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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MAY
2016
Improved productivity, environ-
mental efficiency, flexibility and
enhanced manufacture quality
are some of the massive benefits
associated with Corobrik’s
new robotic technology at its
Lawley Factory.
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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Ryan Nel, technical sales consultant of
a.b.e. in Boksburg, says the company
supplied two products for the painting
of the 350 square metres floor by subcontractor,
Spec-Floors, who has extensive experience in
industrial flooring and has for many years been
an approved a.b.e. applicator.
“There was a need for a flooring coating that
would withstand the effects of the brake fluid,
oil and other liquids that are inevitably spilled
in a motor vehicle workshop. Consequently,
the main contractors, Anastasi Construction,
decided that the solution would be abecote
SF 217, a solvent-free (SF), high chemical-resistant
clear resin system, preceeded by a priming coat
of a.b.e.'s Tough Epoxy Paint.
“Spec-Floors prepared the floor with a three-
phase diamond grinder, and then applied two
priming coats of abecote Tough Epoxy Paint:
the first with a 10% water dilution, followed
by an undiluted second coating. The paint -
which is also solvent free and therefore equally
environmentally-friendly – is a water-dispersed
polyamide-cured paint.
It is widely-used as protective, decorative and
oil-resistant coating for cementitious, masonry
and asphalt surfaces. Spec-Floors then applied
two coats of abecote SF 217, a clear resin system
for sealing, laminating, screening and grouting
applications. This product offers high chemical
resistance not possible with standard epoxies,”
Nel explains.
Finally, the workshop's demarcation lines
were applied, using a.b.e.'s Tough Polyurethane
Paint in Golden Yellow colour. This relatively
new product from a.b.e. is also solvent free, and
offers excellent chemical and stain resistance. It
also resists hot tyre pick-up marks and does not
scratch or scuff easily.
Peter Jones, a.b.e.'s product manager:
flooring, says: “Ryan Nel should be commended
for not only supplying a winning combination
for the refurbishment of existing Car Service City
floors as well as new floors of the Group, but also
for providing extensive and invaluable technical
input to the contractors involved in such projects
– for example, he visited the Brakpan Car Service
City outlet daily during the construction of the
floors,” Jones added.
a.b.e. Construction Chemicals subsequently
also supplied the same product combination
for the refurbishment of the 600 square metres
concrete floors of the Car Service City outlet at
Northmead, Benoni.
Following the introduction of this unique
robotics’ system at its Rietvlei factory,
Corobrik installed the uniquely manu-
factured setting system at its Lawley Factory in
October last year.
“This robotics’ system had to be specially
designed for the Lawley factory because of
its distinctive manufacturing specifics, making
this one-of-a-kind setting technology in the
industry,” explained David Matlou, Corobrik
manufacturing director. “By installing this
innovative technology, Corobrik will achieve
incremental reductions in energy consumption,
thereby lowering greenhouse gases, while also
giving our customers even better products.”
He said that the improvements made by
the robotics serve to build on the clay bricks’
already energy efficient nature. Burnt clay bricks
have a very low embodied energy and the new
system further decreases energy demand in the
production of each brick. Clay brick walls, which
are particularly effective in South Africa’s extreme
climate, absorb heat during the day and slowly
release it during the night thereby delaying
heat transfer and reducing the need for artificial
climate control.
The robotics will allow flexibility in produc-
tion as it can run out of Eskom peak tariff hours,
lowering the demand on the energy grid.
Further to this the consistent gaps in the
setting pattern achieved by the robotics allow
for easy access of heat during the drying and
firing processes which optimises the amount of
energy required for the brick production.
Matlou explained that the product quality
is significantly improved owing to the precision
handling of 'green' products by the robots which
eliminates handling damage resulting from
manual setting.
“This sophisticated technology minimises
defects which means fewer rejects and a better
quality, uniform, end product for our customers,”
he said.
The engineering team, led by Daniele Torri-
celli, as well as the factory management team led
by Andreas Ntseki, delivered the project on time
and within the R22-million budget.
The robotics’ highly technical system
demands an extremely high level of skill to
ensure a smooth operation. To this end, Corobrik
selected six existing staff members who then
underwent extensive training, allowing them to
run the machine.
QUALITY-ENHANCING ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY
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TOUGH FLOORING PRODUCTS
A special epoxy coating
system, with exceptionally strong chemical
resistance, was supplied by a.b.e. Construction Chemicals to
protect the floors of a new branch of the major car maintenance
and repair group, Car Service City, that opened recently at the
Carnival Mall in Brakpan.
“Because this is essentially a one-of-a-kind
model, we had to ensure the staff operating the
system knew it from end-to-end,” said Matlou.
“Their training has certainly paid off and the
system has been operating successfully from
the start.”
He added that, because Corobrik is dedi-
cated to promoting its staff and creating an
environment of sustainablity, the robotics’
system had meant no job losses as all staff have
been redeployed to other positions within
Lawley factory.
The floors of Carnival Mall’s Car Service City received a trio of robust a.b.e. flooring products.
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