Page 89 - BWM March 2013

March 2013 | Business World Magazine | 89
piece of the Beijing Olympics. SOPREMA’s
handiwork is equally augmenting aspects at
Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, recognized as
the largest indoor amusement park in the
world. From Universal Studios’ Hard Rock
Hotel and San Francisco’s highly trafficked
Airport to Boston’s iconic Prudential Tower
and New York’s famed “Flatiron” Building;
all have benefitted from SOPREMA appli-
cations in one form or another.
SOPREMA’s genius is existent in not only
their research, which has certainly allowed
them to develop materials with fascinating
chemical and physical properties, but also in
breakthroughs which have led to faster, more
efficient application of their products. For
example, in China, where SOPREMA has
applied waterproofing membranes to liter-
ally miles of roads and bridges, the company
engineered a special machine (MACADEN)
which allows for faster application of the
membrane. Voyer explains how membranes
typically come in rolls of eight to ten meters
length. Through the new engineering, they
can now accommodate two roll at same time
which allows for some 200 meters of cover-
age, yet since the device melts the bitumen
while heating the road or bridge surface, it
also allows for complete penetration of the
bitumen into the asphalt and perfect adhe-
sion as well. Voyer says the device allows SO-
PREMA to complete such work project four
times faster than typical installations.
SOPREMA’s product line is extensive
and includes such innovations as a line of
laminate boards known as SOPRASMART.