Mapei looks to the future

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

And as such, Bau – the two-yearly trade fair dedicated to architecture, materials and systems held at the Munich Exhibition Centre from the 16^th to the 21^st 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 for 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 places an emphasis on 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 at this edition of Bau, along with their German subsidiary Mapei GmbH, with a presentation of various new products and systems for the building industry. And 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.

“Mapei: Kompetenz am 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 recognised for by users, designers, contractors and architects, and by everyone from all around the world working in this industry that 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 80^th 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; from manufacturers to designers, to those who use the products, right up to end users. 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”: these were also the concepts and key strengths Mapei wished to highlight at Bau 2017.

All this as a reminder of how Mapei products 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.

The new ECO range of products was also presented at Bau, dedicated products for the installation of textile flooring 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.

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

NEW COLOURS FOR GROUTS AND SEALANTS

Bau was the ideal opportunity for the Mapei stand to highlight the “Set the Mood” colour chart for grouts and sealants. 50 colours, 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 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 trowellability, 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% of 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 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 of lacquers for wooden flooring, Mapei proposed ULTRACOAT OIL COLOR, available in 7 different colours. Just 16 hours after treating wooden flooring with ULTRACOAT OIL COLOR it is ready for other care with ULTRACOAT OIL CARE, specific maintenance product. Mapei also presented an innovative variation for treating surfaces, which consists of applying lacquer on wooden flooring with a coloured oil finish. This provides the the high level of protection typically obtained with two-component lacquer.

ULTRACOAT 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 resis-
tance 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 colour of wooden flooring without yellowing over the years.

NEW GENERATION SELF- LEVELLING COMPOUNDS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE SCREEDS

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

Special attention was paid at Bau 2017 to our large family of levelling products, which now has a new addition: PLANEX MAXI multi-purpose levelling compound for internal and external use, which will be available on the market very soon. PLANEX MAXI fills gaps and levels cementitious and concrete screeds, as well as calcium sulphate 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 levelling compound with good workability which 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-levelling 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-levelling, moisture-resistant smoothing compounds for internal and external use.

But without a good screed a self-levelling 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 which 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 levelling products, Mapei proposed PLANITOP SMOOTH&REPAIR R4 fibre-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 levelling compound for localised repair work.

The next edition of Bau, to be held at the Messe München from the 14^th to the 19^th 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-levelling compound has a short life. That is why improved formula MAPECEM PRONTO, a ready-to-use mortar with low emission level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), was clearly on display. Ideal for creating bonded and floating screeds indoors and outdoors, which need to dry quickly ready to be immediately installed on parquet, PVC, linoleum, ceramic tiles, natural/synthetic stones, textiles etc.