In Europe, use of concrete admixtures is growing over twice as fast as the concrete market itself. This applies to usage in ready-mix as well as the pre-cast segments of the industry according to a recently released study on concrete admixtures by the American Consulting firm of Eldib Engineering and Research, Inc. located in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

Eldib estimates the European market for concrete admixtures to total around US $600 million per year. The growing acceptance of water reducing admixtures

WRA's), the major additive, is fueled by reduced labor and upgraded strength of the concrete associated with the reduced levels of water in the formulation containing WRA's otherwise known as superplasticizers. WRA's refer to chemical agents added to concrete to stay fluid during application at reduced levels of water and to enhance flow properties for pumpability and self-leveling applications.

• 12 Manufacturers of Admixtures
• 49 Entities Producing Ready-Mix Concrete
• 35 Entities Producing Pre-Cast Concrete
• 8 Building Repair Firms
• 9 Professional plus Regulatory Agencies

The costliest ingredient in concrete is cement. WRA's have the ability to lower cement content in the formulation without a sacrifice in strength, which would otherwise occur.

Recent improvements in the performance of the WRA admixtures have also spurred increased acceptance. From the large volume, low cost lignosulphonates used at first, recent admixture formulations comprise naphthalene lignosulphonates, melamine sulphonates and polyhydroxy carbon acids which are able to provide improvements in water reduction and flow properties of the concrete.

In concrete precast pieces, WRA's can provide improved efficiency in molds or forms usage, better strength and better surface appearance. Users find that a reduction in cement needed in the formulation will usually justify the additional cost of the WRA's. In addition, based on extensive interviews among ready mix and precast producers and users in Western Europe, Eldib finds that the labor savings is generally sufficient to justify a higher price sometimes charged for WRA-containing ready-mix.

Andrew Eldib who headed this investigation said, "Our survey and market analysis concludes that new suppliers of WRA mostly chemical companies or their affiliates producing specialized surface active agents would find a place for their product in the European construction firms market. New suppliers can come from Europe, Japan and the US" Eldib believes that demand for water reducing agents is growing faster than capacity. There is a boon for WRA's if there are enough suppliers of the active chemical ingredients.

An even greater influence on acceptance and growth results from local industry and architectural preferences. Very high usage and growth are taking place in Italy

(1.1 cubic meter per capita) and Ireland (0.85 cubic meter per capita) where per capita consumption of concrete is already at high levels compared with England (0.4 cubic meter per capita) and France (0.5 cubic meter per capita) reports Eldib researchers. Even in England, the use of WRA's in ready mix has been steadily increasing yearly from about 15% of the ready mix in 1988 to over 55% in 1998.

Largest producers of WRA's and superplasticizers in Europe are MBT (SKW), Sika, Grace, Addiment, and Tricosal. While there is considerable vertical integration in the cement/concrete and admixture arena in Europe, the suppliers tend to provide the formulated product but largely rely on the chemicals producers for their raw material supply of the surface active agents, etc., according to Eldib. BASF and Huls according to suppliers of admixtures provide the surface active agents in Europe. Some suppliers also market WRA's and superplasticizers produced by others including importers. This affords an opportunity for suppliers of such chemicals to be involved in the market without the requirement to provide the sophisticated customer service and product approvals, industry codes, expected by the industry.

There are some select major construction areas that are consuming large amounts of WRA's.

Reunification of the economically deprived East Berlin formerly under the Soviets, with the modern West Berlin has brought a boon to the construction industry.

Eldib researchers touring Berlin in February 2000 saw everywhere cranes used to build new skyscrapers. Concrete pouring trucks were also seen.

In the East Berlin billions of German marks (1 US dollar equals 1.85 German Marks) are being poured in new federal buildings, new parliament, new embassies, new museum etc. This trend will continue till the year 2010, the Eldib researchers estimate. This activity will give the demand for water reducing agents for concrete a definite shot in the arm.

Another example of WRA's major use is in the world's largest tunnel being built under the Elba River at Hamburg

For additional details on this study contact: Eldib Engineering & Research, Inc. 613 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922; Tel: (908) 464-2244;