Rooftex, a single-component, liquid-applied polyurethane extended waterproofing membrane continues to be used on a number of prestigious projects in the Middle East, the latest among which is the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, says its manufacturer Conren International.

The product – which is considered to be a leader in its market segment – is also currently being installed on a string of projects in Qatar, ranging from the forthcoming Asian Games developments to the modernisation of Doha International Airport.
“Rooftex – which is suitable for wet areas, roofs, planter boxes and foundations – has a long and well-established history with prestigious projects and the list of impressive references continues to grow throughout the region,” says Bernard Dennis, export sales director.
“Given the massive scale of development taking place in the Middle East and with oil prices and raw material costs rising at unprecedented levels, the pressure is not only on construction companies and developers to complete projects on time and on budget but also on manufacturers and suppliers of construction products to reduce their prices. The boom in the region is attracting companies from all parts of the world who are seeking to market their products here and the ensuing competition to secure this business is immense,” says Dennis.
Despite the intense competition for waterproofing, Rooftex continues to maintain a significant share of the market in the UAE and much of this success is due to the substantial efforts and excellent reputation of Conren’s exclusive distributor and applicator, the Dubai-based Al Shirawi Contracting Company, he adds.
The UK-based Conren International, a manufacturer of an extensive range of surface coatings for the construction industry, has been supplying its products throughout the Middle East for more than 25 years and fully understands the needs of the market, Dennis comments.
“As a manufacturer, Conren Internati-onal would never compromise on the quality of any its products just to secure an order and Rooftex is a prime example of where a quality product will continue to be specified and used on major, prestigious projects and where long-term guarantees for product suitability and expert application can be given without any worry or hesitation,” he emphasises.
“In line with its continued policy of advancement, the quality of the product is never compromised purely for the sake of cost, and it is these principles that have enabled Conren International to maintain an excellent reputation, not only in the Middle East, but throughout the world,” he says.
Apart from Rooftex, Conren’s other coating products have also made their mark on major construction projects in the region and worldwide.
These include a jet fuel-resistant coating Highseal for airport taxiways and hard standings, which conforms to US Federal Specification R-P-355E and Highseal F1, a jet fuel-resistant joint sealant, which conforms to ASTM D3569-95.
Products from the Highseal range are said to have been successfully used on airbases in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Algeria and are gaining recognition as easy-to-use, reliable quality products.
“In addition to products for airports, Conren International also manufactures high-friction (anti-skid) coating systems for highways, bridges and car-parks and whilst these are widely used in European countries for aspects of road safety, the concept and use of such materials in the Middle East has not yet fully matured,” Dennis points out.
Truegrip BT is a high-friction, surfacing system for highways, road junctions and roundabouts and has BBA/HAPAS approval while another Conren product, Truegrip TCD, is a decorative (coloured) traffic-calming coating system, ideally suited for car parks, pedestrian areas.
Besides the UAE, Conren International also operates successfully in Saudi Arabia, through the Andal Group in Riyadh, Bader Trading Company in Bahrain, through the Doha-based KBAS Contracting, Trading and Industrial Company in Qatar, Construction Services Company in Beirut, Lebanon and through similar well-positioned organisations in other parts of the Gulf.
“KBAS, a leading Grade 1 contracting firm is now working with Conren International on projects including the forthcoming Asian Games facilities, the modernisation of Doha International Airport and various other significant projects planned for the country,” says Dennis.
Conren will be participating in the Big 5 exhibition in Dubai alongside its distributors KBAS and Al Shirawi Contracting Company, displaying its full range of products at the show.
Conren has also posted full details of its products on its website (www.conren.com) and also offers a 24-page brochure, which provides a colourful insight into the wide cross-section of industries and applications where Conren, with its worldwide network, can provide surfacing solutions to suit virtually all situations.