Cement chemicals will make it possible to achieve reductions of 6-12% in the carbon emission in cement production thanks to the reduced electricity consumption and clinker factor and increased alternative fuel consumption. This impact is equivalent to the annual contribution by 180 million to 390 million trees. According to our report “The Role of Concrete Admixtures in the Net Zero Carbon Goal”, concrete chemical admixtures reduce the carbon footprint of ready-mixed concrete by 17-35% and the water footprint by 15-40% thanks to their indirect effects.
Osman İlgen
President of Admixture Producers’ Association
As the Admixture Producers’ Association (KÜB), could you inform us about your approach to ensuring that chemical admixtures meet the universal quality criteria and international standards and the innovations made in this field?
Concrete chemical admixtures are an indispensable component that is highly effective in improving physical, mechanical and durability properties during production, transportation, pumping, placement and in-mold strength building processes. The classes and properties of these admixtures are defined in the TS EN 934-2 standard and therefore all admixtures within this scope must meet the requirements of this standard. In addition, chemical admixtures used in concrete production cannot be marketed without CE certificate. As the top country in terms of production and consumption of the concrete chemical admixtures in Europe, quality standards are of course the most important stage of our production processes. In this context, the members of the KÜB are outstandingly successful with their quality and R&D units. Especially in recent years, our members have produced highly effective solutions for the mega projects realized in our country.
Reinforcement fibers, another important concrete component, have become increasingly well-recognized and preferred in recent years. These products are also sold with CE certificate in accordance with TSE standards.
Cement admixtures used to facilitate grinding, increase strength and improve performance do not have a standard both in Türkiye and Europe. The members of the KÜB, also being very ambitious in the field of cement chemicals, maintain quality standards that meet customer requirements at the highest level.
As KÜB, we actively work in national and international platforms with our members both in standardization task forces and implementation of standards.
“Concrete chemical admixtures are an indispensable component that is highly effective in improving physical, mechanical and durability properties during production, transportation, pumping, placement and in-mold strength building processes.”
What steps does the Admixture Producers’ Association take with its members in terms of environmental sustainability? What are your opinions on the use of recycled materials and carbon footprint reduction strategies?
Concrete and cement admixtures should be evaluated not only for their technical and economic performance but also for their environmental benefits. Chemical admixtures play a vital role in the production of low-carbon cement and concrete. The role of chemical admixtures in the net zero goal is explained comprehensively in our guides published under the titles of “Role of Cement Admixtures in the Net Zero Carbon Goal” and “Role of Concrete Chemical Admixtures in the Net Zero Carbon Goal”.
In addition, Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) have been prepared for various concrete chemical admixtures within EFCA, of which we are a member, where the environmental impacts of the products throughout their lifecycle have been approved and declared by an independent institution. These EPDs, which also apply to products of KÜB members, contain transparent and reliable data for users.
The impact of chemical admixtures on the use of recycled material or industrial waste in the production of cement and concrete is extremely high. The 2024 Green Cement Communiqué aims to gradually limit the clinker ratio starting from 2025. Qualified chemical admixtures will play a key role in achieving the desired goal in this initiative, which we support. Admixtures are also critical in the use of construction and demolition waste in ready-mixed concrete production. As KÜB, we, in cooperation with our members, continue to seek and develop the best solutions for new and evolving needs.
How do you and your members contribute to the solution of common problems of the construction chemicals industry? In particular, could you give examples of your collaborations with public authorities, professional organizations and the private sector?
At the KÜB, we attach great importance to cooperation with our stakeholders. For this reason, we are members of prestigious umbrella organizations such as Construction Material Industrialists’ Association (İMSAD), the Building Product Producers’ Association (YÜF) and the European Concrete Admixtures Association (EFCA). We try to provide solutions to the interrelated common problems of both our own industry and the industries of our stakeholders in the task forces and committees established within these bodies.
We would like to further strengthen our relations with professional chambers such as the Chamber of Civil Engineers (İMO) and Chamber of Chemical Engineers (KMO), and public institutions such as State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), Highways, Turkish Standards, Municipalities, etc. Another important issue is to establish closer relations with academia. For example, we have recently taken a step by providing corporate support to an academic project supported by TÜBİTAK. Our members support many academic studies by providing products and information when necessary.
Could you inform us about your efforts to raise awareness in the industries through seminars with universities and the support you provide for laboratory technician training program?
As KÜB, we have been sponsoring the Ministry of National Education approved and certified “Concrete Laboratory Technicians Training Program” organized by THBB for a long time with the contributions of our members. As part of this sponsorship, laboratory supervisors are trained by expert engineers in the laboratories of our members. Those who are successful in the final exam are issued a certificate approved by THBB.
Under the roof of YÜF, on-site seminars were organized in many provinces and universities until the pandemic period. As KÜB, we actively contributed to these seminars. In these seminars, experts from the relevant associations contributed to many topics such as cement, concrete, concrete components, prefabricated production, lime, sustainability, etc. With the pandemic, we focused on online webinars.
How do you follow the innovative agenda in the sector? What kind of a roadmap does the KÜB Technical Committee’s work in this area offer for the industry?
Concrete and cement chemical admixture technologies continue to contribute to the concrete and construction industry in terms of both technical, economic and sustainability through continuously developing R&D and innovation processes.
In recent years, the upgraded concrete classes, the increasing demand for special concrete production, and the increasing use of admixed cement have accelerated the development of the admixture industry’s product portfolio in this direction. As KÜB, we are highly ambitious in producing tailor-made solutions that will facilitate the applications of ready-mixed concrete and cement producers by closely following all developments in the world. In addition, it is safe to say that we are one of the most important solution partners of the goal of low-carbon concrete and cement production, which is becoming increasingly important in the fight against climate change. Almost all concrete and cement chemical admixtures have a direct or indirect impact on reducing the carbon footprint of the final product, concrete. According to our report “Role of Cement Admixtures in the Net Zero Carbon Goal”, it is possible to achieve reductions of 6-12% in carbon emission in cement production thanks to the reduced electricity consumption and clinker factor and increased alternative fuel consumption through the use of cement chemicals. This impact is equivalent to the annual contribution by 180 million to 390 million trees. According to our report “The Role of Concrete Admixtures in the Net Zero Carbon Goal”, concrete chemical admixtures reduce the carbon footprint of ready-mixed concrete by 17-35% and the water footprint by 15-40% thanks to their indirect effect.
Especially in the earthquakes epi-centered in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay cities in 2023, we have again witnessed the importance of correct design and application as well as product quality. For this reason, we publicly shared our “Guidance on Concrete Applications and Effect of Chemical Admixtures” and “Guidance on the Durability of Concrete and Effect of Chemical Admixtures” studies developed by our Technical Committee.
“The impact of chemical admixtures on the use of recycled material or industrial waste in the production of cement and concrete is extremely high.”
What are the contributions of being a member of national and international federations such as IMSAD, YÜF and EFCA? How do these memberships reinforce the Admixture Producers’ Association’s global engagement and contribution to the industry? Türkiye is one of the leading countries in the world in the production and consumption of building materials. It is the largest producer of building materials such as cement, concrete and chemical admixtures, especially in Europe. We are also one of the major exporters of many materials. Our industrial umbrella organizations are much more effective than their counterparts in many European countries. As KÜB, we attach great importance to both local and international cooperation. There are many interrelated stakeholders within umbrella organizations such as IMSAD and YÜF. These organizations, in turn, offer highly enabling opportunities for stakeholders to engage in effective dialogue with each other and build collaborations.
We participate in the Board of Directors, Technical Committee, and Environmental Committee meetings and working groups of the European Federation of Concrete Admixtures (EFCA), of which we are a member, on behalf of KÜB at the relevant levels. In this way, KÜB member companies can closely follow the cement and concrete admixture sector in Europe and all related developments.
I also serve as the President of KÜB and hold the position of Vice President on the EFCA Board of Directors. These significant roles enable KÜB to have an effective presence on the international stage and allow me to contribute to the development of our sector.
What are the future growth potential and key trends in the chemical admixtures industry? How do you evaluate the effects of the developments in the industry on the Turkish and European construction sectors?
In terms of quantitative and qualitative industrial growth, the chemical admixtures industry is expected to grow on both scales. Of course, this growth will be realized in tandem with the growth of the cement and concrete sectors, of which we are direct suppliers, and thus the construction sector. As the urban population is still growing, urban transformation is expected to accelerate, and infrastructure needs will continue in the future, the need for construction, therefore building materials, especially chemical admixtures, will continue to increase further. On the other hand, trends such as green buildings, low-carbon and energy-efficient products, 3D construction techniques, and the increasing use of recycled materials require for the admixture industry to offer solutions that meet different specific needs. Especially in the low carbon roadmap of the cement and concrete industry, the impact of chemical admixtures is quite high.
As the Admixture Producers’ Association, what changes and transformation do you aim for in the industry in the next five years? How would you define your vision for the future and what strategies will you adopt in this direction?
In the next five years, we expect chemicals that contribute to the lowcarbon cement and concrete products to become popular. We anticipate an increase in demand for chemical curing agents that reduce water consumption in construction sites and have a very positive impact on concrete performance. A similar situation will also apply to concrete reinforcement fibers. Effective chemical admixtures will also be popular in areas such as calcined clay cement, the development of mortars suitable for 3D construction techniques, and the use of recycled aggregates.
With the mission of contributing to the production of chemical admixtures in accordance with universal quality standards, national and international standards, and in the public and social interest, KÜB has set its vision as contributing to the creation of a robust and sustainable environment. This is achieved through science, ethics and environment-focused process management.
