roadworxcolas paving the way forward
The newly formed chipping division performed its fi rst contract for Fynns Construction in Durban.
NEWS FROM COLAS
COLAS SOUTHERN AFRICA WELCOMES THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR NEW CHIPPING EQUIPMENT
ISSUE 1JULY 2015
News from Colas / Durban
NEWS FROM COLAS
DURBAN
News from Colas / Durban
REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITYThere are times when it is important for all of us to become involved. Colas management and staff made a concerted effort to assist those who were in need, following the recent spate of xenophobia that
affected some of our local communities. We went to the camp site and handed out food and blankets to all the victims.
Murray and Roberts have engaged the services of Colas South Africa to assist in the application of a texture correction on the N2 near Umzinto.This is a SANRAL contract and is being applied on various areas along the 41km section of road under rehabilitation. The use
of Colas’ technologically advanced microsurfacing truck (shown above) is playing a major part in ensuring that a quality texture
correction layer is placed within the required time.
SURFACE TEXTURE
CORRECTION ON THE N2 NEAR
UMZINTO
COLAS SOUTHERN AFRICA WELCOMES THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR NEW CHIPPING EQUIPMENT
Colas Southern Africa recently acquired state-of-the-art chip spreaders and ride-on brooms for their two new chipping teams.The management and staff are looking forward to ‘throwing some stones’ as an additional service to their already highly acclaimed binder distributor and microsurfacing services.
NEWS FROM COLAS
MINING, OIL & GAS
News from Colas / Mining, Oil & Gas
Global infrastructure solutions from plant or pit to port tailor-made locally!
• Construction materials• Haul or access roads• Site preparation and civil works• Environmental works
• Service corridors (pipelines, rails, etc.)
• Operation/maintenance
• Total dust management via
Stephane Parzy, Business and Development Manager - Major Projects, Mining, Oil & Gas Infrastructure & Construction.
Niren Sewram, Senior Manager - Major Projects, Mining, Oil & Gas Infrastructure & Construction.
Sealing operations with hot-applied binders can only take place if a minimum road surface temperature of 25°C is reached. Below this temperature the adhesive properties of the modifi ed binder become very poor, and there is a real risk of aggregate loss during low overnight temperatures. In most regions of Southern Africa, the road surface temperature seldom reaches the minimum required temperature of 25°C during the winter months. In order to ensure continuity of contracts during the colder winter conditions, the only option available to surfacing contractors is to revert to the use of polymer modifi ed emulsions. These are applied at an average spray temperature of 60°C and require a minimum road surface temperature of 10°C. This has traditionally been performed using SBR latex modifi ed bitumen emulsions.
Colas has recently produced and applied the fi rst SBS polymer modifi ed bitumen emulsion in Southern Africa. The product, which is called Polycol X, was fi nally realised following extensive developments in the Research and Development department in Cape Town. Until recently, the only modifi er that could be used to modify bitumen emulsions was Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) latex. SBR latex modifi ed emulsions are characterised as being slow curing, and therefore construction techniques have to be adapted in order to construct seals with these emulsions, which affects the production rate.
The properties of the residual binder obtained from SBR latex modifi cation are also not identical to the properties of the hot-applied SBS binder that is used in summer. Polycol X has the advantage of being quicker breaking than the conventional latex modifi ed emulsion, and the residual binder has better elastic properties than the residue obtained from latex modifi ed emulsions. Using Polycol X, it is possible to construct single and double seals during sunny winter conditions and still open the road to traffi c the same day.
The fi rst Polycol X emulsion was recently applied on a trial section on the R57 between Kestell and Reitz. A 19,0 + 9,5 mm double seal section was successfully constructed. Initial observations are that the emulsion is considerably quicker curing than the SBR latex emulsion that is currently used on the project during the winter months. No problems were experienced in transporting and applying the product.
Colas is confi dent that this new emulsion will revolutionise surfacing operations in Southern Africa, especially during the colder winter months. The emulsion conforms to the requirements of an SC-E1 polymer modifi ed emulsion as stipulated in Technical Guideline TG1. The emulsion is available with a binder content of 70-73% and the residual binder conforms to the requirements of hot-applied S-E1 binder, prepared with SBS polymer.
NEWS FROM COLAS
CONTINUOUS INNOVATION
Most reseal operations in Southern Africa are executed during the summer months using hot-applied Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS) modifi ed bitumen, which is applied at a temperature of approximately 180°C. This requires that the aggregate must be precoated with a suitable material to ensure proper adhesion to the polymer modifi ed binder.
COLAS INTRODUCES POLYCOL X A NEW POLYMER MODIFIED BITUMEN EMULSION
News from Colas / Continuous Innovation
SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
One of the primary functions of our Central Laboratory in Cape Town is the evaluation of aggregate for use in slurry and microsurfacing applications.Should submitted aggregate samples be found suitable for the intended slurry and/or microsurfacing application, a slurry/microsurfacing design will be performed to accurately determine the optimum emulsion content relevant to that particular aggregate and application.
A slurry design consists of fi ve to seven different tests and evaluations, depending on the application. The design process is usually completed within three to four working days.
The fi rst slurry design performed by the Central Laboratory was documented on 9 September 2002. During the fi rst fi ve years after making this service available, the Central Laboratory performed an average of two slurry designs per month. Over the past two years this number has increased to an average of one slurry design per week. On 6 March 2015 the Central Laboratory completed their 500th slurry/microsurfacing design.
Today, the ‘Colas Slurry Design Method’ is the preferred slurry/microsurfacing design method in Southern Africa and has been incorporated in SABITA Manual 28, Best Practices for the Design and Construction of Slurry Seals.
Jaco Steyn, HSE Manager of Colas, received the joint Sabita 2014 CEO Merit Award for Health and Safety.Well done to Jaco and his team for upholding our high standards of health, safety and environmental responsibility in the workplace.
News from Colas / Research and Development News from Colas / Safety
NEWS FROM COLAS
LABSNEWS FROM COLAS
SAFETY
Saied Solomons, CEO of SABITA, hands over the joint award to Jaco Steyn (left).
SIVIKELEKE -LET’S BE SAFE
In January this year Colas partnered with Jincom Publishing, specialists in visual communication, to produce a HSE comic called ‘Sivikeleke’.Sivikeleke, which means ‘Be Safe’, is a monthly publication distributed to all staff on site. The comics are led by two characters - Sakhile, the supervisor, and Xola, the junior employee.
Every issue is translated into Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, French and Portuguese to ensure that the key messages are understood by everyone and distributed to all operations in Africa.
Employees in South Africa can win R1 000 cash through a SMS competition included in the comic, which also tests how well they have understood the content.
With every issue we hope to increase awareness and aim to keep all our people healthy and safe.
Each issue covers some of the key tasks on site, and highlights how to manage the risks around them. Some of the topics already featured include:
• High Blood Pressure• Road Safety• Protecting the Environment• Fire Safety
The First Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit (PPRS) was held in Paris, France from 22 to 25 February 2015. This prestigious event was attended by approximately 1 000 delegates from all over the world. Colas was one of the Platinum
sponsors of the Summit.
News from Colas / Exhibitions
NEWS FROM COLAS
EXHIBITIONSNEWS FROM COLAS
OVERSEAS VISITORS
News from Colas / Overseas Visitors
COLAS IN PARIS
A WARM WELCOME
SENIOR MANAGEMENT VISIT FROM PARISSenior Management including Mr Herve Le Bouc (Chairman and CEO), Mr Jacques Leost (Managing Director International), Christophe Da Poian (Deputy Managing Director) visited Southern Africa in March 2015.They also visited various Colas branches in Africa.
Seminar held in Nelspruit with 80 attendees. A trial of Microsurfacing was also done to show the attendees the process involved.
Colas Mozambique held a seminar in Maputo in March which was well attended.
Chamdor factory in Johannesburg.
It was sometimes necessary to travel during the night to places
like Johannesburg and East London to acquire essential spares
and raw materials. In 1980 he was transferred to Krugersdorp to
erect a new factory, and in 1989 he was fi nally transferred back
to Cape Town to assume the position as National Operations
Manager. In 1997, after the business was taken over by Murray
and Roberts, Peet was appointed Branch Manager of the Cape
Town branch, a position which he held until recently when he was
appointed to the position of Technical Sales Manager.
During his extended career, Peet has built up a wealth of
experience in all aspects of the business. He is well respected by
both the Colas staff and his clients. Through the years, Peet has
developed a close relationship with his clients, who have always
valued his integrity and the high level of service and personal
attention received from Peet.
Peet is married to Anna-Marie and they have a son and a
daughter. He is also a grandfather, and his seven year old
grandson, Justin-Lee, is the apple of his eye.
Although Peet is, understandably, a bit apprehensive about
retirement, he has a number of items on his ‘bucket list’. First
of all, he plans to improve his golf handicap, and he and Anna-
Marie are also considering some local as well as international
travelling. In addition, he would like to concentrate on improving
his woodworking skills again, an activity that he has neglected in
recent years.
We wish Peet all the best with his retirement and will miss having
him around.
Peet, we are going to miss you. Enjoy the break that you deserve
after your extended loyal service to Colas. If the longing for the
‘black stuff’ becomes too strong, please pop in at Colas for a cup
of coffee with your friends.
News from Colas / Success Story
NEWS FROM COLAS
SUCCESS STORYNEWS FROM COLAS
FAREWELL
News from Colas / Farewell
SHAUN LUKAS - THIS IS MY STORY
I joined Colas in April 2007. I remember thinking how fortunate I was, because it had always been my dream to work here, ever since I fi rst saw the Colas trucks on the road. I made a point of meeting and speaking to the drivers, and they made it clear that Colas is a company where the staff feel they belong to a special family that is miles ahead of everyone else.
Up to this day I feel proud to be a part of the Colas family. I have
come to a place in my career where I’m ‘living the dream’, as
some would say.
Having originally started at Colas as a Junior Slurry Supervisor,
I have since then worked all over the country, have seen many
places and learned a great deal from the Colas team, the
engineers and contractors. I was promoted to Factory Supervisor
in 2011, a position which I found particularly interesting. Within a
year and a half I rose to the position of Junior Factory Manager.
In 2014 I relocated to Colas Johannesburg, where I stayed for a
year before moving to Colas Durban.
During my career I have had the opportunity to experience many
of the Colas operations. I would like to thank everyone who has
played a part in the development of my career at Colas, from
the time that I started until this very day. Without your help and
guidance I would not be where I am today.
My philosophy in life is simply this: I believe that it is important for
all of us to care about what we say and do, and to work hard at
doing our very best, each and every day.
Let us all try to be good role models, because it is important
for our peers and team members, as well as everyone in the
community around us, to have someone to look up to and follow,
someone who has succeeded in achieving what they set out to
accomplish in life and who is willing to share the secrets of their
success with others.
Shaun Lukas, Junior Factory Manager.
FAREWELL TO PEET SMITH
Peet Smith has decided to retire at the end of August. His career started as a Sales Representative with Vialit in Port Elizabeth in 1971. After a three-year period in Port Elizabeth, Peet was transferred to Cape Town in 1974 and then to Umtata in 1975 to erect an emulsion factory. Peet recalls that, during his time in Umtata, he often had to do emergency repairs himself, such as cutting, welding and overhauling the Hurrel mill to ensure continuity of production.
Peet Smith.
congratulations
Thabisa Ngcola and her husband,
Nyameko Siximba, who were married on
19 December 2014. We wish them good
luck and every happiness for the future.
Sameer Munu
Admin Manager
Cape Town
Francis Nobanda
Service Mechanic
Johannesburg
Shadrack Thamsanqa
Dlamini
Factory Operator
Durban
Songezo Macingwane
Tyre Fitter
Johannesburg
Patrick Mncwabe
Factory Operator
Durban
Cyprian Ndokweni
Factory Operator
Durban
Congratulations and best wishes to Cindy
Mouton on the birth of her beautiful baby girl,
Mia Leigh, on 28 February 2015. May she
bring you great pride and joy.
PR
OM
OT
ION
S
Serge Cavasino
Managing Director
Southern Africa
Cedric Monnet
Regional Manager
Eastern AfricaNE
WA
PP
OIN
TM
EN
TS
Brian Wantza was
appointed as the new
HR Offi cer on 23 March 2015.
Chris du Preez
Depot Manager
Bloemfontein
Valerie Maquina and her husband,
Jordao Chinhaja. They were married on
25 April 2015. As Valerie says, it was a very
blessed day. All of us at Colas wish the happy
couple many years of health and happiness.
