GRT – We see that our innovative infrastructure development technologies are essential to deliver the economic growth that quality transport infrastructure can deliver, says Ben W James, Founder & CEO, GRT.
December 2016 Edition of Equipment India page 118
Could you provide an overview of road technologies being provided by GRT in India?
The road sector in India is in desperate need of new technologies, not only to improve speed and quality, but also to introduce more environmentally friendly construction techniques and to cut down on quarrying, transportation of materials and use of water and fuel. GRT India is providing several technologies not seen before in India. These include:
- Cold-In-Place Recycling – this is a method of recycling in-situ material with road crust to create stronger roads – without the use of borrow material;
- Concrete Treated Base – we use cement dust and homogenous it with in-situ materials to create a stronger road base;
- Polymer Reinforcement – uses our proprietary technology of polymer blends for the strengthening of base and binding materials, while also water proofing;
- Dust Suppression – uses a blend of our polymers for erosion control and dust suppression for all side Batter and medium strips for road developments;
- Hot-In-Place Recycling – we plan to launch new technology in HIPR next year that incorporates state-of-the- art thermal bonding for potholes and patching
In light of numerous infra developments happening in the country, how do you visualise the market size for your solutions and technologies?
India
is a country on
the move! We
see that our
innovative
infrastructure
development
technologies
are essential
to deliver the
economic growth
that quality
transport
infrastructure
can deliver.
From in-situ
stabilisation,
dust and
erosion
control, and
mine management
technologies,
GRT has
products,
processes and
plant to help
deliver
results.
India
has an existing
road network of
over 4,689,842
km, the second
largest road
network in the
world. Most of
these roads are
in poor
condition and
need
rehabilitation
and constant
maintenance.
The government
is also
widening and
extending these
existing
highways and
state
expressways.
Of
course, the
ambitious
targets in both
road and mining
sectors will
drive the
growth of GRT
India –
however there
needs to be
faster take-up
and approval of
proven
technologies
– otherwise
the targets set
seem to be
challenging.
For
instance, GRT
can
rehabilitate
failed
pavements at a
speed of up to
1 km per day
using CIPR
technology –
we current- ly
have only three
sets of our
specialised
road trains in
India – we
should have 100
working flat
out by now in a
market the size
of India, but
take-up is
slow.
The
larger road
builders are
taking up CIPR
in a big way
now, through a
need for speed
and quality for
their Toll
Roads and BOT
projects.
However, we
have seen the
opposite in
government
sector with a
refusal to take
up these
technologies or
allow new
companies into
the
space.
India
will need
investment of
$1.7 trillion
on
infrastructure
projects before
2020 to meet
its economic
needs, for the
most part this
will go into
upgrading
India’s road
network. So we
have taken the
view that
technologies
like ours and
our services
will be in
great
demand.
In
the mining
sector, the
Coal & Steel
Committee has
taken the
decision to
look into dust
mitigation
seriously and
they have
approved the
trial of dust
suppression
technologies.
This is a step
in the right
direction and
will be key in
increasing
productivity,
improving road
safety and in
addressing
environmental
issues such as
air pollution
and water
wastage.
What are application segments you are currently focusing on?
- Subcontracting in CIPR for the major road constructors
- Direct contracts on state highways circa 100-200 cr
- PMGSY/rural roads – we have a ‘one pass’ solution with our advanced machinery
- Polymer reinforcement projects in the mining space
- Dust control – we now wholesale some of our products in 20 - 1,000-litre
In dust control space, how do you dispose the dust?
We do not dispose of the dust, but seal and bind the soil particles using our polymer products. GRT has developed its dust control technologies so that they are simple to use, highly effective, and increase in cost-effectiveness over time. In addition to this, they can deliver these benefits using existing or readily available equipment such as water trucks, cannons, and overhead spray bar systems.
GRT’s dust control technologies fall into two main categories:
Tough, polymer-based technology that is sprayed from a water cart or cannon onto the dust generating surface whether it be a road, hardstand or material stockpile. Our polymer dries and forms a stable layer of bonded material resistant to heavy traffic, wind erosion, rainfall impact and overland flow, plus pedestrian and animal traffic.
Non-drying and non-setting, synthetic fluid designed to adsorb into soil particles preventing them from be-coming airborne. GRT Wet-Loc is a long-lasting, totally waterless application that is ideally suited to under- ground mining roads, areas of heavy damaging traffic such as tracked machinery routes, and race tracks (speedways and even horse and camel tracks). Proven to work effectively under extreme weather conditions on a wide variety of soil types and raw material stockpiles, GRT’s range of specially formulated, polymer-based dust suppression products not only prevent the generation of dust, but also stabilise the road surface. They can be deployed quickly and easily, without any negative impacts on the environment and solve the problem of dust impacting on fruit, cropping, and feed viability in the horticultural and agricultural sectors. Conventional dust suppression methods waste water, contaminate runoff, contain hazardous chemicals, reduce road stability, impact driver safety and increase costs. Not so with GRT dust control solutions. GRT’s environmental- ly and safety friendly products result in excellent dust prevention and higher quality, more durable roads. Customer feedback and independent scientific analysis found that GRT’s dust suppression products suppress greater than 95 per cent of dust particles and delivered up to 75 per cent cost savings compared to conventional water-only options. GRT’s technology solves a range of dust control problems on all types of roads, from major highways and freeways to haulage, industrial and rural roads, tarmacs, hardstand areas and water repellent pavements. It can be easily applied to clay, silt, sand and gravel materials, immediately creating safer, more sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure. Compared to conventional processes, GRT’s dust suppression solutions offer a set of distinct advantages and lucrative benefits, including easy application and long life protection across extreme climatic conditions. Our products also offer the toughness and flexibility to be applied across a diverse spectrum of industries, improving safety and eliminating dust complaints from staff and surrounding landholders. Apart from the longer-term maintenance efficiencies, savings can also be achieved from the significant reduction of windborne material losses. Plus, as a non-toxic product with a low carbon footprint, it offers further environmental protection by reducing the damage caused by fugitive dust.
What are the equipment requirements for implementing your technologies?
Apart from our manufacturing techniques, we have state-of-the-art machines that act as our workhorses in the field. Including, road recyclers and stabilisers, automated spreading machines, 20MT pad foot rollers and others.
Most of these machines are being seen for the first time in India and are only found in GRT’s stable. They are high-cost but high-output machines with high automation and sophistication. They are electronically calibrated so that consistent results are met and there is zero room for mistakes. GRT plans to make them mainstream in India and is planning a massive capital expenditure program to meet demand over the next 10 years.
Could you explain the benefits and cost perspective of implementing GRT solutions?
In terms of road construction, we can see significant project savings due to: Speed, Less maintenance and No need for borrow material. In terms of polymer roads for the mining industry.
How can your solutions be used as a business case by your target customers?
The major business case to use our tech in road rehabilitation is speed. We can bring in projects on time, usually well before construction deadlines. This in- turn means significant savings in terms of project financing and less interest paid on funding packages. In terms of mine haulage roads, we keep the roads open longer (during rains and heat) which means productivity spikes and more commodities can be delivered to market – the cost benefit ratio is massive in terms of dollars earned from properly maintained road assets.