Developing new technologies in the roads market is not the same as introducing new technologies in the consumer market. In the latter, early adopters of new technologies are often the stakeholders willing to take the risks.

Roads are a mostly public commodity, and the sheer costs involved in using road building technologies – especially asphalt plants – mean that any company willing to develop something new needs a very willing partner, with the assets and the capacity to shoulder some R&D risk.

Several players in today’s market in South Africa are currently trialling new technologies in either warm mix or recycled asphalt, and have the courage to go about fixing the inevitable challenges in plain sight of a very competitive market.

IMIESA invited service providers and professionals from Afrisam, Aveng Rand Roads, Dick King Lab Supplies, Kaytech Engineered Fabrics, Osborn Engineered Products SA, Pro-Phalt, Reliance Laboratory Equipment, The South African Road Federation and Tekfalt Binders, to share some insights on the state of SA’s road industry.

Read more here.