The second workshop on concrete deterioration and prevention organised by the Centre for Engineering Research at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and sponsored by Saudi Readymix highlighted the benefits of using self-compacting cement (SCC) and it applications in the industry.

Willfried Krieg, Saudi Readymix’s technical director, presented an in-depth look at SCC to an audience of 150 industry professionals, including Dr Khaled S Al Sultan, rector of KFUPM.
“With the ability to flow freely within formwork, expel entrapped air and set itself, SCC has been described as the most revolutionary development in concrete technology in several decades,” said Krieg. “This technology is especially significant for GCC countries where the construction boom is still going strong and construction deadlines are getting tighter. SCC is a great solution and can meet the needs of these fast-paced projects as it reduces the requirements for both equipment and manpower and speeds up construction.”
Saudi Arabia is a prime market for a product like SCC, and has already been successfully developed by Saudi Readymix and supplied to several landmark projects, including Al Sweiket Tower in Al Khobar, considered to be the tallest building in the Eastern Province.
“The construction market, like any market, is evolving with the times,” said Fadi Mujahed, marketing director at Saudi Readymix. “Saudi Readymix is one of the few readymix companies in the kingdom that continue to invest in the development and research of new products that will change and influence the construction market as a whole.”
“There are numerous technical advantages to the use of SCC in comparison to conventional concrete,” explained Krieg. “One of the technical advantages is the uniform and complete compaction SCC offers which results in smooth, dense, and abrasion-resistant concrete surfaces. Improved durability due to high concrete densities at minimised air voids and extremely low permeability is another significant advantage. A third advantage is the increased bond strength between concrete and reinforcement, which has been confirmed by tests to be 50 to 70 per cent higher in SCC than in thoroughly compacted conventional concrete.”
“Technological advantages are not the only benefits of using SCC,” added Krieg. “There are also numerous economical benefits to using this new technology, including payroll savings, as the entire compaction crew is obsolete and finishing works are greatly simplified and require fewer workers. It can also help increase the speed of work as the number of layers in vertical formworks is reduced. SCC can also help eliminate capital investment as well as the operating and maintenance costs of vibration equipment.”
“SCC has been developed, tested and adopted as the primary construction material for all applications in numerous international markets. We hope to bring the benefits SCC provides to our customers all across the kingdom, thereby containing the locally prevailing risk of premature deterioration of concrete structures,” concluded Krieg.