Mapei looks to the future

at the two-yearly trade fair in Munich, innovative products for worldwide construction sites

For the first time, 80,000 of the more than 250,000 visitors who took part in Bau 2017 were from overseas (there were 72,000 in 2015). As such, Bau – the two-year trade fair dedicated to architecture, materials, and systems held at the Munich Exhibition Centre from the 16th to the 21st of January – has received confirmation of being an important showcase of international significance. A new record was also set for the number of exhibitors, with a total of 2,120 exhibitors from 45 different countries.

For the first time, 80,000 of the more than 250,000 visitors who took part in Bau 2017 were from overseas (there were 72,000 in 2015).

As such, Bau – the two-year trade fair dedicated to architecture, materials, and systems held at the Munich Exhibition Centre from the 16th to the 21st of January – has received confirmation of being an important showcase of international significance. A new record was also set for the number of exhibitors, with a total of 2,120 exhibitors from 45 different countries.

Over a total surface area of 185,000 m², Bau is a presentation of architecture and systems for the industrial, commercial, and residential buildings sector and interior decorating for both new builds and renovation projects. Every two years the trade fair brings together all the key players from this sector for an event that provides a complete, cross-section view covering every aspect.

Bau has a decidedly practical feel and emphasizes the issues of the future and, amongst these, everything that regards the field of sustainable building.

The main themes at Bau 2017 (Intelligent Facades – Digital Design, Construction and Management – Automated Buildings – Constructing and Living in 2020) were discussed and presented during special forums.

80 YEARS OF ACKNOWLEDGED EXPERTISE 

Mapei also participated in this edition of Bau, along with their German subsidiary Mapei GmbH, with a presentation of various new products and systems for the building industry. The highly qualified public at Bau – with more than 65,000 visitors coming from architecture and design studios – were highly appreciative of the modernity and innovation of the proposals offered by Mapei at the trade fair.

In their display area (Stand 502 – Hall B6) Mapei presented products and systems for installing tiles and natural stone and resilient, textile and wooden flooring, admixtures for concrete and sealants and building materials for every type of site, including all kinds of tile chemicals.

“Mapei: Kompetenz is Bau”: just like at the Domotex trade fair, this was the key claim at Bau 2017, which summarises Mapei’s approach to trade fairs. ”Expertise in the world of construction” is what Mapei is recognized for by users, designers, contractors, and architects, and by everyone from all around the world working in this industry who chooses Mapei to get great results.

Alongside this slogan at the entrance to the stand was a special celebratory logo, a reminder that 2017 is also the 80th anniversary of the founding of Mapei.

Along with images of our most recent reference sites, certified eco-sustainable according to the most severe international standards, the stand was a meeting point for operators from various sectors of the industry; frotim manufacturers to designers, to those who use the products, right up to end users - everyone who deals with and uses our tile adhesives and tile grout. It was the perfect place to present the wide range of solutions that make up our 15 product lines, as well as all our new products.

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS FOR GREAT RESULTS

“Transparency” and “Sustainability” in the building sector and as a global approach to “doing business”: were also the concepts and key strengths Mapei wished to highlight at Bau 2017.

All this is a reminder of how Mapei products - which consist largely of tile chemicals - are formulated using innovative, recycled, and ultra-lightweight raw materials with a very low content of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and developed to reduce energy consumption.

INSTALLATION OF RESILIENT AND TEXTILE COVERINGS

Also showcased at Bau were the new products and systems presented at Domotex 2017 for installing LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) flooring: ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT, MAPESONIC 4 LVT, and PLANIPREP REMOVE 4 LVT.

A new addition to our tile chemicals led range is the new ECO range of products was also presented at Bau, dedicated products for the installation of textile floorings such as ULTRABOND ECO TX 3, excellent wet grab adhesive with early build of a tough strength, and ULTRABOND 195, low-odour adhesive with high shear strength and very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) for installing carpet, particularly recommended for bonding needle-punch flooring without the risk of shrinkage or opening at the joints. These tile adhesives and tile grout products help you make the switch to a planet-friendly future.  

In the field of adhesives for resilient flooring, another highlighted product was ULTRABOND ECO VS30, a highly versatile adhesive for PVC, linoleum, and carpet, characterized by its high shear strength that develops a strong bond very quickly.

NEW COLOURS FOR TILE GROUTS AND SEALANTS

Bau was the ideal opportunity for the Mapei stand to highlight the “Set the Mood” color chart for grouts and sealants. 50 colors, as well as a transparent version, arranged in 5 different collections: Serene, Traditional, Natural, Romance, and Glamour. 5 special collections to meet all the requirements of designers and floor installers and to allow you to create the ideal atmosphere in all types of surroundings.

LIGHTWEIGHT ADHESIVES FOR INSTALLING CERAMIC TILES

Another offer presented in the section of products dedicated to ceramics was Mapei’s range of Ultralite products: a family of lightweight tile adhesives for installing ceramic, mosaic, natural stone, and thin porcelain tiles. Less tiring to use thanks to the use of formulas containing tiny glass beads to improve trowel ability, Ultralite adhesives have excellent wetting capacity on the back of tiles. Apart from offering up to 80% more yield than similar adhesives with the same classification, Ultralite adhesives contain 20% recycled materials, which helps earn LEED award credits for sustainable projects. They are also confirmed as products for waterproofing work and for use with heated floors and systems specifically designed for installing stone material.

INSTALLING AND TREATING WOODEN FLOORING

As far as products for installing wooden flooring are concerned, Mapei once again presented ULTRABOND ECO S968 1K, which is recommended for all types of wooden flooring, particularly large planks and to help create special patterns, such as herringbone. ULTRABOND ECO S968 1K, free of solvent content, is a hard category tile adhesive in compliance with EN 14293 standards, has an extended workability time, is easy to apply hard has excellent rib stability. It is certified by GEV Institute as EMICODE EC1R Plus and awarded as Blue Angel.

In the section on lacquers for wooden flooring, Mapei proposed ULTRA COAT OIL COLOR, available in 7 different colors. Just 16 hours after treating wooden flooring with ULTRACOAT OIL COLOR, it is ready for other care with ULTRACOAT OIL CARE, a specific maintenance product. Mapei also presented an innovative variation for treating surfaces, which consists of applying the lacquer on wooden flooring with a colored oil finish. This provides the high level of protection typically obtained with two-component lacquer.

ULTRA COAT HIGH TRAFFIC is a 100% polyurethane and water-based lacquer for wooden floors with high resistance to wear and abrasion. This lacquer gives wooden flooring an attractive “natural wood” finish (0 gloss). ULTRACOAT TRAFFIC MT is a two-component, acrylic-polyurethane, water-based lacquer with very low emission of volatile organic compounds. It has excellent resistance to wear and abrasion and good resistance to streak marks from the soles of shoes. It is recommended for protecting traditional, pre-polished wooden flooring and wooden flooring in need of repair and is suitable for both civil and commercial environments, including those exposed to medium to high volumes of foot traffic. ULTRACOAT TRAFFIC MT brightens up the natural color of wooden flooring without yellowing over the years.

NEW GENERATION SELF- LEVELING COMPOUNDS AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCREEDS

Mapei is the only company to offer a complete range of self-leveling smoothing compounds for every situation (see the box to the side).

Special attention was paid at Bau 2017 to our large family of leveling products, which now has a new addition: PLANEX MAXI multi-purpose leveling compound for internal and external use, which will be available on the market very soon. PLANEX MAXI fills gaps and levels of cementitious and concrete screeds, as well as calcium sulfate screeds (internal use only), and can be applied in layers from 3 to 30 mm thick. Thanks to a formula containing special hydrating cement, selected sand, and additives, PLANEX MAXI is a plastic, controlled-shrinkage leveling compound with good workability that adheres extremely well to the substrate. It may be applied under ceramic tiles and natural stone subjected to intense foot traffic and normal and heated screeds.

NOVOPLAN MAXI is another special self-leveling compound with excellent thermal conductivity for high-conductance, compact underfloor heating systems, and compact, water-based underfloor heating systems.

The list of new products is rounded off by PLANEX HR and PLANEX HR MAXI self-leveling, moisture-resistant smoothing compounds for internal and external use.

But without a good screed, a self-leveling product is destined to have only a short life. This is why the spotlight at the trade fair was also on the new formula for MAPECEM PRONTO ready-mixed mortar with very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

WATERPROOFING: EVEN AT  LOW TEMPERATURES

Amongst the products presented at Bau 2017 were innovative, high-performance waterproofing products such as MAPELASTIC TURBO, a two-component cementitious mortar that dries quickly, including at low temperatures or if the substrate is not perfectly dry, for waterproofing terraces and balconies.

Other waterproofing products presented, in this case for constructions below ground level, underground structures, and tunnels, were MAPEPLAN SYSTEM synthetic waterproof membranes and MAPETHENE SA self-adhesive bitumen membrane, suitable for application at temperatures as low as -5 °C.

MAPECOAT I 620 W is the two-component, water-repellent epoxy resin in water dispersion for protecting surfaces in areas below ground level such as garages, cellars, basements, etc.

RESTORING MASONRY  AND CONCRETE

Bau 2017 was also the occasion to highlight the Mape-Antique line of products; cement-free, lime and Eco-Pozzolan-based products ideal for consolidating, restoring, de-humidifying and rendering old masonry buildings, including those of historical or artistic interest or with a preservation order.

Another new product presented at the trade fair was EPORIP SCR two-component, rapid-hardening silicate-urethane resin for sealing cracks and joints in screeds and for small repair work.

Amongst the smoothing and leveling products, Mapei proposed PLANITOP SMOOTH & REPAIR R4 fiber-reinforced, thixotropic cementitious R4-class mortar for repairing and skimming concrete.

Another newly conceived product was PLANIPATCH FAST TRACK ultra rapid-drying thixotropic smoothing and leveling compound for localized repair work.

The next edition of Bau, to be held at the Messe München from the 14th to the 19th of January 2019, will include two new exhibition halls, which will increase the area of exhibition space available to 200,000 m2.

MAPEI SELF-LEVELLING AND THIXOTROPIC SMOOTHING COMPOUNDS

Mapei markets a full range of smoothing compounds with very low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Fiberplan

Nivorapid

Novoplan Maxi

Pianocem M

Pianodur R

PLANEX HR

PLANEX HR MAXI

PLANEX MAXI

Planipatch

Planipatch Fast Track

Planiprep 4 LVT

Planiprep Fast Track

Planopur

Ultraplan

Ultraplan Eco

Ultraplan Fast Track

Ultraplan Maxi

MAPECEM PRONTO

Without a good screed, a self-leveling compound has a short life. That is why the improved formula MAPECEM PRONTO, a ready-to-use mortar with low emission levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), was displayed. Ideal for creating bonded and floating screeds indoors and outdoors, which need to dry quickly and be immediately installed on parquet, PVC, linoleum, ceramic tiles, natural/synthetic stones, textiles, etc.