Construction Chemicals

AFRO: Reliable – Innovative – Solutions

AFRO is the leading Construction Chemical Company in Ethiopia. With more than 100 employees, wide range of clients, including government agencies, private companies, and individual homeowners. AFRO has a reputation for providing high-quality products and services, and has a strong presence in the Ethiopian Construction Industry. AFRO’s portfolio ranges from Waterproofing Chemicals, Performance Flooring, Concrete Admixture Systems and other Construction Materials and Solutions.

The Division for the Construction Industry

The AFRO Construction Chemicals division offers advanced chemicals solutions for new construction, maintenance, repair and renovation of structures. As a leading provider of raw materials, systems and finish products to the construction industry, AFRO supplies economically and ecologically sound solutions that facilitate high-quality construction. The Construction Chemicals Division manages multiple construction sites and sales centers around the Country.

BASF is recognized as the global leader in the field of Admixture Systems and has been working closely with customers for over a century to provide intelligent solutions for every stage of the construction cycle. The Admixture Systems business specifically helps customers in the ready-mix, precast and manufactured concrete products.

Admixture Systems from Master Builders Solutions have been the leading driver of the concrete industry through several innovation cycles, while creating breakthroughs with state-of-the-art technology such as MasterGlenium.

We have developed innovative products for various concrete applications, including high-strength concrete, self-compacting concrete, durable concrete, waterproof concrete and a host of other solutions to meet market needs With our innovative product range, concrete becomes easier to place and finish. This allows a continuous and efficient construction process in high temperatures. Additionally, admixtures are able to accelerate or delay the hardening of concrete and increase final strength and durability.

We address key issues for the construction industry in:

Durability

Our state-of-the-art admixtures-MasterGlenium, MasterPolyheed and MasterRheobuild-have unique water-reducing properties and allow the use of optimized quantities of supplementary cementitious materials (e.g. slag,fly ash,micro silica.) These help in achieving greater durability for critical structures through reduction of permeability, water absorption and resistance to chloride and sulphate attack. Appropriate admixture specialties such as MasterLife range further enhance the durability of concrete.

Workability

MasterGlenium or MasterPolyheed in combination with MasterMatrix can be used effectively to produce self-compacting concrete that eliminates the need for vibration and reduces manpower, while achieving high- quality concrete with an excellent finish. Our capabilities to bring innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the concrete industry makes BASF the ideal partner for producers and designers alike.

One of the most critical challenges facing concrete structures today is moisture penetration. Interior or exterior, above or below grade, unprotected structures suffer from water-induced damage, including deterioration and corrosion caused by alkalis, salts, acids and mold. Liquid-applied high performance membranes and cementitious coatings offer long-lasting protection against the most damaging conditions.

Our waterproofing portfolio includes cementitious-based polymer-modified waterproofing products and PVC membranes. BASF’s knowledge of polyurethane and polyurea chemistry has created MasterSeal flexible and tough spray applied membrane systems. Spray applied and very fast curing means that the structure can be waterproofed quickly thus speeding up construction.

MasterSeal systems have the benefit of being cold applied, avoiding the odor and fire risk of hot works, and are ideal for vertical surfaces due to its easy application also in complex surfaces.

Our specific solutions are ideal for water management structures such as reservoirs, dams and wastewater and desalination plants, and they also deliver an excellent performance in underground construction, car parks, roofing and building structures.

These solutions help increasing efficiency and saving resources with the following:

• Managing water scarcity while water demand is increasing.
  Waterproofing saves water by preventing losses due to leaks

• Protecting the environment through sustainability
  Waterproofing in infrastructure and industry prevents pollution of ground water

• Improving health
  Safe potable water supply with certified waterproofing membranes

• Preventing obliteration of dry region
  Waterproofing of irrigation channels safeguards water supply

• Conserving public and private assets
  Waterproofing protects valuable assets from water damage and consequential loss.

BASF develops and markets durable and attractive industrial and commercial flooring using cementitious, epoxy and polyurethane resin technologies. Our competence in flooring and protective coatings is based on many years experience gained across the world in a variety of climatic and specified, manufactured and supplied millions of square meters of performance flooring globally for an international client base.

Our MasterTop product range offers cementitious, epoxy and polyurethane-based flooring systems for decorative or industrial use. The MasterTop cementitious floors applied at the time of concrete installation are ideal for situations where the floor will be subject to high traffic loads or abrasive environments.

The MasterTop epoxy floor range includes general purpose to highly chemically resistant floors for industrial environments. The MasterTop polyurethane range includes decorative and durable architectural and commercial flooring systems with choice of color, texture and performance properties. MasterTop DTZ is a hard wearing highly decorative epoxy terrazzo floor covering used in public space areas subject to high volumes of rolling wheels and foot traffic. It provides the ultimate in low maintenance and durability, typically lasting the life of the structure. It is composed of zero VOC naturally occurring aggregates, recycled glass and an epoxy binder, utilizing wherever possible locally sourced materials.

BASF’s world leading Ucrete floors are the choice of the chemical and food and beverage manufacturers worldwide due to their high resistance to chemicals, heat and superior wear characteristics. Ucrete, a heavy duty polyurethane cement hybrid has superior chemical resistance and being water based can be applied onto damp substrates. Their fast curing characteristics and ability to be disinfected to the same level as stainless steel has made them the floor of choice for food manufactures globally. MasterTop and Ucrete are acknowledged internationally as the benchmark for industrial flooring systems.