MAGAZINE

MC- BAUCHEMIE 1-2023

MAIN FEATURE
MC- INJEKT
POWERSEAL® | 8
Speed and power when
it really matters

BIG PICTURE
NEW UNDERGROUND CAR PARK | 4
Art, elegance and surface safety combined

BEST PRACTICE
DRINKING WATER TANKS | 13
New Type-1 mortar succeeds in
Switzerland

IN - COMPANY
PORTRAIT:
KLAUS WEINBERGER | 18
Chance roadmap to Purchasing
Editorial
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Keeping a close eye on the market
provides key insights into the needs and
wishes of customers. We have been doing
this since time immemorial, leveraging
the knowledge gained along the way
to develop new products that solve our
customers' problems. This is and remains
an important part of our DNA.
Sudden water ingress in concrete compo-
nents in contact with the ground, or in
excavation pits or tunnels, presents the
construction site and structure with a real
and immediate danger. With the MC-Injekt
PowerSeal® range, we have developed
a new generation of single-component
injection products that plug and perma-
nently seal quickly and efficiently. You
can read more about this in this MC aktiv
edition’s main feature.
Quality is another important part of our
DNA, whether in Europe or elsewhere on
the planet, as evidenced by the perfor-
mance of our products on construction
sites around the globe. In addition, our
training courses make an important contri-
bution to improving the qualifications and
safety of all those involved in construction.
This is also the case in Ghana, where our
training programme dealing with concrete
repair and injection processes has met
with a great response. So, once again, you
can expect from this issue of MC aktiv an
interesting mix of news, innovations, inspi-
ration and project reports. Enjoy the read
and keep well!
Kindest regards,
Nicolaus M. Müller
02 | 1-2023
CONTENTS
03 | IN BRIEF
MC-Bauchemie Ghana introduces Advanced
Training Series
MC lays down marker on International
Women’s Day
04 | BIG PICTURE
New underground car park
Art, elegance and surface safety combined
06 | INNOVATION
New ultra-high-strength grouting
compound for wind turbine towers
Biodegradable paint and coating
remover
Boosting industrial floor resilience
07 | INSPIR ATION
Concrete – a versatile working material
From furniture to wall decorations, lamps,
candlesticks, bowls and jewellery, the range
of artefacts that can be made with concrete
is broad indeed.
08 | MAIN FEATURE
MC-Injekt PowerSeal®: Fast expansion for
a permanent seal, offering speed and power
when it really matters
A new product family of single-component
injection products specifically formulated to
stop fast-flowing leaks, MC-Injekt PowerSeal®
ensures near-instant remedy and a perma-
nent seal.
11 | INTERVIEW
Holger Graeve, Product Manager Injections
Credits and legal
Publisher
MC-Bauchemie Müller GmbH & Co. KG
Am Kruppwald 1–8 | D-46238 Bottrop
Tel. +49 (0) 20 41/1 01-0
Fax +49 (0) 20 41/1 01-688
info@mc-bauchemie.com
www.mc-bauchemie.com
12 | SUSTAINABILIT Y
The new brand in eco-friendly construction
BotaGreen® – the name for low-emission,
environmentally compatible building
materials.
13 | BEST PR ACTICE
Rehabilitation of the Appital
drinking water tank
New Type-1 potable water mortar from
MC successful in Switzerland.
Drinking water tanks in Spain
rehabilitated
The customer opts for MC’s repair and
refurb product portfolio.
Car park and office rehabilitation in
Lisbon
High-performance MC coatings provide
ultimate humidity protection in Startup
Hub Lisboa.
Tunnel construction in Vietnam
MC’s concrete expertise in great demand
in Nui Vung Tunnel project.
Construction of a concrete bypass
in Romania
Concrete curing agent Emcoril ensures
the right level of both protection and
grip retention of the concrete surface.
Big deal in India
Proven concrete protection system used
for three major projects.
18 | IN - COMPANY
Portrait: Klaus Weinberger
Chance roadmap to Purchasing
Introducing: Maciej Szymański
Holder of two roles at MC-Poland
Personnel news
Cover photo: © stock.adobe.com | 544194211
Managing editor / Conception
Saki M. Moysidis | MC-Bauchemie
Editing
Saki M. Moysidis | MC-Bauchemie
Thomas Haver | Leitpunkt Kommunikation
Layout & Design
iventos I Feldstrasse 9a, D-44867 Bochum
In Brief
MC- BAUCHEMIE GHANA
INTRODUCES ADVANCED TRAINING SERIES
13
13
14
The participants listen intently during the practical part with Dr Joachim Käppler (r.), Technical Manager IN at MC.
15
MC-Bauchemie Ghana, in association with KIWA Germany, hosted the first-ever exclusive six-day
advanced training course in concrete repair and protection at its training centre in Accra from 13th to
18th March 2023.
16
The technical seminar, limited to 20 participants, "In view of the construction boom in Ghana, se- Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
attracted interest not only from Ghana but also lection of the right repair methods and materials Development (BMZ) and the German Investment
from Guinea and Ethiopia. There were many topics often comes up short," explains Noble Bediako, and Development Corporation (DEG), is to be con-
on the agenda: from the fundamentals of concrete Managing Director of MC-Ghana, who, together tinued.
technology and the impact of damage phenomena with his team and Product Line Manager Apurv
17 in concrete, to concrete repair and surface protec- Kesarkar, introduced the training programme It is based on the German ‘Quality Assurance Sys-
tion systems, and ending with structural injection based on practice in Germany. "Our goal is to in- tem’, which was first introduced by MC-Bauchemie
technology and industrial flooring systems. stil quality-oriented construction practices, such in Germany in 1984. The concept had led to the
as approved product systems, certified applicators creation of the first binding technical rules for the
Raising the bar in Concrete Repair & Protection
The objective of this training was to impart hands-
and independent monitoring in the Ghanaian mar-
ket as a means to improve the quality of repair
professional repair of concrete structures, which
revolutionised the construction industry and
18 on experience to the participants by applying the and ensure safety for everyone involved. This is a eventually found its way into international repair
repair methods they had learned in theory, and significant first step in achieving this goal," adds standards.
18 testing the different products and tools first-hand. Bediako.
At the end of the course, the knowledge and skills
19
learnt were tested through an examination and The first of many trainings Find more information on this training
each participant was presented with a certificate, The Advanced Training in Concrete Repair & Pro- series at:
which identifies them as certified professionals. tection in Ghana, which is supported by Germany’s https://bit.ly/40c8AP5
MC LAYS DOWN MARKER ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On 8th March, International Women's Day, MC laid
down a compelling marker on behalf of its female
employees by showing on its social media chan-
nels how many women work at MC worldwide and
illustrating the important contribution they make
to MC's success. More than 200 female employees
took part in the initiative to underline the fact that
the construction chemicals industry is far from be-
ing a purely male preserve.
Click here for the complete collage show-
ing all the female participants:
https://bit.ly/3Tfx6fz
1-2023 | 03
Big Picture Big Picture

New underground car park

ART, ELEGANCE AND
SURFACE SAFETY COMBINED
Built underneath a newly constructed multi-pur-
pose complex located in the centre of the Ger-
man town of Ingolstadt, an underground car park
was required to meet particularly high demands
with regard to its design aesthetics and – par-
ticularly – the safety of the floor covering. Hence
the application of an exceptionally resilient and
fast-setting surface protection coating from MC.

The client Werner Dimperl allowed free rein

when it came to the interior design of the un-
derground car park. The walls are artistically
designed with depictions of comic book super-
heroes, while the pillars are painted in a power-
ful coral red. In this urban design ambience, the
flooring naturally also had to meet the highest
of standards. The client therefore opted for a
similarly aesthetically customized, highly resist-
ant car park coating incorporating gold-colour-
ed chips. The extremely durable, rapid-action
MC-DUR TopSpeed car park coating system used
prevents liquids from penetrating the concrete
so as to ensure effective protection against re-
inforcement corrosion. Since the successful com-
pletion of the work in July 2022, users and own-
ers of the underground car park have been able
to enjoy a facility that uniquely combines artistic
excellence and exceptional durability.

For a detailed project report, go to:

https://bit.ly/3ZxQHZU

>> Also read our article on p. 16.

04 | 1-2023 1-2023 | 05
Innovation Inspiration

Emcekrete WP 108 ensures a rigid connection between the base of a wind turbine power and its concrete foundation.

NEW ULTRA- HIGH STRENGTH GROUTING

COMPOUND FOR WIND TURBINE TOWERS
WORKING
Concrete designer Anita Boldog (above right) was one of the first to craft jewellery from concrete.

The construction of wind turbines is an engi- Emcekrete WP 108 is one of MC’s most efficient special equipment with special fatigue requirements,

CONCRETE – A VERSATILE BUILDING MATERIAL

neering challenge for which exceptional solu-
tions are invariably required. The safety of the
rigid connection between the base of a wind
turbine tower and its concrete foundation is of
particular importance in this respect. To meet
the associated requirements, MC-Bauchemie has
launched new ultra-high-strength Emcekrete
WP 108 grouting mortar.
BIODEGRADABLE PAINT AND COATING REMOVER
With Konudur Remover 2.1, MC-Bauchemie has
developed a product capable of removing surface
coatings in power plant environments, corrosion
protection paints on bridges, carpet adhesive res-
idues and paints and varnishes of all kinds.
For more information, go to:
https://bit.ly/3mvj8dz
grouting compounds. It can be applied up to a thick-
ness of 200 mm in line with Germany’s DAfStb code
of practice and achieves a compressive strength of
over 125 N/mm².
It exhibits excellent resistance in fatigue tests and
is ideally suited for grouting onshore wind turbines
where it is used in the horizontal tower foundation
joints. It can also be used for grouting and chocking
BOOSTING INDUSTRIAL FLOOR RESILIENCE
MC's MC-DUR Power-Coat industrial flooring
system, launched in 2022, withstands even the
toughest of conditions, be these cleaning with su-
perheated steam, major temperature changes or
contact with aggressive chemicals. And now, with
MC-DUR PowerCoat Cat, a new product has been
developed that significantly accelerates the curing
For more information, go to:
https://bit.ly/40LIzpF
The ready-to-use decoater is easy to apply and
comes with impressive environmental compat-
ibility. It is CHC-free, pH-neutral, biodegradable
and can be used indoors.
Kai Burcek
Kai.Burcek@mc-bauchemie.de
and for vertical precast concrete joints, as well as for
machinery, industrial plant and bridge assemblies.
For more information, go to:
https://bit.ly/40HWCwl
Samuel Jones
Samuel.Jones@mc-bauchemie.com
of this PU/mineral hybrid flooring. Mixed with MC-
DUR PowerCoat 200, 240 or 280 compound, this
catalytic accelerator ensures faster through-curing
of the industrial flooring, especially at low tem-
peratures, thus allowing the repaired areas to be
commissioned or returned to service with a much
reduced delay.
Peter Schmidt
Peter.Schmidt@mc-bauchemie.com
Concrete is a versatile building material, but also a very versatile working material in general! It
can be used to realise many ideas: from concrete furniture to wall decorations, lamps, candlesticks
and from bowls to jewellery. There are no limits to the creativity it allows!
Budapest continues to be a hotspot for creative
people, where innovative ideas thrive. MC has
already been working here for more than a dec-
ade with universities, architects and creative
people, benefiting time and again from new
impulses for the use of concrete as a working
material – and developing admixtures, mortars
and coatings to match.
From concrete islands to concrete design
A good example of this is Anita Boldog, concrete
designer, founder and owner of the company AB
Concrete Design. She has a long-standing part-
nership with MC-Hungary. While studying porce-
lain design at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art
and Design in Budapest, she got to know con-
crete as a material through a university course
in 2012. It was love at first sight! She was so
enthusiastic that she made a concrete project
the subject of her diploma thesis: it involved de-
signing floating concrete islands weighing sev-
eral hundred kilograms. MC-Hungary supported
her with the necessary material as well as advice
and logistical assistance. The finished concrete
islands were a huge success, with numerous re-
ports even appearing in the international design
press. This positive response moved her to found
her own concrete design company. MC-Hungary
supported her in this as well. She experimented
with different materials and convinced herself of
the versatile potential of concrete as a medium.
Pioneer in concrete jewellery
As a porcelain designer, she was more con-
cerned with small utilitarian objects, but she
soon widened her scope to make jewellery out
of concrete, among other things. She decided to
prove to the design industry and the public at
large that concrete also deserved a place among
everyday objects. She was the first designer to
develop home design products, jewellery and
souvenirs that put concrete in a completely new
light. Her creativity, virtuosity and professional-
ism have made her famous in the international
design industry over the last ten years.
Her smallest earring, for example, is 5 mm in
diameter and weighs just 2 g. She produces
many of her design and jewellery pieces with
the MC-TopFloor products, a specially developed
product family of fine mortars from MC-Hungary
that can also be coloured. Meanwhile, AB is also
increasingly designing individual corporate gifts
and prizes or trophies for companies, organisa-
tions and organisers of sports competitions – a
real market niche. Recently, however, the compa-
ny has also received enquiries from luxury car
brands, advertising agencies and well-known
banks.
You can find more information about
AB Concrete Design at:
https://bit.ly/3ZEoi5p
CREATIVE
HANDI -
CR AFTS
WITH CONCRETE
Do you know the Ultrament handicraft and
moulding concrete? It can be used to make
high-quality trendy objects – whether it be
vases for the living room table or sculptures
for the garden, and whether as a gift or for
yourself – there are almost no limits to the
creativity it allows!
Interested? For further information,
go to (German only):
https://bit.ly/3ZV2bHp

06 | 1-2023 1-2023 | 07
Main Feature Main Feature

RAPID EXPANSION, PERMANENT SEAL

Speed and power when it really matters:
MC-Injekt PowerSeal®
© stock.adobe.com | 544194211

Any sudden water ingress in concrete components in contact with the ground or in construction
pits, tunnels or rock masses requires rapid remedial action. Otherwise there is a risk of perma-
nent impairment or even the collapse of a structure or its foundation subsoil. With MC-Injekt
PowerSeal®, MC has launched a new family of single-component injection products that can be
used quickly and effectively in such cases to ensure fast, permanent sealing.

08 | 1-2023 1-2023 | 09
Main Feature
MC-Injekt PowerSeal® seals water-bearing cracks quickly and efficiently
Regular maintenance and repair measures are
important for the long-term use of buildings.
MC injection materials have been making a sus-
tainable contribution to such upkeep for many
decades and are world leaders in the field. The
possible applications of MC's injection technol-
ogy are manifold, encompassing the sealing
of cracks and cavities, the reinforcement and
lifting of building components, the sealing of
joints, exterior post-build waterproofing with
curtain injection systems, and the sealing and
consolidation of foundation subsoil or rock
masses. The injection systems used are usually
of the multi-component type based on polyure-
thane or acrylate products that are injected in
several stages or with two-component pumps.
MC-Injekt PowerSeal®: single-component,
efficient and permanently effective
MC-Bauchemie has now added a new product
family to its portfolio of injection solutions:
MC-Injekt PowerSeal® comprises single-com-
ponent, particularly high-performance polyure-
thane-based injection products that are ideally
suited to sealing wide water-bearing joints and
cracks. As single-component resins, they are
ready for immediate use, offer long working
times and can be applied without pre-injection
and post-injection measures in just one oper-
ation. Their reactivity is triggered exclusively
by contact with water, causing them to expand
exponentially to stop even strongly flowing
water while quickly providing a durable, highly
flexible seal.
10 | 1-2023
Water-Boost Technology for rapid injection
results
Thanks to MC-Bauchemie's new Water-Boost Tech-
nology, the products of the MC-Injekt PowerSeal®
range pass through their reactive phase in just a
few minutes as part of the natural process initiat-
ed in the presence of water. This high reactivity on
contact with water and the associated expansive
increase in volume pushes these resins further
forward in the component, subsoil or rock mass,
an effect that additionally supports the injection
process. Reactivity occurs at the ideal time, i.e.
only once resin meets water, enabling contractors
to perform such injection operations safely and
easily.
MC-Injekt PowerSeal® G for extreme water
ingress
The new injection family comprises three ex-
pansion resins: MC-Injekt PowerSeal® G, R and
S. MC-Injekt PowerSeal® G is a hydrophilic com-
pound. It binds approx. 100 % water during the re-
action, thus doubling the reactive injection mass.
This expands rapidly by more than three times its
volume and stems even strongly flowing water.
The resin is thus ideal for targeted application
without the risk of dilution and with no additional
measures necessary.
The high water absorption capacity of MC-Injekt
PowerSeal® G also reduces material consump-
tion, thus saving on cost. With its homogeneous,
fine-cell structure, MC-Injekt PowerSeal® G pro-
vides a permanent, flexible seal in cracks from
approx. 0.3 mm in width, while also being effec-
tive in wider gaps, joints or cavities.
MC-Injekt PowerSeal® R and S with a volume in-
crease of almost ten-fold
In contrast, the action of the hydrophobic MC-In-
jekt PowerSeal® R and S (from the same family as
our earlier product MC-Injekt 2133 flex; in Germa-
ny available as MC-Injekt PowerSeal® F) is one of
water displacement. Only a little water is needed
to start the reaction and expansion of the resin. In
the process, the product achieves an almost ten-
fold increase in volume. The waterproof, elastic
cell structure ensures a high degree of deformabil-
ity in the fully reacted resin, enabling it to perma-
nently seal cracks from approx. 0.2 mm to approx.
5 mm wide and also to fill voids and cavities in
concrete and masonry.
In addition to the sealing of building components,
both injection materials can also be used for the
waterproofing of rock masses, foundation sub-
soil, excavation pits and building structures in
tunnelling and specialised civil engineering ap-
plications, as well as masonry, shaft or manhole
constructions and sewers. They can also serve as
flat membrane-forming sealants and are proven to
be harmless to groundwater hygiene.
Fast and simple application ensures major
savings in time and costs
Compared to the two-stage injection process with
its several time-consuming steps, application of
MC-Injekt PowerSeal® G, R and S is a relatively
simple affair. In two-stage injection procedures,
packers must first be set and sealed; the mul-
ti-component injection material is then mixed and
repotted before pre-injection, main injection and
post-injection take place. After a certain waiting
time, the packers are then removed again.
With MC-Injekt PowerSeal®, injection work is
completed immediately after the packers have
been fitted. Since the resin cures very quickly,
the packers can be removed again without having
to wait too long. Moreover, there are no wasted
quantities, as these single-component resins are
non-reactive unless water contact occurs. Having
proven successful over the past decades as part
of the generally recognised state of the art, there
is no doubt that the two-stage injection process
will continue to be used for many measures. But
with MC-Injekt PowerSeal®, users now also have
the means, especially in extreme cases involving
larger water-bearing cracks, joints and cavities,
to remedy the situation with an injection method
that is simple, quick, safe and reliable.
Holger Graeve
Holger.Graeve@mc-bauchemie.de
Sumesh Sreedhar
Sumesh.Sreedhar@mc-bauchemie.com
BOOSTED RESIN REACTIVITY
FOR TRUE APPLICATION
EFFICACY.
"Our new resins expand rapidly
once in contact with water."
Holger Graeve
Holger Graeve has been with
MC-Bauchemie for over 30 years,
serving the last two decades as
Product Manager in the Injections
division. Working in close cooper-
ation with Oliver Czysollek, Lab-
oratory Manager for Sealants &
Injections, he played a key role in
shaping the development process
that has led to the new MC-Injekt
PowerSeal® product family. Here
he explains how it all came about.
What were the reasons driving the development
of the new MC-Injekt PowerSeal® family of injec-
tion products?
The two-stage injection process, so successful in
past decades, is generally regarded as state-of-
the-art. The product and procedure in the two-
stage injection process is standardised through
relevant codes such as EN 1504-5, which ensures
quality and reliable performance. However, it is a
time-consuming and planner-oriented system. In
certain international markets such as the Far East,
Middle East, India and Africa, the injection business
is more applicator-oriented than planner-/con-
sultant-oriented. Also, in these markets, relevant
standards are differently applied than is typically
the case with EN 1504-5. Consequently, in these
markets, one-step applications are also possible
with flexible closed-cell foaming resins, which is
faster and more economical.
As a consequence, we decided to dedicate some of
our R&D spend to developing simple yet rapidly
effective alternatives. This led to the launch of our
first single-component injection resin in the form of
MC-Injekt 2133 flex. It is based on our Water-Boost
Under the spotlight
We have succeeded in reducing
the two stages of critical leakage
repair – i.e. water-stopping
pre-injection and main sealing
injection – to one operation.
Technology causing the resins to react and expand
once in contact with water. The efficiency of this
reactivity is fascinating; it gives the resin a real kick
and works within minutes, enabling severe water
ingress to be quickly stemmed! The product was
well received by the market and quickly became
very popular. So we continued our research in this
area to the point where we have now been able to
launch the new injection family MC-Injekt Power-
Seal® with its improved properties.
What is so special about this new injection tech-
nology?
We have reduced the water-stopping pre-injection
stage and the permanently sealing main injection
stage to a single-phase operation. Even the mixing
of several components is no longer necessary, since
the MC-Injekt PowerSeal® resins are ready-to-use,
single-component products. The new resins only re-
act when they come into contact with water. Then,
however, they leap into action with a significant rise
in viscosity and rapid increase in volume.
The elimination of the mixing operation also has
the advantage that there are no working time
Interview
constraints. There are also no reactive residues to
dispose of. MC-Injekt PowerSeal® can be applied
directly from the canister with a 1c pump. The con-
tractor requires less in the way of pumping equip-
ment and spends less time on the injection job. It
is just a matter of setting the packers, injecting and
then removing the packers again. Easy! The resin is
very user-friendly and yet does the job quickly and
efficiently. The result is a fine-cell, highly flexible
foam body providing a permanent seal against fur-
ther water ingress.
So are multi-component systems now simply a
thing of the past?
MC-Injekt PowerSeal® is not a universal remedy
for all sealing injection applications, but rather a
solution for the ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ construction
site, best suited to wider cracks or to joints that let
in a lot of water. In other words, situations where
two-stage injection with polyurethane foam and
polyurethane resin is limited in its efficacy. So
when it comes to cracks of small width or great-
er depth requiring low viscosity resins with long
injectability, our MC-Injekt 2300 products remain
the solution of choice.
1-2023 | 11
Sustainability
BOTAGREEN® THE NEW BRAND
IN ECO-FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION
Botament GmbH launched its new green brand BotaGreen® in 2022, com-
prising a range of innovative building materials proven to be particularly
low in emissions and environmentally compatible.
The trend towards ecological building is gaining
ever more traction in Europe. With the introduc-
tion of the BotaGreen® product family, Botament
supports this development and provides property
owners and professional craftspeople with build-
ing materials offering easy application together
with compelling low-emission and environmental
compatibility credentials. Simply put, they com-
bine the familiar high quality of Botament prod-
ucts with a better eco-balance, thus promoting a
more sustainable form of construction.
The eco-friendly tile adhesive
In the new tile adhesives BotaGreen® Flexkleber
C2 TE and BotaGreen® Flexkleber C2 TE S1, the
cement content has been reduced by adding al-
A sister company of MC-Bauchemie, Botament
GmbH has been synonymous with profession-
al-quality construction products and systems
for around 30 years. These are sold through
the specialist building materials trade and
cover applications from waterproofing, main-
tenance, tiling and floor laying to gardening
and landscaping.
For further information
on Botament, please go to:
https://bit.ly/3ZUPwV5
12 | 1-2023
ternative binders made from secondary raw ma-
terials with latent hydraulic components, thus
also significantly reducing their CO2 footprint.
Specifically, this climate-friendly binder technol-
ogy results in a reduction of approx. 30 % car-
bon equivalent in the production of the two tile
adhesives compared to comparable conventional
Botament tile adhesives.
At the BAU construction trade fair in Munich in
April 2023, Botament again exhibited a very im-
pressive array of innovative products that have
been added to the BotaGreen® family: the Bo-
taGreen® levelling compound, which is also
CO2-reduced, plus BotaGreen® AE sealing and de-
coupling membrane and the BotaGreen® primer,
both of which are made from a high proportion
of recyclate. The base for the BotaGreen® primer
additionally consists of a bio-dispersion. With Bota-
Green® GreenHero, Botament presented another
CO2-reduced tile adhesive. The ‘green hero’ is a
multifunctional yet lightweight adhesive that can
be used as a thin-bed, medium-bed and flow-bed
adhesive as well as a levelling filler at thickness-
es up to 20 mm. And within the segment of wet
and damp room solutions, Botament presented its
BotaGreen® building board and its BotaGreen®
Vario shower board, both innovations boasting a
special foam core consisting of 100% polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) from recycled drinks bottles.
Global innovations BotaGreen® building board
and Vario shower board of 100 % PET recyclate
Beyond the use of recycled PET foam and the
resulting CO2 savings, the BotaGreen® building
board also offers a number of technical advan-
As part of the launch of BotaGreen® Flexkleber C2 TE, Botament plant-
ed 500 trees in Bauster in Germany‘s Rhineland-Palatinate region.
tages. Thanks to its high dimensional stability
and temperature resistance up to 150 °C, it is not
only ideal for spa and wellness areas, but also for
façade and outdoor applications, with the par-
ticularly dense PET foam ensuring high stability
and pressure resistance. The BotaGreen® Vario
shower board combines the advantages of the
BotaGreen® building board with the variable line
drainage profile Botament Water LD V. Due to the
high compressive strength of the PET foam and
provision of a waterproofing membrane on the
front face, the shower board requires no addition-
al coating. The membrane is likewise made using
a high proportion of recycled plastics.
You can find more information about
BotaGreen® here (German only):
https://bit.ly/3YGF6av
Best Practice
Rehabilitation of the Appital drinking water tank
NEW TYPE -1 POTABLE WATER MORTAR
SUCCEEDS IN SWITZERLAND
MC-RIM PW 111 was applied to the wall and ceiling surfaces by spraying.
A drinking water tank of the Appital seawater desalination plant in MC-RIM for system safety
Switzerland required rehabilitation. The client set high expectations MC-RIM PW 111 was used for the wall and ceiling
areas, while the proven high-performance mineral
of both the sustainable quality of the repairs and the future visual ap- coating MC-RIM PW 301 was applied to the floor
pearance of the structure – terms of reference to which the new Type-1 surfaces and as a bond coat. Both products are
potable water mortar MC-RIM PW 111 from MC was ideally suited. based on the DySC® technology developed by MC,
which increases the impermeability and resistance
The Appital seawater desalination plant in Swit- and reinforcement, the new mineral linings needed of the coating once in situ and in service, thus build-
zerland is located in Au-Wädenswil on Lake Zurich, to offer permanent resistance to such media, which ing up optimum long-term protection. Carried out
about 20 kilometres south of the city of Zurich. It meant a Type-1 mortar had to be used. between 7th November and 15th December 2022,
was commissioned in 1977 and has since produced the rehabilitation work performed at the Appital
around 60 million cubic metres of potable water. MC’s new Type-1 mortar ticks all boxes seawater desalination plant met in full the client’s
But time had taken its toll on a drinking water tank Specifying Type 1 as the classification for the min- exacting specifications, with the applicator also
belonging to the plant such that it now required ex- eral coatings sets the highest requirements from a able to hand over the refurbished drinking water
tensive rehabilitation. hygiene standpoint, as it precludes any admixtures tank right on schedule.
and polymer-modified or other plastics-containing
Problems of soft water additives. On the recommendation of MC, the two
The company Frei + Krauer AG, Rapperswil, which companies involved in the rehabilitation project ul-
Dr. Iurie Curosu
was entrusted with the planning, commissioned timately opted for Type-1 potable water mortar MC-
Iurie.Curosu@mc-bauchemie.de
De Lucia Bautenschutz und Renovationen AG of RIM PW 111, a product launched onto the market in
Wädenswil to carry out the repairs. Since one of the mid-2022. It is impermeable to water and chlorides For a detailed project report,
reasons for the rehab is the particularly soft water in and exhibits minimal porosity, thus offering a high please go to:
https://bit.ly/3KjvaQb
the region and its corrosive action on the concrete degree of resistance to hydrolysis.
DRINKING WATER TANKS IN SPAIN REHABILITATED
Located in Sant Quirze del Vallès in the province fillet-joint applications. Throughout the project,
of Barcelona, two drinking water tanks that had which was successfully completed in June 2022,
seen better days were earmarked for repair and the client, the planning engineers and the contrac-
refurbishment. Having already enjoyed a long and tor carrying out the work were able to benefit from
successful working relationship with ATL, the Span- the expertise of MC's specialists while drawing on
ish public utility responsible for the tanks, MC was customised system solutions for the sustainable re-
View of a drinking water tank in Sant Quirze del Vallès
able to recommend a tailored range of special-pur- habilitation of the drinking water tanks in question.
pose injection and concrete repair products for the
necessary rehabilitation work, with – in particular – For a detailed project report,
please go to: Javier Pastalle
MC-RIM PW 201 as a coating specifically formulat-
https://bit.ly/42PCp9Y Javier.Pastalle@mc-bauchemie.es
ed for drinking water tank repair, protection and
1-2023 | 13
Best Practice
Car park and office refurbishment at Startup Hub in Lisbon
MC HIGH - PERFORMANCE COATINGS
FOR ALL USES
The Startup Hub Lisboa, a modern of-
fice complex in Lisbon's Beato district,
faced massive humidity problems in its
underground car park due to its prox-
imity to the river Tajo. To provide a per-
manent solution, MC high-performance
coatings were used to protect the walls,
ceilings and floors of the car park and
office areas, providing excellent protec-
tion against environmental influences
while delivering a top-quality finish.
In order to transform a former cereals factory into a
modern office complex for freelancers and start-ups,
The walls and ceilings were coated with MC-Color T 21.
14 | 1-2023
the Startup Hub Lisboa, located in the heart of Lis-
bon's dynamic Beato district, had to undergo exten-
sive renovation of the existing buildings and infra-
structure. This included a 2,000 m² underground car
park that faced massive problems due to humidity
and a high groundwater level. The Portuguese team
of MC came up with a permanent solution, using
high-performance coatings to protect the car park
walls, ceilings, and floors.
Humidity: the problem and challenge
The building complex's proximity to the river Tajo
caused significant humidity issues, especially in
the underground car park where the high ground-
water level proved to be a major challenge. This had
already caused damage to the earlier coating and
the customer was looking for a proven, long-last-
ing solution. To tackle the problem, the Portuguese
team of MC recommended an all-round solution –
MC-Color T 21 as a surface protection coating for
walls and ceilings and MC-DUR TopSpeed as a fast
roll-on coating for floors – as they can be safely ap-
plied even in humid environmental conditions.
Robust surfaces, simplified: MC-Color T 21
Originally designed as a coating for traffic struc-
tures, MC-Color T 21 is also highly suitable for un-
derground car parks and building façades. Thanks
to its novel one-component 3D binder technology,
MC-Color T 21 produces extremely dense, robust
and durable surfaces. These surfaces have an ex-
tremely low dirt pick-up, are easy to clean, and
are highly resistant to scratches. Furthermore, this
coating is ready-to-use and can be applied direct-
ly from the bucket, which saves time and effort
compared to two-component coatings that require
special mixers and mixing procedures.
View of the fully coated car park in Lisbon
MC-Color T 21 not only boasts excellent cleanabil-
ity and the best-in-class wet abrasion resistance
(class 1), it also enhances lighting conditions in the
car park due to optimum gloss and reflection val-
ues. The product was applied to 1,500 m² of wall
and ceiling area, providing durable and high-per-
formance surfaces.
MC-DUR TopSpeed: Quick & resilient floor coating
In the underground car park, a 2,000 m² floor area
was coated with MC-DUR TopSpeed SC and MC-
DUR TopSpeed, both of which cure quickly and in-
dependently of moisture and temperature. MC-DUR
TopSpeed SC was used as the primer, as well as the
scratch coat. The highly versatile coating MC-DUR
TopSpeed was used as the top coat, providing high
abrasion and scratch resistance, as well as resist-
ance to dilute acids, alkalis, and salt solutions.
Following the completion of the underground
car park, MC-DUR TopSpeed M, a matt-transpar-
ent surface sealer, was used to seal an additional
5,000 m² of office space. This project showcases
the versatility of MC coating products in a creative
envelope solution, where the delicate balance be-
tween functional performance and attractive ap-
pearance has been achieved. The result is a perfect
blend of technical excellence and visual appeal.
Lino Coelho
Lino.Coelho@mc-bauchemie.pt
Apurv Kesarkar
Apurv.Kesarkar@mc-bauchemie.com
Tunnel construction in Vietnam
MC’S CONCRETE KNOW- HOW IN DEMAND
FOR NUI VUNG TUNNEL
A motorway of national importance has been under construction in the
south-east of Vietnam since 2017. The large-scale project also includes
the construction of the over two-kilometre-long Nui Vung Tunnel, which
placed particularly high technical demands on the consortium commis-
sioned with the build. The parties responsible therefore made the most of
MC's know-how while using a wide range of concrete admixtures from MC.
The construction of the motorway from Cam Lâm
to Vinh Hao, east of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Sai-
gon), is a sub-project of the North-South Motorway
Project in Vietnam and of national importance. The
three-lane Nui Vung Tunnel, which has been driven
through the rock of Nui Vung Mountain since 2021
with a planned length of more than 2.2 km and a
width of 14 m, is an important component of this
major national project. It will be Vietnam's fourth
largest road tunnel in the future.
The technical demands on the concrete were very
high, especially against the background of the hot
temperatures in this region. Long-lasting lique-
faction and a stable consistency of the concrete
The MC-BIFI team that accompanied the project (from left to right):
Nguyen Khanh Toan, Huynh Huu Tho, Nguyen Bao Ngoc and Luu Tan Tai.
during transport and placement, as well as good
slump behaviour and high early strengths, had to
be ensured in order to meet the tight schedule.
The client, a consortium established for infra-
structure projects under the umbrella of the Vi-
etnamese DEO CA GROUP, appointed A2Z Consult-
ing from Hanoi as planner. The latter consulted
concrete technologists from MC-BIFI Bauchemie
JSC to obtain the best possible solutions for con-
crete placement in extreme heat and dry wind.
Use in extremely hot weather
MC-PowerFlow 2252 high-performance super-
plasticiser was used for the concrete applied in
bored piles, pier bases, abutments, wing walls,
cross beams and floor slabs. Despite the difficult
weather conditions on site with high tempera-
tures of over 35 °C and dry winds, the superplasti-
ciser ensured long-lasting liquefaction and good
consistency for up to four hours, while also de-
livering high early strength. For the shotcrete for
the tunnel walls, the highly effective superplasti-
ciser MC-PowerFlow 2257R was used, which not
only offers above-average water savings, but also
long-lasting liquefaction of up to three hours and
high early strength values after 3 and 7 days. In
order to additionally increase the adhesion of the
shotcrete to the surfaces of the tunnel walls and
Best Practice
The MC-BIFI team ensured continuous technical support on site.
to ensure the rebound of the shotcrete remained
below 10 %, an alkali-free setting accelerator,
MC-Shotcrete SH100, was used.
MC-TechniFlow 1102 superplasticiser was added
to the hydraulic binder to consolidate the crushed
rock base course and significantly extend its set-
ting time for good compaction. As a result, it was
possible to achieve a significantly higher com-
pressive strength than specified in the tender.
High early strength – fast striking
Finally, MC-PowerFlow 2258, a high-performance
superplasticiser of the latest PCE generation, was
used for the concrete carriageway and the inner
tunnel lining. It ensures long-lasting liquefac-
tion and good stabilisation with high concrete
consistency, and improves the surface quality as
well as the waterproofing of the concrete. Last
but not least, thanks to its high early strength
values, MC-PowerFlow 2258 was able to ensure
fast formwork striking, thus helping to keep to the
tight schedule.
In addition to the good quality of the products
and their high cost-effectiveness, the optimal
logistics as well as the continuous technical sup-
port provided cemented the trust of the customer
in the know-how of MC-BIFI for the Nui Vung Tun-
nel project in Vietnam.
Nguyen Khanh Toan
Toan.NguyenKhanh@mcbifi-bauchemie.vn
1-2023 | 15
Best Practice
Construction of a concrete bypass in Romania
TOP CONCRETE CURING WITH EMCORIL
In the Romanian city of Giurgiu, a concrete bypass was built which, thanks to
innovative construction methods, was put into operation four months ahead of
schedule in December 2021. MC's concrete curing agent Emcoril Traffic grip M
provided for the right protection and grip retention in the concrete surface.
The city of Giurgiu in southern Romania is located
on the lower reaches of the Danube, just opposite
the Bulgarian border town of Russe on the other
bank. The cities are located on the DN5, an impor-
tant transit road between the two south-eastern
European countries.
In order to relieve the urban traffic in Giurgiu and
reduce noise pollution and CO2 emissions from na-
tional and international traffic in the city, a bypass
road was built. This is 5.72 km long and connects
the DN5 with the Giurgiu-Russe border crossing.
Special requirements for the road concrete
The Compania Națională de Administrare a Infra-
structurii Rutiere (National Road Infrastructure
Management Company) commissioned SC PORR
Construct SRL, the Romanian subsidiary of Porr
AG, an internationally active Austrian construction
company, to build the bypass. This was planned
with two concrete carriageways in each direction
and a central reservation.
To protect the fresh concrete carriageway from
premature drying and to give it additional grip,
an effective concrete curing agent was required
as evaporation protection. As Porr AG had already
had positive experience with the products of the
Emcoril range in the construction of roads and
airport runways in Germany, Austria, Poland and
also in Romania, the choice fell on Emcoril Traf-
fic grip M, the evaporation protection agent for
trafficked surfaces in MC’s range of traffic route
construction products.
16 | 1-2023
Exceptionally high evaporation protection
with optimal hydration
Liquid concrete curing agents such as Emcoril
Traffic grip M are the only practical solution for
protecting road concrete placed using slipform
pavers equipped with a spray line. This enables
even application of the curing agent, allowing a
film to form that prevents water from evaporat-
ing from the concrete and prevents premature
drying due to high temperatures, dry ambient
conditions and wind.
Construction of the motorway near Giurgiu using slipform paving
The concrete curing agent Emcoril Traffic grip M was applied directly
to the fresh concrete pavement via a spray line on the slipform paver.
The special feature of the concrete curing agent
Emcoril Traffic grip M: it not only provides very
good protection of the concrete, but also meets
the slip resistance requirements in road con-
struction. The innovative product is applied to
the semi-dry concrete by spraying and offers a
high barrier effect of SM ≥ 85 %, exceptionally
high evaporation protection and an optimal
hydration process in the top layer of concrete.
Emcoril Traffic grip M minimises the formation
of early shrinkage cracks as well as the rate of
carbonation.
Stronger, better grip and faster
Between September and December 2021,
32,500 m³ of concrete were laid on a total area
of 130,000 m² during the construction of the by-
pass. The entire surface was successfully treat-
ed with Emcoril Traffic grip M, so that the first
new concrete road in Romania for 30 years was
opened to traffic four months ahead of schedule
in December 2021.
Florin Acatrinei
Florin.Acatrinei@mc-bauchemie.ro
Costinel Bloju
Costinel.Bloju@mc-bauchemie.ro
Best Practice
Proven concrete protection under conditions of continuous use
BIG DEAL IN INDIA
View of the coated Asraman Bridge over Lake Ashtamudi Kazhakuttam Elevated Highway
MC's concrete protection for outdoor surfaces exposed to weathering, vember 2022. Here, the system was applied to an
EmceColor-flex (known outside India as MC-Color), has been an es- area of 139,100 m². In Kerala, an NH-17 bypass
was constructed between June 2021 and Decem-
tablished product in India for more than three decades - and is also ber 2022, comprising four bridges and connect-
the only certified environmentally friendly product in its category. ing the towns of Thalassery and Mahe in Kannur
Three current projects of MC-Bauchemie India in the southern Indian district. To permanently counteract carbonation,
302,000 m² of surface area on these concrete
state of Kerala prove that people on the subcontinent continue to rely structures was also protected with Nafuquick,
on the tried and tested. Primex 250 and EmceColor-flex. Between July
2021 and June 2022, 41,600 m² of the concrete
EmceColor-flex is a pigmented, flexible, UV- the introduction of instruments for monitoring bridge over Lake Ashtamudi was also treated
resistant coating for concrete protection in out- the layer thickness of EmceColor-flex, as well as with the proven system.
door surfaces exposed to weathering, offering comprehensive checklists for the constant doc-
high crack bridging and low dirt acceptance. The umentation of consumption and for monitoring These three current projects confirm once again:
coating prevents atmospheric pollutants such the course of activities, customers play it safe Even after three decades on the market, Emce-
as carbon dioxide, chlorides, sulphates, water, by opting for MC. Siddhesh Rangnekar, Business Color-flex outperforms most competing products
etc. from penetrating the concrete and causing Manager of MC-India, states: "With this, we offer due to its excellent adhesion properties and high
corrosion of the reinforcing steel. These carbon- our customers not only excellent quality in terms resistance to carbon dioxide diffusion. In the sys-
ation-retarding properties protect the structure of system structure but also comprehensive sup- tem with the universal filler Nafuquick and the
and extend its life. port for the success of the measure." And the con- primer Primex 250, which offer easy application
cept is working. for operatives, EmceColor-flex underlines its pio-
EmceColor-flex offers systematic concrete neering role in the protection of concrete struc-
protection Concrete protection for three current large-scale tures on the subcontinent.
EmceColor-flex has set quality standards through- structures covering appr. 500,000 m²
out India and is a pioneer in system construction The system structure has now been used success-
in combination with Nafuquick and Primex 250. fully for several years on bridges, overpasses, in
The Nafuquick fine universal trowelled cemen- road tunnels, underground car parks and for pre-
titious-based filler is first used to smooth the cast elements in India. This is also illustrated by
concrete surfaces and level the concrete joints. the three recent projects listed below.
This is followed by a primer coat of Primex 250,
which also serves as a bonding agent. The final In the provincial capital of Trivandrum, the long-
step is two coats of the anti-carbonation coating est four-lane elevated highway in the state of
Siddhesh Rangnekar
EmceColor-flex. In this context, MC has also made Kerala, the 2.7-kilometre Kazhakuttam Elevated
Siddhesh.Rangnekar@mc-bauchemie.in
further progress in quality assurance. Thanks to Highway, was built between July 2021 and No-
1-2023 | 17
In-Company In-Company

PERSONNEL NEWS
New colleagues

DR. JAN KLÜGGE (46) took over the newly created position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at MC on 1 April 2023.
Holder of a doctorate in chemistry, he brings with him many years of experience in research and development (R&D),
business development, sales and organisational management. He held various positions in Europe and Asia for an
international construction chemicals company, serving most recently as Managing Director for a manufacturer of
injection and sealing products and systems. Dr. Klügge assumes overall responsibility for MC's technical departments,
including R&D, the Segments and the Tunnelling business unit, with a remit to further integrate MC’s national and
international development activities.

Klaus Weinberger
CHANCE ROADMAP TO
PURCHASING
You never know how things are going to turn out.
And that could not be more true when it comes to
the first eight years that Klaus Weinberger (61)
spent at MC-Bauchemie. His time at MC has since
extended to 34 years; he became Head of Pur-
chasing in Germany in 1996 and in January 2023
he took on the newly created position of Head of
International Purchasing.
After graduating from high school, Klaus Weinberg-
er completed an apprenticeship as a construction
manager at Hochtief AG, following which he joined
the construction company's purchasing department.
Ever ambitious, he studied business administration
at the business school VWA in Essen in his spare
time. Some four years later in September 1988, he
joined MC-Bauchemie with the medium-term goal of
taking over the commercial management of an MC
sister company. Within a short period, however, he
had acceded to the invitation of the then commer-
cial director Josef Heckerott to become his assistant.
After a string of successful years and a variety of tasks
pursued in tandem with the company’s directorate, he
took over management of the purchasing department
in 1996 – enabling him to finally ‘settle down’ at MC.
MC's continued growth made it necessary to expand
the department’s reach from regional to international
procurement. "When I started at MC in 1988, we had
400 employees; the following ten years saw a string
of new national companies added to the group, with
MC having undergone massive growth," Weinberger
explains. By then reporting to Dr. Claus-M. Müller, he
continued to drive the purposeful development of
the Purchasing department, with the team experi-
encing further growth and the tasks assigned to the
unit evolving with the passing of time.
TIMUR RÖNNERT (51) was appointed Managing Director of MC-Bauchemie AG in Switzerland and MC-Bauchemie
GmbH in Austria on 1 April 2023. After studying chemistry, he worked for many years as a sales manager in various
companies. The chemical engineer also completed extra-occupational studies, gaining qualifications both as an indus-
trial engineer and as an Executive Master of Business Administration (eMBA). In his most recent post, he worked for
over ten years as the Managing Director of a well-known, globally active construction chemicals company.
Role changes
Markets monitored daily JAN HENNING HÖHNEL (37) assumed responsibility for the overall sales management of the Concrete Industry (CI)
Part of his daily work is to keep an eye on movements division in Germany as of 1 January 2023. The certified business economist started with MC in May 2018 as CI Sales
in the markets. "We have to anticipate where risks in Manager for Germany’s West Region. In 2020, he also took on the role of CI Sales Manager for the Central Service Cen-
supply might arise or prices might move up or down tre. In his new post as CI Sales Manager Germany, he is responsible for leading the German CI sales team and advising
so that we can quickly respond," Weinberger notes key accounts and other major MC customers within the concrete industry.
– and the past three years in particular have been
very challenging in this respect. In January 2023, the
sourcing specialist became Head of International
Purchasing with a remit to coordinate procurement
ANDRE A S KUCZER A (56) is the new Data Protection Officer (DPO) of the MC group in Germany. He has been with
management on a global scale. His task now is to
MC for 37 years and will continue to be in charge of the technical support office serving the CI division in Germany.
create worldwide sourcing transparency while pool-
He is also responsible for managing empty packaging disposal at MC in Germany. As DPO he will, in particular, ensure
ing purchasing volumes wherever possible.
the implementation of the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other data protection
regulations and is in charge of preventing data protection violations. This also includes the protection of personal
When he is not working at MC, the grandfather of
data, both of customers and of employees of the MC Group, as well as the implementation of legal regulations and
two enjoys playing badminton, cycling and spend-
internal codes, such as MC’s IT user policy. He is also responsible for security awareness trainings.
ing his holidays in Andalusia, Spain. Referring to this
as his “second home," he fully intends to spend his
retirement there.

INTRODUCING: MACIEJ SZYMAŃSKI
Holder of two roles at MC-Poland
Maciej Szymański (41) has been working for MC for almost eight years, starting in 2015 as a Product
Manager in the Ultrament division. After three years he was appointed Marketing Manager, charged with
the main task to establish a marketing department for MC Poland and to build strong brand awareness
for MC, Botament and Ultrament. In 2021 he took over the additional position of Strategy and Develop-
ment Manager for DIY. Maciej graduated in marketing and commodity science at the University of Eco-
nomics in his hometown Poznań (Poland). Previous to MC he worked for ten years in the cosmetics and
fashion sector. This experience and know-how allowed him to implement many successful marketing
activities, making Ultrament one of the most profitable brands for MC Poland. In his private sphere, the
father of two children is an automotive fan and likes to read psychology and marketing books. He also We wish him
loves playing tennis and doing other sports. This helps him to refresh his mind and to find new ideas.
continued success!
K ARINA LUK A S (41) has worked for MC for eight years as a personnel officer in the field of recruiting and labour
law and has also taken on the position of Compliance Officer (CO) for the MC group as of 1 January 2023. In her role as
CO, Karina Lukas ensures that applicable laws and internal rules of conduct are observed, as set out in MC’s Compliance
Policy. To this end, she conducts compliance trainings herself or arranges e-learning compliance trainings for new and
existing employees. She is also the point of contact for all questions regarding compliant behaviour in the business
context and for inquiries from customers regarding compliance with human rights and environmental regulations.
REBECCA SPRENGER (37) assumed the role of Head of Purchasing at MC Germany as of 1 January 2023. After her
training as an industrial manager at MC, she worked in Botament's sales back office, and then switched to purchasing
after one and a half years. There she was initially responsible as a buyer for all the company’s production materials.
After completing an evening course at the FOM in Essen (Germany) qualifying her as a specialist in purchasing and
logistics, she was promoted to Team Leader within Purchasing with a focus on direct sourcing. In her new position, she
is responsible for both direct and indirect sourcing, which includes the vehicle fleet, operating materials, services, etc.
On 1 June, she will take on the surname Riss.

18 | 1-2023 1-2023 | 19
A little Extra
for good form

Ortolan Extra 795

The multifunctional
concrete release agent
Whether smooth, fair-faced concrete or textured architectural
concrete, in precast production or on the construction site: with
the water-based emulsion Ortolan Extra 795, you achieve opti-
mum stripping, striking and demoulding results, improve occu-
pational safety and help protect our environment.
For absorbent and non-absorbent formwork
Prevents wood sugar from escaping from timber and OSB forms
Facilitates the multiple use of timber forms
Easy spray application with short flash-off time
Meets the highest sustainability requirements