and manufacture the best that can be offered to building markets around the world, based on extremely high specialization that offers innovative ideas and solutions ideal for every individual market.

In 2015 the Group continued to expand across five continents from a commercial, manufacturing and organizational viewpoint, creating new industrial units, reinforcing those already in operation and increasing the number of people it employs. This extraordinary growth at a time of global recession is a source of great satisfaction for the over 9,000 staff and workers currently employed by the MAPEI Group.

Although it is true that the global building industry is expected to improve in 2016 – growth is forecast to be 3.6% – the overall economic situation at the beginning of this year is not all roses for various different reasons, including the drop in the price of oil. While the dropping price of oil means lower energy bills, the drop in the price of oil is a problem for our client-nations that are both small- and medium-sized oil producers, meaning that they will probably have less money available for buying our products.

Although we are still optimistic and positive about the year that has just begun, there are so many uncertainties that we recognize. Some things are very positive, but others still are not working as they should. Ultimately, this will be another tough year, which means we will have to draw on all of our skill and expertise. Nevertheless, we are still confident of achieving great results through investments in research, reinforcing our existing manufacturing facilities and building new plants.

Design work is well underway on nine new plants that will soon be built. A new manufacturing plant in Australia and another in India will come into operation this year, while other investments will be completed in 2017. Our aim is to raise our capacity to compete globally, while at the same time creating new jobs.

We are used to fighting and also winning, because MAPEI’s real strength lies in teamwork and in the endless resources each of us manages to draw upon when required.

So it is our hope that all of MAPEI’s friends, customers and staff, both in Italy and around the world, can make their dreams come true and continue to think and work on a grand scale, while keeping their feet firmly on the ground. This will allow everybody to grab any opportunities that arise and turn them into real chances to grow and improve, something that MAPEI strives to do all over the world.

We are used to fighting and also winning, because MAPEI’s real strength lies in teamwork

MAPEI’s commitment to protecting health and the environment is also embodied in our design work



WORLD OF MAPEI | GLOBAL TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY

In 2015, the global construction market reached a value of approximately 7,000 billion Euros, registering an estimated growth of 2.6% compared with 2014. This trend was slightly lower than the rate of growth in the overall global economy, which, according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund, grew by 3.1%. The forecast for 2016 is for general improvement in conditions for the global building industry, which is expected to grow by 3.6%.

Western Europe

Over recent years this region has had a much lower impact on the global construction market, and is currently estimated to account for around 19% of the market. Investments in the construction sector in this area had an overall increase of 0.7% in 2015, while residential sector growth was around 1%. The development of the building market was lower than that of the overall economy for the area, which was 1.6%.

During the current year, the construction sector could grow by more than 2%, which would mean a better performance compared with that of the economy in general, which is expected to be 1.4%. Estimates for 2017 indicate that growth in the economy should be consolidated although remaining at a moderate level (+1.7%), while growth in the building sector is expected to be stronger, with investments forecasted to increase by around 3%.

The trends for the five main countries in the region are a mixed bag. In 2015, the German building sector slowed down compared with the previous year and had a moderate growth of around 1%. The market should take off again during the two-year period of 2016-2017, when the average rate of growth in investments could be around 2.5%.

by Francesco Doria, MAPEI Group Market Research Manager

NAFTA,1,309 billion Euros

2015: +3.6%2016: +4.9%

Latin America,359 billion Euros

2015: -3.3%2016: -0.3%

Western Europe,1,308 billion Euros

2015: +0.7%2016: +2.2%

Other Middle East Countries and Africa,

221 billion Euros

2015: +4.0%2016: +5.2%

Eastern Europe,370 billion Euros

2015: -2.1%2016: +0.6%

Persian Gulf,229 billion Euros

2015: +4.4%2016: +5.2%

Far East and Oceania,3,195 billion Euros

2015: +4.0%2016: +4.1%

GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION MARKETInvestments in 2015 and changes in comparison with the previous year.

Source: Prometeia, December 2015

TRENDS IN THE GLOBAL BUILDING INDUSTRY

The forecast for 2016 is for global growth of 3.6%



In 2015, the French building sector went through another serious recession, with a drop in output of more than 3%, due mainly to the particularly weak trend in the housing sector. Analysts believe that 2016 will be another difficult year for the French building industry, with a slight fall in investments; and an upturn is not expected until next year.

In Italy, 2015 was characterized by a stagnation of investments in the construction sector according to Cresme (Italian Research Centre on Economics, Society and Market for Building and Environment), while other forecasts suggest there was a further drop in this sector. The market benefited from a positive trend in investments for home renovation, which had a net growth. The forecast for 2016 is moderately positive, and a growth in investments has been forecast of between 1% and 1.8%. During the current year all market sectors should go through a period of growth except for the new housing sector, for which an upturn is not expected until 2017.

Last year the UK building sector slowed down compared with the period of record growth that had been registered up until 2014; but analysts believe that, starting in 2016, the construction sector will start growing again at a rate of around 4%. The country, which has excellent prospects for economic growth, will benefit from a widespread increase in investments in the housing sector, the non-residential sector and the infrastructure sector.

2015 was the year of the long awaited re-launch of the Spanish building sector, which, after a long, hard-hitting recession, witnessed an estimated increase in investments of 4.6%. A relaunch of the housing sector in particular, which had been the hardest hit by the economic crisis, was behind the growth in the market. The period of expansion in the building market should also continue during the two-year period of 2016-2017, which should be characterized by an average annual growth rate of more than 4%.

Eastern Europe

Last year the economy in this area remained more or less stagnant and was negatively influenced by the net recession in Russia, where GDP fell by 3.7%. The collapse of the Russian construction sector (which lost more than 9% of its value) hit both the housing sector

and the infrastructure sector. This recession in the most significant market in the region explains why there was a fall of around 2% in the value of investments in the construction sector in Eastern Europe.

In 2015, Eastern Europe’s share of the world construction market fell to less than 6%. The overall decline in the market for this area was tempered by the positive trend in the countries of Central Eastern Europe, especially Poland, which last year had very high economic growth and a boom in the building sector (+5.6%), along with the added support of infrastructure projects.

The forecast for the Russian economy in 2016 is for another period of recession (-1.8%), further penalizing the overall development of GDP in Eastern Europe. During the current year the Russian building industry could suffer a further drop in investments, estimated to be around 4%. The recession in the Russian construction market will be tempered by sustained development in all other main markets in the region, which will benefit from easier access to credit and from heavy investments from the European Union for the infrastructure sector.

Analysts believe that, once again in 2016, Poland will be the best performer in the Eastern Europe area, thanks to an increase in investments of more than 7%. The growth in the Polish building industry will be particularly strong in the civil engineering sector, for which “double-digit” growth is expected.

For the current year, the Turkish building industry, on the other hand, is expected to be more or less stagnant. Turkey is a country with enormous potential (it is one of the most important producers and consumers of cement and ceramic tiles in the world) and, up until 2014, had gone through a period of high growth in the construction market. Tensions within the country, however, along with terrorism and conflicts with other countries in the region, have had a negative influence on the outlook for the Turkish building industry.

Overall, the building sector in Eastern Europe will probably have one of the least positive trends in the global construction market in 2016, with an estimated growth in investments of just 0.6%.

In 2016, the recession in the Brazilian economy will continue, with an estimated drop in GDP of -3.8% compared with 2015.

Starting in 2016, the construction sector in the UK will start growing again at a rate of around 4%.


North America

In 2015 the overall growth of the North American economy reached 2.3%. GDP rose by an estimated 2.4% in the USA and 2.5% in Mexico, while the Canadian economy grew by a more modest 1.2%. The strong growth of the residential sector in the USA and Mexico has sustained the overall development of building activities in the region, while the trends for the market were rather more modest in Canada.

Overall, estimates indicate there was a 3.6% increase in investments in the construction industry in this area in 2015. After the collapse of the building market between 2006 and 2011, the upturn, which started in 2012, led to a partial recovery in terms of volumes; and today investments in the construction industry in North America account for around 19% of the global building market.

In 2016 the rate of growth for GDP in the region should not be significantly different from the levels achieved in 2015, except for a partial strengthening of economic trends in Canada. Analysts believe that the boom in the residential building sector in the USA and Mexico could also continue into the current year and sustain the growth of the entire building market. Investments in the construction industry in the USA in particular could grow by more than 5%. In Canada, an overall improvement in the economic climate should be joined by better trends in the building market, with investments expected to increase by an estimated 2.6%. Overall, in the NAFTA region, market growth for 2016 is expected to be around 5%; and, as a result, building activities in this area will be among the most dynamic in the world.

Latin America

Brazil, the most important market in Latin America, went through a period of serious recession in 2015. GDP fell by 3.8%, one of the reasons being the effect of restrictive economic policies and lower income from the export of raw materials. Other countries that are net exporters of raw materials, first and foremost Peru and Chile, had rather modest economic growth last year, too. Overall, GDP in the Latin America region fell by more than 1%. The economic climate in the construction sector was even more negative, and

the fall in investments is estimated to have been 3.3%, the worst performance in the global construction market.

The trend for the building market was particularly negative in Brazil, where an erosion in buying power for families, and the difficulty in obtaining credit, had a negative influence on output in this sector. A series of political scandals further contributed to a delay in the development of important infrastructure projects, worsening the crisis in the Brazilian building industry. The positive evolution of the Colombian and Argentinean markets slightly helped temper the overall fall in output in the building industry for the area as a whole.

In 2016, the recession in the Brazilian economy will probably continue at the same rate experienced in 2015. Apart from the Brazilian economy, it would seem that the Venezuelan and Argentinean economies will also go through a period of recession. For other countries on the other hand, such as Colombia, Chile and Peru, the outlook for growth in GDP is brighter.

Overall, 2016 is expected to be a period of recession in the Latin America region. For the current year, the recession in the Brazilian building industry (which is the dominant market in the area) will negatively influence the general trend of investments in the construction industry, which could even fall slightly. In brief, Latin America will continue to be the area with the weakest worst performance in the building market at a worldwide level.

Persian Gulf nations

In 2015 the most significant economies in the region – Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – had a lower rate of economic growth than in 2014, which was due to a fall in income from oil exports, which resulted in lower incomes for the exporting nations. The estimated rate of growth in GDP in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was between 3% and 4%, while Iran faced stagnation.

The construction sector was only partially affected by the fall in the price of oil. The financial reserves accumulated during the oil industry’s boom period allowed the development of important infrastructure and housing projects that were already underway to continue, especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Estimates indicate that overall growth in investments in the construction industry in 2015 was around 4.4%.

In 2016, economic growth in the region is expected to strengthen and, as a result, the construction sector could benefit from the improved economic climate. Forecasts indicate that the market could grow by more than 5%, returning to the levels of growth seen in 2014. In this region, however, there is a feeling of uncertainty regarding a further drop in the price of crude oil and the recent growing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The investments in the construction industry in the NAFTA countries may grow by 5% in 2016.



These factors could lead to a high level of instability in the area, and that could impact its overall development.

Other Middle Eastern nations and Africa

This region is characterized by one of the highest levels of instability in the global economy. Estimates regarding trends in the construction sector are obviously highly dependent on developments on the political scene and the ongoing turbulence in the area. In 2015 economic development was quite strong for both the main North African markets (especially Egypt and Morocco) and the sub-Sahara region, in spite of a slower rate of growth than in 2014.

Estimates for last year indicate that investments in the construction market may have grown by as much as 4%. Even though the rebuilding process in Libya is behind schedule, the market benefited from the development of infrastructure and housing projects, sustained by urbanization processes and by plans for public building projects.

Terrorist acts carried out recently in a number of North African countries could have a highly negative effect on the economic development of the entire region. The tourist industry, one of the key sectors for local economies, in Egypt and Morocco in particular, could suffer. For the sub-Sahara region, estimates indicate economic growth of more than 4%, which should be especially stimulated by Nigeria, the most important market in the area. If there are positive developments on the social-political scene and less turbulence in the area, the building market in 2016 could strengthen its rate of growth and record an increase in investments in the construction industry of more than 5%.

The African region has a great deal of potential and is able to attract enormous financial resources – especially from the Asiatic nations – aimed at the infrastructures market (a key sector to guarantee the overall development of the economy). If the problems that threaten the development of the African continent do not worsen over the next few years, the construction sector, in the medium- to long-term, could register one of the highest rates of growth in the world.

Far East and Oceania

2015 was characterized by a slowdown in the rate of economic growth in China, which also suffered due to an increase in the

tensions felt by the financial and exchange markets. India, on the other hand, registered a very high rate of growth – more than 7%. Among the more mature markets, the increase in GDP in Japan was quite modest and remained lower than 1%, while in Australia the rate of growth was around 2.5%. Last year the building market in the region registered an estimated rate of growth of 4%. Growth, therefore, continued, but at more sustainable and much lower rates than those seen in recent years.

If the economic and financial outlook for China becomes more stable, the growth in GDP and in the construction sector in this region could be similar in the current year to that of the previous year. A slowdown in the Chinese residential sector could be partially counterbalanced by the strong development expected in the Indian building industry.

The outlook for the construction market in India is extremely positive, both in the housing sector and in the civil engineering sector. The residential sector is benefiting from an increase in demand in the housing sector, fed by a growing middle class, while growth in the infrastructure market is guaranteed by the investments already planned by the government. In fact, the modernization program for the transport systems is an absolute priority to guarantee growth in the Indian economy.

Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia are other markets in which building activity should reap the benefits of the strong growth that is expected, particularly in the infrastructure sector. Overall, in spite of more moderate rates of growth in the building market, Asia confirms once again that it is the mainstay of the world’s construction industry.

The Far East and Oceania area accounts for more than 45% of the global building industry and, in the past few years, has constantly increased its slice of the world’s total construction output. The Asian Pacific area includes six of the most important construction markets in the world and absorbs a large part of the world’s total cement consumption. For the near future, this area will probably continue to be the main driving force behind growth in the global building industry and influence the overall trend in the global construction market.

The Far East and Oceania area accounts for more than 45% of the global building industry, and for the near future this area will probably continue to be the main driving force behind growth in the global building industry.


TECHNICAL DO'S & DON'TS | GROUTING COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

A clean and safe culinary environment is critical wherever food and beverages are being produced, prepared and served. Nowhere is this truer than in commercial kitchens. Because of its ease of maintenance and durability, tile works well as the selected floor covering in the commercial kitchen environment.

When it comes to tiling commercial kitchens, everyone familiar with these projects agrees that the installation is facing a harsh environment. All of the components of the

floor-covering installation – the substrate, waterproofing products, mortar, grout and tile – are under constant attack by varying temperatures, boiling grease, bacteria, harsh disinfectant chemicals, aggressive acidic cleaning techniques and the abundant use of water.

Care must be taken in the selection of the tile and in the use of the proper installation materials for this demanding and difficult installation.

GROUTING COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

TECHNICAL DO'S & DON'TS | GROUTING COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

DO carefully select tile products that are under consideration for your commercial kitchen installation. Quarry tile is unglazed, which increases the slip resistance and makes it an excellent choice for areas subject to spills and excessive moisture that often occur in commercial kitchens. This excellent-quality tile floor will not last long, however, unless careful attention is given to properly selecting quality, chemically resistant setting materials.

DO select a qualified tile installer who is familiar with the industry standards and the requirements of a commercial kitchen. This work requires experienced and qualified installers with sufficient product knowledge and experience who are certified through one or more of the following well-known industry programs:

• Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) Certified Tile Installer program – www.tilecareer.com

• International Masonry Institute (IMI) Contractor College – www.imiweb.org

• Apprenticeship programs for journeyman tile layer – www.bacweb.org and www.carpenters.org

• National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) Five-Star Contractor program – www.tile-assn.com

• Tile Contractors’ Association of America (TCAA) Trowel of Excellence program – www.tcaainc.org

DO pay special attention to the grout. For sanitary reasons, the tile in a commercial kitchen needs to be grouted. While grout joints have become narrow in recent years, quarry tile joints in commercial kitchens are commonly 1/4" (6 mm) wide. A high-performance, 100%-solids, industrial-grade epoxy grout that meets or exceeds ANSI A118.3 requirements is the best choice for grout in commercial kitchens that are subjected to hot-water and pressure cleaning, harsh cleaners, disinfecting chemicals, fatty acids and no-rinse cleaners.

DON'T grout commercial kitchens with cement-based grouts. Cementitious grout will degrade or deteriorate when it is subjected to the acidic and harsh chemicals of a commercial kitchen.

DO use MAPEI’s Kerapoxy® IEG CQ, which is an industrial-grade, water-cleanable, 100%-solids epoxy grout with high chemical and stain resistance. It is ideal for the demanding application of

a commercial kitchen because it is nonshrinking, nonsagging, fast-curing and efflorescence-free. DON'T hard-grout all of the joints. No commercial tile installation is complete without properly installed expansion or movement joints. The movement joints should be installed following the requirements of Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Method EJ171. This method requires that, in areas exposed to moisture like a commercial kitchen, movement joints

should be placed 8 to 12 feet (2,44 to 3,66 m) in each direction, around any protrusions through the floor and at the perimeter. The method calls for quarry and paver tile joints to be no less than 1/4" (6 mm) wide. Mapesil™ T silicone sealant is specifically formulated for heavy traffic and expansion/movement joints exceeding both ASTM and ANSI standards.

DON'T ignore proper cleaning methods. No-rinse cleaners create a film on the tile and grout that breaks down fat and proteins into a fatty acid. This acid is known to cause damage to some tile and to the grout. Either remove or rinse the area after use, or change to a neutral cleaner that is known to effectively clean quarry tile. Neutral cleaners like MAPEI’s UltraCare™ Concentrated Tile & Grout Cleaner are highly concentrated and formulated for everyday use. When used regularly, biodegradable UltraCare Concentrated Tile & Grout Cleaner helps to maintain the tile as well as the grout, and will not cause damage to either.

Consider the kitchen design a complete assembly: If one component from the assembly of tile, installation materials and cleaning methods is not chosen correctly from the beginning, the installation can fail, causing costly downtime and unnecessary expenses. The correct grout choice for a commercial kitchen can produce an installation that is strong, durable and clean.


FCSI, LEED AP, Jim is the Manager of Technical Services at MAPEI. He is actively involved in the tile industry standards as Vice President of the Materials & Methods Standards Association (MMSA), and a member of both the TCNA Handbook Committee and the NTCA Technical Committee.

About the author: Jim Whitfield


100%-Solids, Industrial-Grade Epoxy Grout with Color-Coated Quartz

Kerapoxy IEG CQ is a water-cleanable, 100%-solids epoxy grout with high chemical and stain resistance. It is a nonshrinking, nonsagging, fast-curing, efflorescence-free grout. Color-coated quartz dramatically improves its cleanability, so that Kerapoxy IEG CQ leaves very little film residue during cleanup of excess grout with a grout float. The color-coated quartz also eliminates pigment bleed, so tiles are not stained during installation. Kerapoxy IEG CQ is ideal for applications where high-strength, mold- and mildew-resistant grout joints are required.

Features and Benefits• Resistant to chemicals, stains and high

temperatures

• High-strength

• Water cleanup

• Can be steam-cleaned

Uses• For joints between 1/8" and 5/8" (3 and

16 mm) in width

• Interior floor, wall and countertop installations

• Industrial, commercial and institutional wall/floor installations requiring high strength and stain resistance

• Grouting ceramic tile, quarry, pavers, porcelain and natural-stone tile

• Grouting heavy-traffic areas, such as subway stations, shopping malls and airports

• Grouting installations requiring high acid and chemical resistance, such as commercial kitchens, dairies, bottling plants, meat processing plants, breweries, bakeries, supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, schools, research laboratories and veterinary clinics

• High-use wet areas, such as public restrooms, gang showers, steam rooms and health clubs

Kerapoxy® IEG CQ

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

ISO 13007 Classification

Classification CodeClassification Requirement

Test Characteristic

RG (resin grout)

Abrasion resistance* Less than or equal to 0.015 cu. in. (250 mm3)

Flexural strength* Greater than 4,350 psi (30 MPa)

Compressive strength* Greater than 6,525 psi (45 MPa)

Shrinkage* Less than 0.06 in./3.28 ft. (1.5 mm/m)

Water absorption* Less than 0.0002 lb. (0.1 g)

* 28-day cure

Shelf Life and Product Characteristics

Shelf life 2 years when stored in original, unopened packaging at 73°F (23°C)

Colors Gray #09, Black #10, Brick Red #113, Mocha #42, Charcoal #47

Application Properties at 73°F (23°C) and 50% relative humidity

Protect from traffic 5 to 12 hours†

Full cure 4 days†

† Protection and cure times will vary depending on ambient temperature, substrate temperature and humidity.

Approximate Coverage**For Large Kit, with a yield of 4 U.S. gals. (15,1 L) when mixed with Part C.

Coverage is in sq. ft. (m2).

Tile SizeJoint Width

1/8" (3 mm)

1/4" (6 mm)

3/8" (10 mm)

1/2" (12 mm)

5/8" (16 mm)

4" x 8" x 1/2" (100 x 200 x 12 mm) 278 (25,8) 139 (12,9) 92 (8,55) 69 (6,41) 55 (5,11)

4" x 8" x 3/4" (100 x 200 x 19 mm) 185 (17,2) 93 (8,64) 62 (5,76) 46 (4,27) 37 (3,44)

6" x 6" x 1/2" (150 x 150 x 12 mm) 310 (28,8) 155 (14,4) 103 (9,57) 77 (7,15) 63 (5,85)

8" x 8" x 3/8" (200 x 200 x 10 mm) 550 (51,1) 275 (25,5) 185 (17,2) 138 (12,8) 110 (10,2)

10" x 10" x 3/8" (250 x 250 x 10 mm) 695 (64,6) 345 (32,1) 230 (21,4) 173 (16,1) 138 (12,8)

12" x 12" x 1/2" (300 x 300 x 12 mm) 620 (57,6) 310 (28,8) 206 (19,1) 155 (14,4) 125 (11,6)

24" x 24" x 1/2" (600 x 600 x 12 mm) 1,250 (116) 620 (57,6) 418 (38,8) 310 (28,8) 249 (23,1)

** Coverage shown is for estimating purposes only. Actual jobsite coverage may vary according to actual tile size and thickness, exact joint width, job conditions and grouting methods. When grouting abrasive or slip-resistant floor tiles, anticipated coverage can be dramatically decreased. Consult MAPEI’s Technical Services Department for approximate coverage not shown in the above table.


SINGLE-SOURCE SYSTEM

Challenge:Microbreweries and regional craft breweries are presently enjoying great popularity in North America. The Brewers Association in Boulder, Colorado, reports revenues for the U.S. craft beer market at $19.6 billion in 2014. There were more than 4,000 craft breweries in the United States in 2015, and 15 states are now home to more than 100 breweries. Canada has 520 craft breweries producing $5.75 billion in revenues.

The industrial bottling/canning process is characterized by the constant presence of liquids, mainly water. However, liquids such as beer can be highly aggressive to the materials that they come into contact with. For that reason, it is necessary to ensure that brewery floors are adequately waterproofed and, if tiled, that the tiles are set, grouted and sealed with products that can withstand the relatively harsh environment. Cleaning and maintenance of the floors are also important factors.

Solution:Step 1. As with all flooring installations, the substrate (concrete) should be well prepared. Mapecem® Quickpatch is a versatile, fast-setting, cementitious material used for the patching of concrete floors and concrete pads. Light gray Mapecem Quickpatch can be applied from featheredge to 3" (7,5 cm) for ramping or filling. If a building is being renovated to house the brewery, Mapecem Quickpatch is ideal for restoring weathered, damaged concrete surfaces.

Step 2. Because of the large amounts of water used in the brewing process and the possibility of spills, waterproofing is critical to producing a durable, long-lasting floor. Mapelastic® 315 – a trowel-applied, flexible, fiber-mesh-reinforced waterproofing and crack-isolation membrane – provides an excellent barrier to prevent water from migrating into other areas. Mapelastic 315

is compatible with any polymer-modified cement-based mortar (ANSI A118.4 or better) or epoxy mortar (ANSI A118.3). Mapelastic 315 exceeds ANSI A118.10 requirements for waterproofing.

Step 3. Kerapoxy ® 410 is a solvent-free, 100%-solids epoxy setting floor and wall mortar that is suited for areas where most chemical-resistant setting material is necessary, making it an ideal choice for setting tile on a brewery floor. It also has high compressive strength, which provides excellent impact strength in commercial facilities. Kerapoxy 410 is designed for setting ceramic and porcelain tile, quarry tile, pavers and Saltillo tile.

Step 4. Kerapoxy IEG CQ is a water-cleanable, 100%-solids epoxy grout with high chemical and stain resistance. It is a nonshrinking, nonsagging, fast-curing, efflorescence-free grout. Color-coated quartz dramatically improves its cleanability and also eliminates pigment bleed, so tiles are not stained during installation.

This grout is perfectly suited for use in any commercial and institutional floors (such as breweries) that require daily cleaning with enzymatic cleaners. Kerapoxy IEG CQ is ideal for applications where high-strength, mold- and mildew-resistant grout joints are required. In addition, it has high temperature resistance and can be steam-cleaned.

Step 5. If the tile or stone grouted with Kerapoxy IEG CQ requires sealing, allow the grout to fully cure for 7 days at room temperature before applying sealer. Then, use UltraCare™ Penetrating Plus SB Stone & Porcelain Tile Sealer, which provides maximum protection against most common stains for tile and stone, including unglazed porcelain ceramic tiles and quarry tiles.

BREWING UP A DURABLE INDUSTRIAL TILE FLOOR

Sealer for porcelain tile – UltraCare Penetrating Plus SB Stone & Porcelain Tile Sealer

Grout – Kerapoxy IEG CQ

Tile

Mortar – Kerapoxy 410

Waterproofing – Mapelastic 315 (with MAPEI's Fiberglass Mesh)

Patching where necessary – Mapecem Quickpatch

Concrete substrate

PROJECT REFERENCE | DUSIT THANI GUAM RESORT

Dusit Thani Guam Resort – Tumon Bay, Guam


ISLAND PARADISE GETS LUXURY FINISH

WITH MAPEI SYSTEMS

Located in the heart of the Pacific and just a short plane ride away from some of Asia’s main cities, Guam is a captivating tropical island paradise. The Dusit Thani Guam Resort, situated on the island’s magnificent Tumon Bay, features panoramic views from its 419 guest rooms, suites and villas, which are all finished with distinctive touches of Thai design throughout. Guests enjoy a full range of modern amenities and facilities that are designed to make each stay a unique and personalized experience.

During the initial phases of the resort's construction, a MAPEI representative and a Portland, Oregon, contractor – Steve Addison of Addison Global Interiors, Inc. (AGI) – visited Guam on a business trip. While there, they talked with the construction crews at the Dusit Thani. Learning that the crews were running into some difficulties, the representatives from MAPEI and AGI made a proposal that helped solve several challenges. AGI was engaged to do the work, and it used MAPEI products for single-source systems from concrete repairs to surface preparation, waterproofing and sound reduction, and to tile and floor-covering installations.


MAPEI products on the jobsite

A wide variety of MAPEI products were used to give the owner of the resort a long-lasting installation and to solve some very difficult problems.

• Ultraplan® M20 Plus underlayment was colored mocha and used as a wear layer in back-of-house operations areas. In the future, if Ultraplan M20 Plus begins to wear from heavy traffic, this 10,000-square-foot (929-m2) area will be covered with quarry tile.

• Ultratop® gray concrete topping was also colored and installed in the back-of-house and service areas. There are no plans to cover this 20,000-square-foot (1 858-m2) area with tile in the future, as Ultratop provides a strong wear surface.

• Both Ultraplan M20 Plus and Ultratop gray were applied over Planibond ® EBA bonding agent with a sand broadcast.

• Ultraplan 1 Plus underlayment was initially used throughout all of the corridors and hallways for self-leveling. Later in the project, the self-leveling product was switched to Novoplan® 710 SL underlayment, which was used in all of the promenades, restaurants, common areas, penthouses, the lanai and the convention center for the remainder of the self-leveling. The self-leveling crews installed Ultraplan 1 Plus and Novoplan 710 SL over Primer L™.

• ECO Prim Grip™ was used as a problem-solver all over the project, increasing bond strength wherever needed (about 20,000 square feet [1 858 m2]). It was also used extensively under Novoplan 710 SL where there were nonporous slabs. In addition, ECO Prim Grip was used under Ultraplan 1 Plus on nonporous slabs in the areas where Ultraplan 1 Plus was poured.

• The floors in some of the restaurants are floating

wood floors. The wood planks are nailed into "sleepers," which are floated over the self-leveled substrate without an adhesive.

• Mapecem® Quickpatch concrete patch was used to slope all of the balconies, and Daltile “Bay Bridge” plank tiles were installed over Mapecem Quickpatch with Ultraflex™ LFT ™ mortar and grouted with Ultracolor ® Plus grout.

• Planipatch® patching compound and Planipatch Plus® additive were used to fix transitions and make small repairs wherever needed throughout the project, covering over 50,000 square feet (4 645 m2).

• Dal-Cim 500 EX (a version of Mapeguard® 2 sheet membrane that is manufactured for Daltile) was used for sound reduction underneath the tile in all of the hotel guest rooms. The sheet membrane was applied over MAPEI SM Primer™.

• Mapelastic® AquaDefense membrane was used in all of the guest rooms to waterproof the shower areas – 7,000 square feet (650 m2) on floors and 45,000 square feet (4 181 m2) on walls.

• All of the porcelain tiles in the guest bathrooms were installed with Ultraflex LFT. This mortar was also used for quarry-tile installations in the restaurants.

• AGI originally planned to use a single mortar (Ultraflex LFT ) for all of the tile installations; one year into the project, though, MAPEI Ultralite™ Mortar Pro was introduced to the market and it fit the project perfectly due to its light weight. MAPEI Ultralite Mortar Pro was used to install travertine and porcelain tiles on 22 columns throughout the resort, as well as the floors of the lobby and promenades. Because it is a lighter product, when the installers were working on scissor lifts high up in the air on the columns, MAPEI Ultralite Mortar Pro helped reduce weight on the lifts and made for easier installation at those heights.

PROJECT REFERENCE | DUSIT THANI GUAM RESORT

TECHNICAL DATA

Dusit Thani Guam Resort, Tumon Bay, Guam (USA)

Architect: O.A. Coloma P.C. Architects

Period of construction: 2014-2015

Years of MAPEI involvement: 2014-2015

Where MAPEI products were used: MAPEI supplied a wide variety of products used for the installation of travertine, porcelain and quarry tiles; carpet tiles; and Axminster wool carpet, as well as decorative concrete flooring in the arrival area. ECO Prim Grip primer was used as a problem-solver all over the project, increasing bond strength wherever needed.

Client: Tanota Development, LLC

Project manager: Tony Costa

General contractor: Pacific Rim Land Development, Inc.

Surface-preparation contractor: Addison Global Interiors, Inc.

Tile and stone installer: Addison Global Interiors, Inc.

Floor-covering installer: Addison Global Interiors, Inc.

MAPEI distributor: Specified Surfaces (Portland, OR)

MAPEI coordinator: Chris Anderson

MAPEI ProductsPreparing and waterproofing surfaces on the interior and exterior of the resort: Ultraplan 1 Plus, Primer L, ECO Prim Grip, Ultraplan M20 Plus, Planibond EBA, Novoplan 710 SL,

Mapecem Quickpatch, Planipatch, Planipatch Plus, Dal-Cim 500 EX, MAPEI SM Primer and Mapelastic AquaDefense

Setting and grouting tile on floors and walls inside and outside of the resort: MAPEI Ultralite Mortar Pro, Ultraflex LFT, Ultracolor Plus, Kerapoxy CQ and Mapesil

Installing carpet tile and carpet in halls and guest rooms: Ultrabond ECO 810 and Ultrabond ECO 120

Providing a nonslip surface in the arrivals area of the resort: Planiseal Traffic Coat

Providing a wear surface in service areas: Ultratop

• Ultracolor Plus was used to grout all of the tiles in guest rooms, the lobby, common areas, promenades and the 22 columns. Kerapoxy®

CQ was used in the kitchens of the six signature restaurants to grout the quarry tile. All of the guest-room baths were caulked around the tubs and showers with Mapesil™ sealant in an ivory color.

• Ultrabond ECO® 810 adhesive was used to glue down carpet pads in all of the guest rooms, and walkways and common areas where carpeting or carpet tiles were used. Ultrabond ECO 810 was also used to install 48,000 square feet (4 459 m2) of carpet tiles in entryways and other parts of the building. The installers glued down the 432,000 square feet (40 134 m2) of Axminster wool carpet

in the guest rooms with Ultrabond ECO® 120 adhesive.

• The owner’s representative decided that the bus lane where guests are dropped off from the airport should have an inviting look. Therefore, AGI applied Planiseal ® Traffic Coat epoxy overlay, broadcast green aggregate into it and then applied more Planiseal Traffic Coat. The resulting drop-off area now has a nonslip surface for guests and a great wear layer for the bus traffic.

The MAPEI Technical Services teams all supported the project throughout its construction. Through their efforts and the work of the MAPEI representative, MAPEI has gained recognition and developed a very positive relationship with construction firms all over Guam.


SPECIAL FEATURE | SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM PRESENTS ALBERTO BURRI

SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM PRESENTS ALBERTO BURRI

A major retrospective exhibition sponsored in part by MAPEI

From October 9, 2015, to January 6, 2016, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, New York, presented the exhibition Alberto Burri: The Trauma of Painting. This major retrospective exhibition – the most comprehensive Burri exhibition in the United States in nearly 40 years – showcased the pioneering work of the Italian artist Alberto Burri (1915-1995), who was a former army physician and prisoner of war during World War II.

Burri’s work both demolished and reconfigured the Western world’s pictorial tradition, while re-conceptualizing modernist collage. Using unconventional materials, he moved beyond the painted surface and marked the beginning of American Abstract Expressionism and European Art Informel.

MAPEI renewed its relationship with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum by supporting the retrospective exhibition on

Burri. The artist, who became famous for his own special technique of combining collage and assemblage to create his works of art, often used polyvinyl acetate (PVA) – specifically the brand Vinavil – as an adhesive. Because of its inherent connection to Burri’s works, Vinavil (a MAPEI Group subsidiary) chose to join MAPEI and the Group’s American subsidiary, MAPEI Corporation, in supporting the Guggenheim exhibition.

Burri is best known for his series of Sacchi (sacks) made of stitched and patched remnants of torn burlap bags, often combined with fragments of discarded clothing. Far less familiar to American audiences are his other series, which this exhibition represented in depth: Catrami (tars), Muffe (molds), Gobbi (hunchbacks), Bianchi (whites), Legni (woods), Ferri (irons), Combustioni plastiche (plastic combustions), Cretti (cracks) and Cellotex works.

The artist is also famous for his Grande Cretto (Large Cretto, 1985-89), which is Burri’s monumental work of land art that was built to commemorate an earthquake’s destruction of the town of Gibellina, Sicily, in January 1968. The Grande Cretto was constructed by a team of local workers, who macerated the ruins and heaped them into blocks of white cement separated by walkways. Like a white shroud, the entire artwork covers the old urban plan of the town (which is built on a hill).

The opening section of this article was excerpted from an article of the same name published in Realtà MAPEI International, Issue #54, pp. 42-43.

Alberto Burri in his studio in Case Nove di Morra, Città di Castello, Italy, 1982. Photo: Aurelio

Amendola © Aurelio Amendola, Pistoia, Italy.


Support of the Burri exhibition has further consolidated the special bond that has developed over the years between the MAPEI Group and the Guggenheim Foundation – due to the way that the company played a role in supporting the renovation work on two important Guggenheim centers of art (the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City), and through MAPEI’s support for cultural activities connected to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – that underlines the company’s firm commitment to art and culture.

MAPEI’s special relationship with the Guggenheim Foundation was formed in 2008 with the renovation work on the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, had developed many cracks that were caused mainly by aggressive atmospheric agents. The renovations included improvements with MAPEI products that took into account the need to maintain a certain level of elasticity in the surface of the building to prevent the formation of new cracks.

Looking inside Alberto Burri’s paintings: The science of art conservation

The conservation of art involves more than the cleaning and restoration of a painting. Modern-day scientific techniques help conservators delve into the materials that the artists used and explore elements

that motivated their work. Support of the Guggenheim Foundation’s conservation efforts on the Alberto Burri exhibition was provided in part by the MAPEI Group and its Vinavil subsidiary.

Until recently, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was limited in its scientific research into art works for planned exhibits; but, a casual discussion between Marco Leona, head of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Scientific Research, and Carol Stringari, Deputy Director and Chief Conservator of the Guggenheim Foundation, has led to a collaborative program between the two museums.

Stringari wrote in the Guggenheim Foundation’s blog, “The [collaborative] program is embodied by a recently created scientist position, currently held by . . . Federica Pozzi, and supported on a temporary basis by generous grants for specific projects. As the Guggenheim is still in the process of gathering assets to set up an independent laboratory that could fulfill the institution’s daily needs for scientific analysis of modern and contemporary works, the partnership with the Met also offers much-needed access to advanced analytical instrumentation and fully equipped chemical laboratories. Overall, the Met-Guggenheim alliance is a prototype for the cultural heritage field, as it demonstrates how resources can be shared, leading to an improved understanding of artists’ materials and techniques.”

The blog from the Metropolitan Museum

of Art gives an in-depth view of the examinations that were carried out:

“An interdisciplinary study of the materials and artistic practices used by the artist [Alberto Burri] has been conducted over the last three years with magnanimous assistance from the Fondazione Palazzo Albizzini Collezione Burri in Italy and many other generous owners of Burri’s work. Painting, object, and textile conservators, along with [Federica] Pozzi and [Julie] Arslanoglu, have investigated several examples from each of Burri’s series in depth. The scientific study [provided information for] the material and process essays, co-authored by Emily Braun and [Carol] Stringari, [that have been] published in the catalogue that accompanies the exhibition. . . . In-depth scientific analysis of Burri's works was crucial to demonstrate how extensively the artist experimented with materials. He was profoundly influenced by the introduction to the market of new synthetic polymers, which he incorporated, along with traditional pigments and other common industrial products, into his creations.

“In some cases, the examination of cross sections – microscopic samples mounted in a resin block and polished to show the painting's stratigraphy – has revealed the presence of several paint layers under the artwork's surface, indicating extensive reworking and gradual changes in the composition's formal design. The information provided by the different analytical techniques


we used was often complementary and, once interpreted in its entirety, enabled us to account for the incredible complexity of color shades, textures, surface appearances, and other physical features displayed by the artworks examined.

“Burri's Muffa T (1952), for instance, includes a variety of white paints ranging from extremely cold hues to much warmer cream tones, each incorporated in smooth, lumpy, dry, crumbly, cracked, matte, glossy, opaque, or reflective surfaces. Initial noninvasive analysis through X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy revealed that all these white paints are zinc-based, with the occasional addition of other elements in minor or trace amounts. We were able to confirm the presence of zinc white, a common nineteenth- and twentieth-century artist's pigment, using Raman spectroscopy to examine minute samples taken from the painting. We also discovered – using Raman and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy – the presence of barite, calcite, gypsum, and titanium white; it appears that Burri was combining these materials with zinc white in various proportions to achieve particular color tonalities, surface textures, and translucency effects.

“Another analytical method known as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which is especially suitable for the identification of binding media – the chemical components that bind pigments together to form paint – showed that Burri selectively used newly manufactured materials such as polyvinyl acetate (PVA), along with modified oils, either individually or in combination, to lend particular visual and tactile properties to different areas of the artwork. The relative amounts of pigments and binding media also play a key role in determining the final appearance of the paint surface and texture in certain regions. This is particularly evident for Muffa T, where highly reflective, medium-rich areas

contrast with fissures that result from overly dry paint mixtures with high pigment/binder ratios and anticipate the much later Cretti series.

“Another fascinating example of Burri's liberal experimentation is the mold-like accretions that permeate the surface of Muffa T with ingenious sculptural effects. In a curious blend of associations, some of these areas evoke the dampness and humidity of Burri's native Umbria, while the granular, sandy, desiccated consistency of adjacent areas recalls the arid desert landscapes familiar to the artist from his time spent in East and North Africa and the Texas panhandle.

“From a materials perspective, the idea of mold growing on the painting surface is rendered through sludgy accumulations of dense pictorial matter. Our analysis revealed that this ‘mold efflorescence’ was built up using composite conglomerations of pumice stone, calcite, gypsum, quartz and other silicate minerals, mixed in with an abundance of brass flakes, which we identified by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDS) analysis. Interestingly, the detection of atacamite, a copper(II) chloride hydroxide, in green parts of these areas suggested that such green coloration might have been achieved through the oxidation of the brass flakes rather than by the addition of specific green pigments.

“Ultimately, our scientific analysis of Burri's paintings has provided a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of the artist's working practice. Having examined several of his works, we found consistent material choices and a recurring visual lexicon, both of which originate from extensive experimentation and a skillful amalgamation of various components. More detailed results of this technical study [are] included in the exhibition catalogue, which, hopefully, will serve as a guide for the viewer to appreciate the works from a different perspective.”

Vinavil PVA used in many of Burri’s works

In the Alberto Burri catalogue for the Guggenheim exhibition, guest curator Emily Braun writes about the connection of Burri’s works with Vinavil, a MAPEI Group subsidiary: “In the late 1940s, Burri precociously experimented with polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a synthetic resin manufactured for adhesives and coatings, which would soon become ubiquitous in post-World War II Italian art. Burri’s PVA of choice was Vinavil, a polymer emulsion similar to the American household glues made by Elmer’s or Sobo. The white waterborne emulsion is flexible and dries transparent, and Burri adapted it for a variety of applications when it appeared on the market in 1952. As photographs of his various studios attest, he kept a generous supply of Vinavil (in different formulations) at his fingertips throughout his career. Burri mixed it with pigments as a binder, brushed it over discrete areas as a glossy varnish, and applied it thickly to evoke dried bodily fluids. He also employed Vinavil to stiffen fabrics, adhere collage elements and stabilize forced cracking. Vinavil is present in every series after 1952.”

In a 1958 interview with Arti Visive, Burri stated, “I have been using Vinavil for a long time, as a solvent or diluent for paints, but most often as adhesive and as protection for the materials that I use to realize my paintings.”

Bibliography:Braun, Emily, Megan Fontanella, and Carol Stringari. Alberto Burri: The Trauma of Painting. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York, 2015.

Stringari, Carol and Federica Pozzi. “Art and Science on Fifth Avenue: The Met and the Guggenheim Combine Forces.” http://blogs.guggenheim.org/, July 15, 2015.

Pozzi, Federica and Julie Arslanoglu. “Collaboration on the Museum Mile: A Met-Guggenheim Study of the Work of Alberto Burri.” http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/now-at-the-met/2015/collaboration-on-the-museum-mile, July 16, 2015.

LEFT: Federica Pozzi (right), Assistant Conservation Research Scientist at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and Julie Arslanoglu, Research Scientist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, load a paint specimen into the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) autosampler for binding media analysis. CENTER: Pozzi analyzes Alberto Burri’s Composition (1953) using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. RIGHT: Pozzi (right), and Arslanoglu (center) examine paint cross sections with Metropolitan Museum of Art scientist Federico Carò at the scanning electron microscope (SEM).

SPECIAL FEATURE | SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM PRESENTS ALBERTO BURRI



For registration information on U.S. seminars, please contact Sophia D’Amico-Campbell at (954) 246-8555.

For registration information on Canadian seminars, please contact Raffaelina Aceto at (450) 662-1212.

The MAPEI Technical Institute (MTI) provides the highest-quality, basic product knowledge with demonstrations and hands-on training to architects, contractors, installers and distributors in 9 locations: Deerfield Beach (FL), San Bernardino (CA), Garland (TX), Dalton (GA), West Chicago (IL) and Swedesboro (NJ), all in the USA; and Laval (Quebec), Brampton (Ontario) and Delta (British Columbia), all in Canada.

The application of thin-tile panels – including substrate preparation, handling large thin-tile panels properly and getting optimal results from installation systems – is the subject of MTI-TV Episode #5. Dan Marvin, MAPEI’s Director of Technical Services, and Sam Biondo, MAPEI’s Technical Consultant, give tips and advice for “doing it right”. Visit MAPEI’s Website (www.mapei.com) to get the details.

The drawbacks to spot bonding when installing tile or stone include lower impact strengths, lower load resistance, lower shear strengths and failed tile installations. MAPEI’s Technical Services Manager Jim Whitfield has written an informative blog addressing this issue. Visit the Tech Talk blog at MAPEI’s Website (www.mapei.com) to learn more about this and other topics. While on the blog page, subscribe to receive notifications whenever a new blog is posted.

MTI-TV #5: Understanding and

applying thin-tile panels

Tech Talk: Spot bonding – what are the

drawbacks?


BUSINESS NEWS

MAPEI is the most preferred brand by contractors

MAPEI Corporation received six (6) awards from Clear Seas Research during the 2016 TISE West (Surfaces) Expo, which was held in Las Vegas on January 19-22; this was a record number of Clear Seas awards for all tile and stone installation system manufacturers. Every two years, Clear Seas – a market research company covering the flooring industry – surveys the members of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), asking for their preferred manufacturer in 16 different categories. As a result of the 2015 survey, Clear Seas presented MAPEI with awards for:

• Most preferred brand of cementitious grout• Most preferred brand of cement-based medium-bed mortars• Most preferred brand of single-component grouts• Most preferred brand of cement-based mortars (thin-set)• Most preferred brand of organic-based adhesives• Most preferred brand of self-leveling and patching

underlayment

“Such a large number of awards to a single company truly express the feelings of NTCA contractors and installers,” said Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of MAPEI Americas. “It reflects the excellent work our sales, customer service and technical services representatives have done over the past several years, serving our customers well during the recession in the construction industry. The innovative new products developed by R&D and produced and delivered by our Operations groups gave our customers the tools they needed to compete and thrive in the flooring sector. And, of course, none of this could have been accomplished without the support of every individual employee in MAPEI Americas.”

The philosophy of Giorgio Squinzi, owner and CEO of MAPEI Group, has always been to maintain the full roster of dedicated people who work for MAPEI, through both strong and weak periods in the global economy. “In this way, we sustain our level of skilled employees and provide the continuous innovation MAPEI is known for,” Squinzi said. “Today we are well-prepared to take full advantage of opportunities that arise quickly as the economy enters a new growth phase.”

New faces at MAPEI

Jason Covington Business Development Product Line ManagerBelow-Grade Waterproofing Systems Jason comes to MAPEI with more than 19 years of experience in product line management and business development. Before joining MAPEI subsidiary Polyglass in 2014, Jason was the general manager

at Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing, Inc., where he worked for 12 years and held various positions of increased responsibility in marketing and product line management. Jason holds a Bachelor of Business degree in marketing and achieved his MBA from Walsh College. His knowledge and expertise in sales and profit growth, market positioning, business process improvement and strategic planning will be instrumental in MAPEI’s strategy to develop market share in the below-grade waterproofing sector.

Wesley MorrisonCountry ManagerUnderground Technology Team

Wes comes to MAPEI with over 12 years of experience in product sales in tunneling and mining. Most recently, he was a senior sales representative for BASF Corporation, MEYCO Underground. Wes has a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and

management systems engineering from West Virginia University and is currently pursuing his MBA from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Wes will lead a team of engineering consultants who will work with major clients in the underground construction sector in the Americas, advising on the use of MAPEI products that were developed specifically for this market.

From left: MAPEI business managers David Mowery, Brian Pistulka and Jeff Johnson


MAPEI and NTCA partner to provide tile in smart homes for wounded veterans

MAPEI and the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) have announced an exclusive partnership to assist the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program. MAPEI and the NTCA will provide tile and tile installation systems where needed in the construction of one-of-a-kind specially adapted custom smart homes that the Gary Sinise Foundation has committed to building for our nation’s most severely wounded heroes.

The R.I.S.E. program was first brought to the attention of the construction industry by the National Wood Flooring Foundation (NWFA) as part of the “Play it Forward” theme for its 2015 NWFA expo. The NTCA, under the leadership of Executive Director Bart Bettiga, discussed the program with NWFA colleagues and arranged for the NTCA to provide the tiling needs for flooring and wall coverings, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms of the R.I.S.E. smart homes.

MAPEI Corporation, a leader in providing tile and stone installation systems and other floor-covering installation systems, had partnered with the NWFA earlier in 2015 after attending the 2015 NWFA expo. Under the direction of Jeff Johnson, MAPEI’s Business Manager for Floor Covering Installation Systems, MAPEI also reached out to Bettiga of the NTCA, offering to provide all of the needed installation materials for the R.I.S.E. smart homes.

“The NWFA started the ball rolling on a meaningful contribution our industry associations can make to the health and independence of our returning veterans who have been severely injured,” said Bettiga. “The NTCA, with contributions of tile from various tile manufacturers and installation materials from MAPEI, is proud to strengthen this contribution as a way of telling our veterans how proud we are of them.” On an individual basis, whenever possible, Bettiga invites the participation of association members who may be able to donate time and labor to the installations.

“As part of our civic commitment, MAPEI has long been an ardent sponsor of sports such as the UCI Road World Cycling Championships and arts and cultural programs such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s recent Alberto Burri exhibition,” said MAPEI’s Johnson. “Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program has provided us with the honor of helping some of our heroic veterans in situations where our products can be of direct benefit to them.”

From Maryland and Florida to California, 12 new smart homes are planned for construction through the R.I.S.E. program over the next year, and 10 to 15 additional homes may be built during the following year.

Bathroom in one of the smart homes

Followus on...

You like building.We like building.Let’s be friends.

www.youtube.com/mapeiamericas

www.twitter.com/mapeiamericas

www.facebook.com/mapeiamericas

www.linkedin.com/company/mapei

Headquarters of the Americas1144 East Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Customer Service1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734)

Technical Services1-800-992-6273 (U.S. and Puerto Rico)1-800-361-9309 (Canada)

Services in Mexico 0-1-800-MX-MAPEI (0-1-800-696-2734)

NORTH AMERICAUnited States Arizona California Florida Georgia Illinois Minnesota Missouri New Jersey Texas Virginia

Canada British Columbia Ontario Quebec

Mexico

SOUTH AMERICA/CARIBBEAN/ CENTRAL AMERICA Argentina Panama Puerto Rico Venezuela

EUROPE Austria Belgium Benelux Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

ASIA/OCEANIA United Arab Emirates Australia China Hong Kong India Malaysia New Zealand Singapore South Korea Vietnam

AFRICA Egypt

South Africa

THE WORLD OF

Banking center strengthened with MAPEI’s CFRP products

As part of a total solution for industrial applications, MAPEI has a line of structural- strengthening products that have been ICC-approved for commercial buildings.

Scotiabank’s concourse and ground levels at Scotia Plaza in Toronto are undergoing structural strengthening in order to increase the live load capabilities of the floors to greater than 50 lbs. per sq. ft. (22,7 kg per 0,09 m2). The center’s vertical support columns are being strength-ened by MAPEI’s MapeWrap C Uni-Ax 300 and MapeWrap C Uni-Ax 600 uni-directional carbon fiber fabrics in combination with MapeWrap resins.

Two pultruded carbon fiber plates – MAPEI’s Carboplate E 200 and Carboplate E 250 – are being used on the floors themselves and on the underside of load-bearing beams on the two levels. The Carboplate products on the floors are being covered with MAPEI’s Planibond EBA bonding agent and Topcem Premix screed to provide a flat, level surface for floor coverings.

MAPEI products used:• Carboplate™ E 250 (100 mm and 150 mm plates) • Carboplate E 200 (50 mm, 100 mm and 150 mm plates) • MapeWrap™ C Fiocco anchors • MapeWrap C Uni-Ax 300 • MapeWrap C Uni-Ax 600 • MapeWrap Primer 1 • MapeWrap 11 • MapeWrap 31 • Topcem™ Premix • Planibond ® EBA

growing business in new directions - mapeiat keeping projects dry mapei corporation introduced its...

Documents