Skip to main content

Innovation is behind all business partnerships

While reclaimed asphalt pavement is not a new idea, there are new and innovative technologies coming all the time to improve its application and durability. This RAP is “black gold”, as Thierry De Sars, technical director at Groupe Fayat, told delegates at the Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit conference in Paris this week. But it all comes down to cost savings and efficiencies that importantly include increasingly precise dozing to get the exact amount of bitumen laid down on a pass. De Sars cauti
February 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
RSSWhile reclaimed asphalt pavement is not a new idea, there are new and innovative technologies coming all the time to improve its application and durability.

This RAP is “black gold”, as Thierry De Sars, technical director at Groupe 217 Fayat, told delegates at the Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit conference in Paris this week.

But it all comes down to cost savings and efficiencies that importantly include increasingly precise dozing to get the exact amount of bitumen laid down on a pass.

De Sars cautioned delegates that imported bitumen from RAP may have deteriorated to a sufficient degree that the road project is compromised. For one thing, the imported bitumen may have reduced mixability at the plant.

The Retroflux technology from Fayat, the French civil engineering, general and steel construction and energy services provider, has along thermal heating exchanger to protect the bitumen from overheating. Also, from a health and safety standpoint, the Bitumen vapours are consumed in flames.

Yet innovation is not just about technology, said Andreas Marquardt, head of exports at 2395 Wirtgen. It can also develop through, and be imbedded by, the way companies behave in a true partnership, he told PPRS delegates during his presentation.

Never underestimate the need to sell your technology and projects to potential customers. However, as a machine supplier, you must always listen to the client about how the machinery is operating. No matter how tried and tested the equipment, there is always something learn about its performance. Building this data bank from global projects is essential for knowing where to start improving equipment.

But for innovation to come about, all partners need to listen and learn, he explained. Importantly, never forget that brand reputation almost always comes from not from the machinery being used on a project but how the companies work together to make progress and solve problems.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • TRA 2014 showcases the best of cutting-edge transport research and thinking
    July 1, 2014
    Despite tight finances due to the current global economic climate, the recent Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2014 show in Paris showed how innovative transport research, largely using cutting-edge ITS, is creating safer and smarter highways of the future. Guy Woodford reports How far can you drive around a car race track with no other vehicles on it on half a glass of fuel while attempting to maintain a speed of 60kph? After taking up the challenge offered by the Eco Driving Simulator using SiVIC (Simulatio
  • LiuGong is committed to alternative power
    April 8, 2025

    LiuGong’s commitment towards the future of battery-electric vehicles in the construction sector is exemplified by its expanded portfolio, including the new 4280DE motor grader.

    The battery-electric grader’s battery pack provides fast charging within 1.6 hours and allows normal working conditions between six to 10 hours.

    Meanwhile, the large capacity lithium-iron phosphate battery is safe and durable. Its development also demonstrates how new technologies and imagination go hand in hand in today’s R&D, as explained by the company’s chairman, Zeng Guang’an.

  • Machine control technology round table discussion with Leica Geosystems, Topcon and Trimble
    January 4, 2022
    In this, the first in a series of top-level roundtable discussions led by World Highways, editor Mike Woof and editorial director Geoff Hadwick talk machine control technology with three world-class experts from Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, Topcon and Trimble. Find out what these key opinion leaders are thinking on six vitally important topics. Let them help you stay ahead of the game.
  • Asphalt plant innovators offer RAP rates of more than 60%
    May 27, 2020
    Ammann, Astec and Fayat are all introducing innovative new technology for the asphalt plant sector that offer solutions for the use of RAP as well as effective maintenance.