(Company Annoucement) BASF Polyurethanes South Africa recently held a spray polyurethane foam workshop at their Performance Materials division in Elandsfontein, Johannesburg.

BASF Polyurethanes South Africa recently held a spray polyurethane foam workshop at their Performance Materials Division in Elandsfontein, Johannesburg. The “Sustainable Construction Applicator Workshop”, was aimed at the company’s current spray foam applicators as well as new applicators and members of the broader construction industry.  This was the first workshop of its kind to be held in South Africa, following BASF’s position as the first manufacturer to obtain certification for its Elastospray® polyurethane foam system.

Through this, BASF Polyurethanes has reinforced its position as a leader in the market of insulation, aligning its position with energy efficient solutions for the South African Construction industry. “This workshop cements our commitment to being a catalyst in promoting partnerships within the construction value chain”, commented Markus Kropp, Managing Director BASF Polyurethanes South Africa.

Workshop Format
The format of the one day workshop ensured dialogue between the presenters, industry leaders and the audience. 
The keynote speaker of the event was Mr. Friedhelm Lehrich, Vice President, BASF Business Management Construction.  During his presentation he reinforced the overarching theme for the day which was “partnerships” and how this applies to the various players in the value chain.

An industry overview and analysis was presented by Brendan Lowen, Market Development Specialist – Construction, BASF Polyurethanes South Africa. He discussed contemporary industry topics including the development and benefits of the various Elastospray® systems available to the market. “The fastest way to grow an idea or industry is to partner with all the key role players in the value chain”, said Lowen.

Professional presentations, panel discussions and demonstrations were key elements of the workshop. Spray foam applicators discussed and showcased their business, providing a powerful insight into the local spray foam industry in South Africa. They engaged with BASF specialists on how the challenges they face can be resolved through the introduction of the Elastospray® system and how the unique benefits of this system compare to  more traditional materials. 

These benefits include:

• The ability to apply the product both internally and externally to any structure;
• The fact that Elastospray® prevents leakage around any opening, fenestration or junction point;
• It has a moisture barrier characteristic;
• The product does not require support for its installation as it adheres to all substrates;
• Elastospray® has one of the best K-values in comparison to traditional materials, and
• It is rigid in its finish thereby enhancing the structural integrity of the surface it has been applied to.

The event also saw a panel discussion taking place with Q & A sessions between the applicators and local media.  “This workshop has proved to be refreshing with encouraging dialogue”, shared  Lehrich. Live demonstrations of the application of spray foam by equipment manufacturer   Hendrik Papenfus, GRACO, Sales Manager Africa and his team from Industrial Spray Solutions were well attended. Delegates could experience how the machinery worked, with an opportunity to apply spray foam onto a substrate.

Follow-up workshops, to be held in other major centers in South Africa, are currently being planned.