WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

An acronym for African Bitumen Emulsions, a.b.e. Construction Chemicals was founded in 1932 but started operations in 1939 in Durban as a supplier of bitumen to municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Over the years this company has grown in both size and diversity to become a major supplier of specialised construction products to the building, civil engineering and building maintenance industries, supplying products directly to customers through its branch network as well as through builders’ merchants and hardware stores.

Strongest FOUNDATIONS

the bitumen produced is used as

the binder in asphalt for roads. It

is also used in other paved areas

such as airport runways, car

parks and footways.

Typically, the production of

asphalt involves mixing sand,

gravel and crushed rock with

bitumen, which acts as the

binding agent. Other materials,

such as polymers, may be

added to the bitumen to alter

its properties according to the

application for which the asphalt

is ultimately intended.

A further 10% of global

bitumen production is used

in roofing applications, where

its waterproofing qualities are

invaluable.

The remaining 5% of bitumen

is used mainly for sealing and

insulating purposes in a variety

of building materials, such as

pipe coatings, carpet tile backing

and paint.

ABE CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS

This network has ensured a wide net to capture and meet the needs for their clients with manufacturing plants in Boksburg, Johannesburg and Isipingo and Durban they have grown organically, never over-spreading and always ensuring that they were ready and able to support their clients. With Business Development Director Luis Ferreira behind many of the company’s newest expansions and product developments this company has made a name for strengthening their clients.

Supported by a network of branches and distributors

throughout South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian

Ocean Islands and Pakistan a.b.e. is ideally positioned

to service its customers with a range of categories that include

waterproofing, flooring and special adhesives through to silicone and

sealants, concrete repair and general construction products.

Acquired by CHRYSO Southern Africa in September 2010 it was

the successful integration and strong co-operation of all departments

and divisions across the brand that has enhanced the group’s product

offering.

BitumenBitumen is an oil based substance, semi-solid hydrocarbon

product produced by removing the lighter fractions (such as liquid

petroleum gas, petrol and diesel) from heavy crude oil during the

refining process. As such, it is correctly known as refined bitumen. In

North America, bitumen is commonly known as “asphalt cement” or

“asphalt”. While elsewhere, “asphalt” is the term used for a mixture of

small stones, sand, filler and bitumen, which is used as a road paving

material. The asphalt mixture contains approximately 5% bitumen. At

ambient temperatures bitumen is a stable, semi-solid substance.

The vast majority of refined bitumen is used in construction:

primarily as a constituent of products used in paving and roofing

applications. According to the requirements of the end use bitumen is

produced to specification. This is achieved either by refining process

or blending.

It is estimated that the current world usage of bitumen is

approximately 102 million tonnes per year. Approximately 85% of all

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Common MisunderstandingsPetroleum bitumen is often confused with tar. Although bitumen

and coal tar are similarly black and sticky, they are distinctly different

substances in origin, chemical composition and in their properties.

Coal tar is produced by heating coal to extremely high temperatures

and is a by-product of gas and coke production. It was widely used as

the binding agent in road asphalt in the early part of the last century,

but has since been replaced by refined bitumen.

Bitumen is also sometimes confused with petroleum pitch which,

although also derived from crude oil, is a substance produced by a

different process from that used for refined bitumen. Petroleum

pitches are the residues from the extreme heat treatment or “cracking”

of petroleum fractions. Their properties and chemical composition

are therefore quite different from those of bitumen.

Naturally-occurring bitumen, sometimes also called natural

asphalt, rock asphalt, lake asphalt or oil sand, has been used as an

adhesive, sealant and waterproofing agent for over 8,000 years. But

it occurs only in small quantities and its properties are quite different

from refined bitumen.

Chryso SAChryso SA has established itself as a major supplier of concrete

and cement admixtures in South Africa thanks to its investment

in plant infrastructure, new technologies as well as technical and

customer support. The acquisition of a.b.e by CHRYSO provided a.b.e.

with the new technologies and ongoing research and development

programs to further enhance its position in the market and add value

to their customers.

If a.b.e. are known for anything it is their focus to its sustainability

policy, adopted from the CHRYSO group, to sustain the seven values

across economic, environmental and social commitments and one of

the ongoing merits to a.b.e is the continual investment on improving

its structures as well as upgrading production facilities. Strengthening

its research and development programmes while using existing

channels in the market to introduce new products has proven to be

the best way to further enhance its current product range and service

offered to customers.

There is a vision guiding a.b.e Construction Chemicals, a simple

one but one that directs every decision made and guides every

employee on a day to day basis, grounding decisions and giving flight

to new ideas. This is to be the supplier of cost effective, innovative

manufactured products, and the preferred distributor for leading

brand owners to a.b.e’s chosen market segments.

Approximately 50% of products sold are produced locally in

Durban and Boksburg with the remaining 50% being sourced both

locally and from Europe as finished goods. The main segments that

a.b.e. work in are as follows:

The export division provides specialised services and support

to local and overseas markets. The export customer base consists

of licensee’s, distributors, local export houses and an established

customer base mainly in sub Saharan African, with further

representatives in Bostwana, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana,

Kenya and Tanzania.

Construction Sales consists of general contractors ranging from

large construction companies to the small house builder, as well as

specifiers, developers, facility managers and various engineers.

Retail customer base comprises of hardware and building supply

outlets ranging from the large groups with a national footprint to the

small corner hardware store. Agricultural co-ops are also important

customers, along with several agents and distributors who operate in

defined markets.

Over the years a.b.e has acquired technology through its own

development, strategic acquisitions of businesses and by forming

alliances with international manufacturers of specialized products.

Today a.b.e is a leader in its field with many well respected brands,

representing a number of quality international manufacturers and

looking to the future with a comprehensive laboratory for testing of

products in both of its factories.

The resellers’ customer base

comprises hardware and building

supply outlets ranging from the

large groups to the small corner

hardware store, these with

the agricultural co-ops, as well

as the marine, refurbishment

and garden sectors create the

fundamental customer basis.

Operating out of the Durban

Branch, the export division

provides specialised services

and support to its overseas

markets. Currently a.b.e. has

representation in Botswana,

Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi,

Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola

and Zambia. Also, in addition,

a.b.e. has license agreements

with partners in Mauritius who

produce and distribute a.b.e.

products into these and the

surrounding territories.

ABE CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS

Endeavour Magazine | 61

ABE CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS

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