MADEexpo 2017

1,060 exhibitors, a nett total of 52,000 m² of display space, 123 conventions (105 with training credit certificates), 11,000 participants with more than 6,000 taking part at the BuildSmart sessions, more than 620 internationally renowned speakers, 165 tests presented at Demo Live, 165 delegates from 38 different countries at more than 1,000 B2B meetings with exhibitors, more than 650 journalists from all around the world and 106,000 visitors, 12% of which from foreign countries. These are the impressive figures that confirm how MADE expo 2017, held at the Rho Exhibition Centre in Milan from the 8^th to the 11^th of March, is the leading event for the architecture and construction market.

An exhibition at its eighth edition which Mapei celebrated, once again, with a 360o presentation which also included their subsidiary companies Polyglass and Va.GA, focused on the “global quality” of their vast range of products that characterise the company in the world of building.

An edition characterised by important signs of recovery on the national market and the presence of a highly-qualified international public, a range of goods of the highest quality on offer and in-depth discussions on current issues, such as innovation, urban regeneration, anti-seismic and hydro-geological safety concerns and environmental and economic sustainability.

A SPACE TO SHARE THE 80 YEARS OF A STORY OF SUCCESS

The host of innovative solutions and ideas were a pleasant surprise for the designers and operators from the building world crowding around Mapei’s new display area, in Pavilion 6, with its presentation of numerous new products and systems.

Thanks to a series of practical demonstrations held by Mapei technicians, visitors had the chance to increase their knowledge of the solutions and see for themselves the effectiveness of Mapei systems for installing large format tiles, finishes for internal areas, the renovation of old external insulating systems, the restoration of concrete, waterproofing systems for roofs and solutions for strengthening floors.

A stand with a high visual impact with which Mapei celebrated their 80^th anniversary, along a pathway of graphics and illustrations where it was the figures that did the talking: 2.4 Billion Euros consolidated turnover in 2016, 18 main research centres, 81 subsidiary companies, almost 10,000 employees, 1,000 new formulates every year, 5,000 products for the building industry, 66,000 clients from all around the world, 161,000 professionals from the sector involved in training courses and 73 production facilities in 33 countries from the five continents.

And let’s not forget that, for Mapei, sustainability is not just a fashion, it is a way of being, which involves each and every corporate process, and that the true stars of the stand were the Mapei products and systems.

RESTORATION OF MASONRY BUILDINGS

For the restoration of masonry buildings sector, Mapei proposed the waterproof coating product MAPE-ANTIQUE ECOLASTIC and the new range of colours for MAPE-ANTIQUE ALLETTAMENTO and MAPEWALL MURATURA FINE bedding and pointing mortars. The two coloured mortars have been developed to enhance construction features on “exposed” masonry: MAPE-ANTIQUE ALLETTAMENTO, a cement-free mortar made from natural hydraulic lime and Eco-Pozzolan, is recommended for listed buildings of historical and artistic interest, while MAPEWALL MURATURA FINE is recommended for new builds. The other new product, MAPE-ANTIQUE ECOLASTIC, is a two-component, cement-free coating product made from lime and Eco-Pozzolan for waterproofing and protecting historical buildings.

URBAN DESIGN AND ADMIXTURES FOR CONCRETE

In the sector of products for street furniture, Mapei has two systems that are well known and highly appreciated: MAPESTONE for repairing, installing and grouting stone road surfaces and MAPEI COLOR PAVING for making architectural concrete surfaces with a washed-effect finish. Within the Mapestone system, new products have been introduced to meet new market demands: a new “Dark Grey” colour for MAPESTONE PFS2 and MAPESTONE PFS2 VISCO pre-mixed and high strength mortars which are used to fill grout lines. With the “Neutral” version, which was already available on the market, and the new “Dark Grey” versions, Mapei can now offer a complete system to help balance the attractive finish of stone road surfaces.

The other new product presented in the admixtures for concrete section was MAPECRETE MINERAL NEUTRAL, a mineralising solution used to treat pervious concrete and concrete substrates. Specifically developed to harden and consol-
idate old and new floors, MAPECRETE MINERAL NEUTRAL increases concrete’s resistance to abrasion and its durability over the years. It is also available in the coloured version, MAPECRETE MINERAL COLORED.

WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS

Amongst the products used to waterproof roofs, MADE Expo was the ideal opportunity for Mapei to showcase AQUAFLEX ROOF PREMIUM, the new ready-mixed, water-based polyurethane membrane with zero solvents and VOC. It is applied without the need for other protective layers, it is non-slip, resis-
tant to foot traffic and root penetration in compliance with UNI CEN/TS 14416 and carries CE 1504-2
marking. Another product dedicated to the roofing sector which has been recently introduced and was on show at the exhibition was MAPESLOPE cementitious levelling mortar for evening out and restoring slopes and filling hollow areas on roofs without having to remove the previous waterproofing system or coating. As far as waterproofing underground structures is concerned, the other novelty was the MAPETHENE range of self-adhesive bitumen membranes suitable for application at temperatures from -5°C to +45°C.

SYSTEMS FOR LVT

Amongst products for use in internal areas, Mapei presented their systems for installing LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) at the exhibition. One of these systems is ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT, recommended for installing LVT on floors, including in damp surroundings. The system includes the one-component, silylated polymer-based reactive adhesive ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT and the non-slip finish MAPECOAT 4 LVT, as well as the most suitable products for preparing and sealing substrates for this particular area of use. The ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT WALL version, on the other hand, is recommended for bonding LVT on walls. Thanks to its high performance characteristics, it can be applied on walls without running and it prevents LVT from slipping.

RESIN AND CEMENTITIOUS FLOORING

MAPEFLOOR COMFORT SYSTEM is Mapei’s proposal for seamless resin flooring. Available in 4 different versions and a vast range of colours and shades, this system may be used for internal floors in the civil and service sectors, as well as in other environments such as shops, museums and schools. Floors made with this system are highly attractive, easy to clean and maintain and are comfortable underfoot. Thanks to its soundproofing properties, this product is recommended for use in surroundings which have the arduous task of reducing noise.

WALL FINISHES AND HEAT INSULATION SYSTEMS

For all internal and external surfaces Mapei proposes its new and recently updated Master Collection. Made up of 1002 colours, this new collection of shades will satisfy the requirements of the most creative designers and the most demanding clients.

To finish off internal surfaces in buildings, Mapei presented DURSILITE product family at the exhibition, a high performance, water-based paint for decorating and protecting surfaces in internal areas. This family of products also includes DURSILITE finish, as well as other versions such as DURSILITE MATT, which has excellent white balance and a matt finish, and DURSILITE PLUS hygienising paint with mould-resistant Mapei BioBlock^® technology, which guarantees surfaces maintain their high permeability to water vapour. A recent new arrival is DURSILITE GLOSS, a modified acrylic resin-based wall paint with a smooth, semi-gloss finish suitable for all surfaces, including those already painted.

Also under the spotlight at the exhibition was the MAPETHERM SYSTEM, an external insulating system for buildings, and MAPETHERM FLEX RP, an elastic skimming compound resis-
tant to impact loads and aggression from microorganisms, recommended for renovating external insulation systems with cracks, mildew and mould and for protecting critical points in the system, such as areas at risk of damage from impact loads and stresses.

BUILDING PRODUCTS

Amongst the new products presented at the exhibition was PLANITOP FINE FINISH for repairing concrete: a light grey coloured, ultra fine-textured, rapid-hardening cementitious skimming compound for internal and external porous or uneven concrete structures. MAPEGROUT FMR-PP, on the other hand, is the new thixotropic mortar for repairing and strengthening concrete structures where a high level of ductility is required. Thanks to its resistance to sulphates and alkalis, it is recommended for repairing sewage systems and underground tunnels and constructions, such as underground railways.

STRUCTURAL STRENGTHENING FOR BUILDINGS

In such a critical and difficult moment such as this regarding anti-seismic prevention measures, at the exhibition Mapei proposed the MAPEWRAP EQ SYSTEM, a system that has been tested and certified at the Department of Structural Engineering of the Federico II University of Naples, which is recommended for preventing the collapse of brick-cementitious floors and preventing secondary elements in buildings from tilting over.

The solution for restoring and strengthening floors, on the other hand, is PLANITOP HPC FLOOR, a mortar with very high mechanical performance characteristics suitable for application by pouring, without the risk of segregation, in layers from 1.5 to 3 cm thick without using electro-welded support mesh or metal connectors.

FLEXIBLE SEALANTS AND ADHESIVES

For the chemical anchors sector Mapei highlighted MAPEFIX EP and MAPEFIX VE SF at MADE expo, certified structural resins for anchoring work on all types of substrates in both tension zones and compression zones, including zones exposed to seismic stresses and loads.

Also highlighted was MAPEFLEX PU45 FT, an elastic, paintable, rapid-hardening polyurethane sealant and adhesive suitable for sealing and bonding all types of internal and external substrates.

PRODUCTS FOR CERAMICS AND FOR SOUNDPROOFING BUILDINGS

Amongst the proposals for installing ceramic and stone material was the Set the Mood range of coloured grouts and ULTRALITE lightweight adhesives. Set the Mood is a complete range of grouts and sealants and is unique on the market for the vast range of products and shades available (50 different colours as well as a transparent version).

Other highlighted products for installing ceramic were the ULTRALITE one-component, lightweight cementitious adhesives, with incorporated LowDust technology, available in 15 kg bags.

Amongst the systems proposed at MADE, two systems for combatting noise from footsteps in buildings were particularly appreciated: MAPESILENT, recommended for making floating screeds before installing any type of flooring, and MAPESONIC CR, a system applied over old flooring before installing ceramic, stone, laminated wood and resilient flooring.

PRODUCTS FOR WOODEN FLOORING

Last but not least are the solutions presented at MADE expo for wooden flooring. These are the ULTRABOND range of silylated-polymer adhesives with very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and exceptional viscosity, workability and ridge stability. One of the members of this family is ULTRABOND ECO S968 1K one-component, solvent-free adhesive for bonding all types of solid and pre-finished wooden flooring on any type of substrate, including heated screeds. Also highlighted at the exhibition was the low-odour, urethane oil finish ULTRACOAT OIL COLOR for colouring wooden floors in civil and commercial environments with medium to intense volumes of traffic.

The next edition of Mape expo will be held, at the Rho Exhibition Centre in Milan in 2019.