Gulf Construction Online

Saudi Build

Pentra-Stain UVS was used used by Scania in Sweden.

On the floor

01 September 2011

CONVERGENT Group, a producer of sealants based on nano-lithium technology for industrial concrete floors, will be promoting advanced floor treatment systems when it exhibits for the second time at Saudi Build in Riyadh this year.

At the show, the Belgium-based company will be introducing its patented Pentra-Sil nano-lithium (NL/HC) for treating concrete floors and Pentra-Stain UVS, a durable penetrating colour sealer that hardens, dust-proofs, and protects concrete against staining while providing a satin or a gloss finish.

Convergent returns to Saudi Build this year following its success at last year’s event where it received several visitors and made valuable contacts, according to export manager Schmidt Mputu.

“We exhibit worldwide and based on the overall response, we are confident of finding a market in the region,” he says.
Convergent Group is the leading manufacturer of Pentra-Sil (NL) in the world.

“Since 2001, we have covered more than 300 million sq m for companies like Audi, Ikea, Nestle, Gucci, Decathlon, Daimler-Chrysler, Pepsi-Cola, L’Oreal, Lion Food, Carlsberg, TNT, Makita, Otis, HP, Costco, Scania, Lufthansa, and Otis,” Mputu says.

The products employed at these projects include Pentra-Sil (concrete hardener, sealer and densifier), Pentra-Sil 244 (salt protection and dust-proofer), Pentra-Guard, PPC and Pentra-Stain UVS.

Turkey’s Metro supermarket also chose a Convergent solution for its floors.

Convergent Group’s other concrete floor-care treatment solutions include Pentra-Sil (C&N), a concrete cleaner and neutraliser that protects concrete floors against sweating and alkalinity problems; Pentra-Sil (AC), an alkalinity control formula and primer that neutralises substrate surfaces suffering from alkalinity problems; Pentra-Guard (EXT), an exterior surface hardening and protective clear coat; Pentra-Guard (HP), a high-performance industrial flooring surface hardener and protective clear coat; and Transil, a traffic marking and safety paint.

Describing the products that will be showcased at Saudi Build, Mputu says that Pentra-Sil (NL/HC) – which is designed for densifying and curing concrete – combines advanced lithium silicate hardening with an engineered non-ionic emulsion for curing; while Pentra-Stain is a surface applied water-based, non-acid staining system that provides industrial strength performance and an attractive finish for interior concrete.

He says products based on nano-lithium technology when applied to concrete give maximum protection and superior results. They give a high sheen, aesthetics and durability, making the floors last longer and look better.

A parking project in Dusseldorf.

“Our superior lithium technology provides unmatched performance in protecting substrates against wear, dusting, sweating, efflorescence, scaling, surface ASR (alkali silica reactivity) and damaging alkalis,” he adds.

Pentra-Sil penetrates deeper than sodium or potassium-based sealers and more evenly through the surface matrix of the concrete, Mputu states.

Elaborating on Pentra-Sil’s features, Mputu says the product penetrates deep inside the concrete capillaries, chemically reacting with the free lime and forming a permanent insoluble bond with the concrete. It forms a superior protective surface layer that is breathable, dense and abrasion resistant. The product also creates a stronger, more impenetrable, and resistant finish that is dust-proof and resistant to staining and deterioration, he says. It reduces maintenance, cleaning costs and costly repairs.

“Being non-soluble and non-expansive, Pentra-Sil will not absorb water or cause the floor to sweat (SSF); it will not scratch or peel; can be applied on fresh, newly-towelled concrete; requires no waxing and provides an immediate sheen that improves with normal wear and maintenance,” Mputu says.

He continues: “It is water-based, contains no solvents, is low in odour, and has extremely low VOC (volatile organic compounds) content. In addition, it is approved by the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) for incidental food contact and can be used to achieve Green Leaf/Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating.”

Convergent’s specific concrete treatments can be applied to old and new concrete surfaces such as steel trowelled, terrazzo, polished decorative concrete and granite in areas including industrial manufacturing plants, warehouse storage facilities, retail and shopping centres, parking garages, automotive dealerships, aircraft hangars, parking decks, transportation terminals, vehicle maintenance areas, hospitals and healthcare, schools, cafeterias and restaurants, office buildings, veterinary clinics, and lobbies, aisles and corridors.

Convergent Group, established in 1996, is an ISO 9001 ISO 14001 and EMAS (Ecomanagement and Audit Scheme)-certified company.

This year, Convergent Group has succeeded in penetrating three new markets – in Russia, Spain, and Nigeria – and is in the process of building a new plant and offices that will be finished by January next year.

The company, which registered an annual turnover of €1 million ($1.42 million), says business was good last year with revenues increasing by 12 per cent. It plans to increase production capacity by 30 per cent next year.

The Convergent Group will be exhibiting at Stand 404-3 at Saudi Build.