The brickbat coba was the traditional method of waterproofing before. Now, the awareness of the problems caused due saving costs by not applying waterproof coatings has created an opportunity for us to develop various waterproofing solutions. We have waterproofing solutions that can be laid underneath the brick bat coba, or waterproof coatings to be applied over and above the IPS or any flooring done on terraces.
India at bench with China
India runs at pace matching the growth of China in construction chemical and waterproofing sector. However, the mode and method of application has demarcated the technology of China with India.
“As with China and Indian market, both are emerging and developing geographies for us. We have investments in both the markets,” says Diane Kelly, President India Region, Dow Corning.
The products that have sought greater demand in China are Caulks and Adhesives which account for nearly 40% of total industry sales. Besides this, there are scopes for fenestration products and plumbing fixtures per structure in China as well as by the use of high-performing adhesives in place of mechanical fasteners. Cement and asphalt additives will be the second-largest product category in China in 2012, with sales benefiting from increasing paved surface and high-rise building construction. Protective coatings and sealers will be the fastest-growing major product segment, with advances primarily deriving from improvements in the quality of construction in China.
This can be observed especially in China where urbanization has quickly reached a level of 40% and will further grow to 60% as in other mature societies.
It was estimated that demand for construction chemical products used in on-site applications in China is forecast to approach 40 billion yuan in 2012, expanding 10.1% per annum from 2007 whereas demand for chemical products used in non-residential building construction will reach 8.7 billion yuan in 2012.
Trend forecast
The industry has much potentiality to grow at a faster rate on the back of the end users awareness benefits of these construction chemicals. Easy adaptability to foreign technology and the entry of foreign companies in the construction sector have helped to change the mindset of the people that has eventually resulted in the growth in this sector. The new construction projects market is also expected to increase the demand for construction chemicals. Apart from this, growth will also be primarily driven by increasing construction expenditures in improvement and repair projects. The construction market is expected to grow at more than 30% per annum for the next few years. This industry has got a huge potential to grow.
Sustainability concerns have increased building practices and products that improve energy efficiency, as well as increased efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of materials such as cement. The environment is certainly changing, and companies with an emphasis on innovation will be in the best position to support these trends going forward,” says Gouveia. Meeting these needs in a sustainable manner will require innovation in the construction industry in turn can only be achieved with a broader use of construction chemical solutions.
This market is likely to grow at the rate of around 10 – 15% p.a. in the next few years. Most companies tend to be highly specialized in serving their specific market segment. They generally supply a few product types of different technology/application methods, quality and price to solve specific construction needs such as waterproofing, leakages or fireproofing. In general, the distribution of each particular product involves installation/application and most importantly a warranty on product performance. As a result, it is necessary that distributors of construction chemicals specialize in solutions to specific construction needs. A variety of construction chemicals are used in most large-scale construction projects as well as projects of special design and engineering, depending on their specific needs.
