Grace, a premier specialty chemical and materials company, which is celebrating 40 years of innovation with its Pieri range of architectural concrete products and solutions, says that the product has been widely accepted at projects across the globe, including the UAE.

Originally developed in the 1960s, and produced since 2001 by Grace Construction Products, a major supplier of materials and products for the construction industry, the Pieri portfolio has been used on some of the world’s well-known landmarks including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Viaduc de Millau, the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and the Parc Eurodisney de Paris (all in France); the Channel Tunnel linking the UK and France and the Dubai Marina in the UAE.
“Designed for use by architects, landscape designers and building specifiers who work in collaboration with the precast and ready mix industries, the Pieri portfolio enables the creation of concrete structures and landscapes with a unique appearance and finish,” says a spokesman for the company.
“It includes solutions to enhance the performance and decorative appearance of concrete including surface retarders, release agents, admixtures, form-liners, sealants, cleansers, pigments and protective coatings. In addition, for the past decade, the Pieri portfolio has been developed utilising “green chemistry”, ensuring end-users have peace-of-mind regarding EHS and environmental issues,” he adds.
“Ongoing investment in research and development in Pieri – with a strong focus on performance and the environment – over the last four decades has meant products from the portfolio have been selected for use in some of the world’s major concrete construction projects,” says the spokesman. “One of the significant projects undertaken by the company internationally is the Eiffel Tower, where Pieri Graffistop – a pollution resistant, anti-graffiti, hard wearing coating – was employed to overhaul the base of the structure and ensure it remains in perfect condition.”
In the region, however, Grace’s Pieri DRC6/01 and Pieri Kaolor were used at the Dubai Marina to give a stylish sandstone/sandblasted aspect to the project. The company’s Pieri VBA Bio and Pieri Chromofibre 1B have been used at the Piazza d’Armi in Torino, Italy, lending the project a superb exposed aggregate surface.
Other significant Pieri projects have included the construction of Paseo Calvia in Palma de Mallorca (Pieri VBA surface retarders), the Hotel Hilton in Barcelona, Spain (Pieri Pieri DRC 6 / 01), Qatar Primary Routes, North Road project (Pieri AGP Formliner) in Qatar; Hosur Elevated Expressway in India (Pieri AGP Formliner); Letzigrund Stadium in Switzerland (Pieri Kaolor); Museo della Città di Ancona in Italy, which was realised with Pieri SLC; Ecole d’Architecture de Paris in France, where Pieri AGP and Pieri Kaolor were used; plus Centrale Telephonique in Besancon, France (1974) and various office buildings in Perinord, Lille, France (1975), both of which employed Pieri DRC, the main product of the company at the time.

Favourite material
“Concrete has long been a favourite material with construction industry specifiers who want to create sustainable buildings which are both energy efficient and durable,” says Andrew Kelly, vice president and business unit director for concrete products at Grace Construction Products in Europe. “As the use of this unique material continues to become more widespread, architects and builders will be looking for clear ways to differentiate their building design. With four decades of experience, and an unrivalled track record in the market place, the Pieri range will continue to lead the market with innovative solutions for enhancing the aesthetics and appearance of buildings, regardless of their function.”
Explaining further, Greg Freeman, vice president and general manager for Grace Construction Products in Europe, says: “As the Pieri range of products reaches its 40th anniversary, it is important to reinforce our commitment to the portfolio, its further development, and our intention to carry on supplying customers with this fine range of concrete additives, which are renowned worldwide for their quality.
He adds: “When we acquired Pieri SA we knew we had obtained a unique proposition: products with an unparalleled history in the market and an expert team who can offer the highest service levels. We also recognise the complementary nature of the solutions to our own concrete materials. Those synergies remain today and we will continue to support and drive value from the Pieri range, now and for many years to come.”
“The Pieri range has won numerous medals in its time,” says a spokesman for the company. Some of the medals won at previous editions of the Batimat include: two medals for innovation in 1983 – one for the manufacture of decorative slabs and the other for Prelor 3, a pigmented varnish for concrete; a gold medal in 1985 for Serilith – the world’s first product for engraving concrete; innovation prize-winner in 1989 for Chromofibre VBA – a multi-functional additive for architectural concrete pavements; bronze medal with Gumix36, an additive that protects concrete against frost; and a special jury mention in 1997 for safety for the product Decobio Concentrated.
Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Grace Construction Products, a business of W R Grace & Company, is a world-leading provider of technically superior concrete admixtures, fibers, surface treatments and liquid pigments that make concrete stronger, longer lasting, crack resistant, aesthetically pleasing and cost efficient. The company also manufactures additives for cement processing, fire protection, fire stops, waterproofing and masonry products, and has more than 125 plants and sales offices around the world.
Grace is a premier specialty chemical and materials company, providing innovative products and services to customers around the world. “We are passionate about developing cutting edge technologies, and seek to have a positive impact on the lives of people everywhere,” says the spokesman. “Our superior global reach, resources and technical expertise help us ensure that our customers consistently receive-and in turn, deliver-the very best solutions.”
With annual sales of more than $3.1 billion, Grace has about 6,500 employees and operations in over 40 countries.