Sunday the 26th of June 2016 saw the inauguration of one of the most important infrastructure projects in recent years; the expansion work on the Panama Canal to double the capacity of the waterway crossing the country.
Work on this new route, which consisted in the construction of two three-stage locks, one on the Atlantic Ocean and the other on the Pacific Ocean along with their relative access channels, was carried out by an international consortium led by the Italian company Salini-Impregilo, which also included the Spanish company Sacyr, the Belgian company Jean de Nul and the Panamanian company Constructora Urbana.
Mapei played their part in this project by supplying a team of highly qualified consultants and the latest generation of admixtures, mortars, adhesives and sealants, special products for the structures and synthetic waterproof membranes for the basins.
The products supplied were the following: Dynamon XP2, Dynamon XP2 Evolution 1, Mapegrout T-60, Mapegrout Hi Flow, Mapefinish, Planicrete, Epojet LV, Eporip, Mapecure SRA, Mapefill, Mapepur Fire Foam M, Mapeflex PU 50 SL, Mapefoam, Mapefront Raspat, Kerabond, Ultraflex 1, Kerapoxy, Keracolor U, Planicrete W, Mapeplast PT1, Idrocrete DM and Mapeplast N10.
Of particular interest were the latest generation of admixtures supplied by Mapei to make around 5,500,000 m3 of mass and marine concrete used for the internal and external parts, respectively, of the concrete pours used to build the locks. These admixtures were developed specifically for the Panama Canal project: Dynamon XP2 and Dynamon XP2 Evolution 1.
Dynamon XP2 was used for the first six months of work on the project on both the Atlantic side, where Panama cement was used, and on the Pacific side, where Cemex cement was used. Later, following a request from the client, Mapei developed the more advanced Dynamon XP2 Evolution 1, which helps concrete maintain its workability better than before and also makes it easier to pour.
Thanks to the expansion work on the Canal, Post Panamax ships, with a capacity of up to 13,600 TEUs, a length of 366 metres, a width of 49 metres and a draught of 15 metres, will be able to navigate the Isthmus of Panama in just two hours.
Founded in 1937 in Milan, Mapei is today one of the most important producers of adhesives and complementary products for laying all types of floor and wall and coating materials, and is also specialised in other chemical products used in the building industry, such as waterproofing products, special mortars, admixtures for concrete, products for underground constructions and for the restoration of concrete and historical buildings. There are currently 79 subsidiaries, 7 of which service companies, in the Mapei Group, with a total of 67 production facilities located around the world in 32 different countries and in 5 different continents.
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