On November 24, the Hofmann Technology Day will take place in Rellingen, Germany. Helios will present its complete product range at the international trade fair and conference for road marking technology. Visit us and our partner Rembrandtin and learn more about our road marking materials.
Continue reading Hofmann TechnologyDay 2022 – We are exhibiting!
KANSAI HELIOS Group is presenting it’s full assortment of HELIOS and Rembrandtin road marking materials at the world cycling summit Velo-city in Ljubljana. Get informed about brightly coloured delineation of lanes and paths which ensure road safeness for either bicyclists or pedestrians and operate as well as warning signs for drivers.
KANSAI HELIOS Group is presenting it’s full assortment of HELIOS and Rembrandtin road marking materials at the world’s leading event for traffic technology and mobility professionals in Amsterdam. Continue reading Visit us at Intertraffic 2022
From April 1, the new KANSAI HELIOS Group Management Board has been performing its function. Four executive directors joined their strengths to support the growth strategy of the KANSAI HELIOS Group. A strong focus on environmentally friendly products and processes, employee health and safety, continuous research and development as well as strategic investments represent big steps towards future success on the European market. Continue reading Environmental Social Governance – The core direction of the new KANSAI HELIOS Group Management Board
Products intended for horizontal road signalization are primarily designed for use on asphalt surfaces, which exhibit porous and rough structure with high content of bitumen in their composition. The principle of adhesion for road coating is based on surface penetration and partial dissolution of bituminous binder, followed by mechanical incorporation of asphalt base aggregates in the coating. Road marking coatings are characterized by fast drying/curing and suitable viscoelastic properties, adapted for the thermal expansion and contraction of asphalt surfaces. When planning the marking of loaded concrete surfaces, it is crucial to ensure good adhesion of coatings to such surfaces, as this will also determine the durability and functional life of the coating. The adhesion depends on the strength of the bond between the two materials in contact, where the contribution of different mechanisms may be involved. These can be of a physio-chemical or mechanical nature. The basic characteristics of the substrate as well as the type of coating must be mutually compatible for a quality joint. It is the procedures in the final stages of concrete finishing that will determine the key characteristics of the surface, both in terms of composition and topology of the surface, and thus determine the possibilities of application and selection of the applied coatings.
Concrete substrates can exhibit different structure of surface porosity due to different finishing techniques and are often treated with a fine layer of mortar and after-treatment agents. On new concrete surfaces, it is mandatory to remove the layer of extracted dry cement milk by appropriate methods (ex. high-pressure water) to ensure a compact adhesion. The porosity of concrete is one of the key risk factors for its durability, so its protection uses various system solutions, which, however, bring additional challenges for further coloring. Hydrophobic agents based on silanes, siloxanes and silicones are used for surface protection of concrete in road construction. Special attention should also be paid to concrete surfaces that have been additionally treated with water glass, which appears on the market under a wide range of commercial names and is used as a surface protection of porous concrete against the penetration of water, oils, and other liquids. In all cases, the open porosity closes, which prevents the penetration of the coating and its mechanical anchoring to the surface. Surfaces treated in this way are usually problematic for the adhesion of most coatings and require mandatory preliminary pull-off testing.
The moisture in the concrete should not exceed 4% (measured by the CM method, up to about 20 mm of measuring depth) for achieving adequate adhesion of the marking materials to the concrete substrates. The requirement applies to all types of materials, including primers intended for surface preparation. The exception is Signocryl 2C Epoxy coating, which dries and cures even in humid conditions.
Thus, there is high importance of leaving the concrete to settle down properly over a period of at least 28 days, to completely cure and dry for further marking purposes.
Loads of heavy work machinery, temperature fluctuations and spills of various chemicals are a daily occurrence in such premises. In respect of mechanical loads, it is highly important to evaluate the expected daily load and dynamic factors caused by traffic, imposing requirements regarding resistance to wear, to impacts due to falls of heavy objects and abrasions of (fork-lift) trucks. Furthermore, exposure to UV needs to be defined beforehand for selecting type of coating with suitable UV stability properties.
The implementation of markings in garages and industrial halls is not determined by any rules, as well as the choice of materials. The road marking standards are not used/applied in this segment, so a clear agreement between the investor and the contractor on the expected execution of works and the expected quality or purpose of surface markings is previously required.
Surfaces intended for marking must be dry, clean, free of dust, oils and greases and free of abrasive sands and other impurities before application. Contamination poses a high risk in ensuring quality adhesion of materials to the substrate and is often the cause of problems in finding responsibility for poor quality work.
The following possible test methods may be selected to evaluate quality of adhesion:
The test field for preliminary evaluation of adhesion quality usually consists of an untreated surface segment, which is tested in parallel to pre-treated substrate (surface preparation; sanding, cleaning, etc.). Adhesion tests are performed on both surfaces in the range of 1-2 m2,
and at least 5 locations are selected for measurements. One week shall be provided for adequate hardening of applied coating before executing test.
According to the described situations, expectations and requirements, Helios offers three system assemblies that ensure the appropriate implementation of horizontal signalization on different concrete surfaces.
NOTE: To assure compatibility and suitability of each system assemblies with target concrete flooring to be coated, we suggest performing test fields and checking the adhesion of the coating to the substrate beforehand.
At HELIOS, we are passionate about the colours which surround and inspire us. Continuously we pay special attention to creative projects of beautification of the local environment. Thus, we were delighted to learn about the innovative project initiated by landscape architect Svit Oliver Katanec and street artist Maksim Azarkevič. Inspiring youngsters presented us with the idea of transforming local street football pitch in Ljubljana-Gameljne, Slovenia into a mural, following urban trend in world capitals. To transform the idea into urban innovation, our team consulted on choosing the right materials for an asphalt as well as offered support with the materials.
“As a landscape architect I am extremely proud that through my work I can express my passion towards football and pass it to younger generations. After the realisation that local recreational football pitches are slowly becoming abandoned, we have decided to reinstate their value as a place for sports and fun for children. The goal was to set an example in Slovenia and the neighbouring countries of how little is needed to make urban football pitches lively and purposeful again,” stated Svit Oliver Katanec, project initiator.
Signocryl KS, HELIOS one-component fast-drying acrylic road marking paint was used to paint the mural at the football pitch. Photos: Maksim Azarkevič
The result of the project is a beautiful artwork by the talented street artist Maksim Azarkevič The mural represents two members of the Slovenian national football team Josip Iličić, currently among most attractive football players on the world, and Boštjan Cesar, long-time captain of the national team. They are developing from the abstract pieces representing their different life paths and experiences, which made them what they are today. The powerful message behind is that everyone can succeed regardless of their background when having a strong will and clear vision to follow their dreams.