Drymix Mortars and International Conference Series
A Brief History of Drymix Mortars
Portland cement, developed in the 19th century, revolutionized construction technology. Today, concrete, paving and building blocks, precast components and mortars are the main target markets for the cement industry.
When it comes to mortars (many of which are still being handmixed on the jobsites around the globe), drymix mortar technology is a true revolution: by bringing additives such as cellulose ethers or polymer dispersions from liquid into dry powder form, the chemical industry enabled formulators to produce drymix mortars with various performances as single components (just add water).
Mixing and dosing mistakes are being avoided this way. Drymix mortars also save a lot of weight, since they are being applied in optimized thin layers usually. Their performance
is reliable, they minimize maintenance due to their superior durability.
The main applications for drymix mortars are masonry (bricklaying) mortars, cementitious tile adhesives and grouts, renders and (gypsum) plasters, flooring screeds, self-leveling underlayments, external insulation and finishing sytems EIFS, precision (anchoring) grouts, concrete refurbishment and waterproofing membranes.
Drymix mortars are economical and the cheaper alternative to hand-mix: they reduce the need of manpower due to their high yield and efficiency.
Drymix mortar technology is a chance for motivated, educated local personnel to create their own profitable businesses by becoming specialty applicators such as tile layers, rendering and decoration experts.
drymix.info, the International Community for Drymix Mortars
Drymix mortar technology emerged in Europe in the 1950ies and showed a continuing growth until today. In order to promote this technology on a global level, I founded drymix.info, the International Community for Drymix Mortars in 2001.
Today, drymix.info has more than 100 partners, over 9.500 subscribers read the drymix.info Newsletter. For regional lobbying, technology promotion and standardization, the Middle East Drymix Mortar Association MEDMA (a Dubai not-for-profit Association) and
The South East Asia Drymix Mortar Association SEADMA Ltd. (a Singapore not-for-profit Association) were founded in 2007. drymix.info, SEADMA and MEDMA organize events and expert hearings all around the globe.
We publish annual technical bulletins and the Drymix Mortar Yearbooks, where specific topics are portrayed in detail such as 3D printing of drymix mortars, jobsite automation, chemicals and additive development as well as market trends.
Drymix Mortars in Turkey
In Turkey, drymix.info has been bringing together the major interest groups by organizing the Central and South European Drymix Mortar Conferences since 2012 in order to explore, expand and improve the market and offer an international exchange.
The tasks ahead for the Turkey and Asia minor construction materials industry are clear: to build fast, sustainably, affordable and efficient, while taking into account the seismic activities, especially in Turkey.
The demand for high-quality construction is very high. Innovative surfaces and a long-lasting and sound building structure make everybody happy, the engineer, the contractor, the developer and of course the final owner or tenant.
High-performance drymix mortars are the key to pleasing and modern buildings, they allow the designer and architect to become creative while at the same time helping to save on energy (e.g. electricity for AC units), waste and emissions.
The 7th Central and South European Drymix Mortar Conference and Industry Showcase cedmmc7, Çırağan Sarayı (Kempinski Hotel), Istanbul, 15. September 2022
This conference has been held in Istanbul on a biennial basis since 2012 (only missing 2020 due to the Covid situation) and has become an integral part within the Turkish drymix mortar industry, where experts meet and exchange their ideas.
Finally back with a real-life-event this year, the attendance was the largest ever at cedmmc with 131 registered delegates from 65 companies. 55% of the delegates were drymix mortar manufacturers, in addition raw material suppliers from both the drymix mortar
and cement industry, researchers, state officials as well as architects, consultants, developers and contractors joined cedmmc7.
The audience was truly international, delegates came from Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Mauritius, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, UAE and of course from Turkey.
15 lectures and presentations were given by Calucem, Caltra, Celanese Elotex, Dow, Haver&Boecker, Imerys, Kalekim, m-tec, Mapei, Material Innovative Gesellschaft (M.I.G.), Omya, Organik Kimya, Polyplast, Varlik Makina and Wacker Chemie, additional support came from Ente and Günkem.
It has already become a tradition, that the delegates take a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus after the event, Calucem, Kalekim and Wacker Chemie sponsored this cruise this year.
With Live-DJ, drinks and dinner, delegates could see the sun set over the Golden Horn and the moon rising over the second bridge. cedmmc8 will take place in Istanbul 2024.
Ferdinand Leopolder
Founder
drymix.info
