With properties such as resistance to wear and weather, Mapei’s Mapecoat TNS System is described as being ideal for indoor and outdoor sports facilities.

Mapei, an Italian construction chemicals giant, has launched a tough coating and finishing solution that is offered in a choice of resin systems to suit multipurpose indoor and outdoor sport floorings.

“Mapecoat TNS System is a coating and finishing system made from acrylic resin in water dispersion and selected fillers offering a high resistance to wear, ultraviolet (UV) rays and various weather conditions, that make it ideal for indoor and outdoor sport facilities, such as tennis courts,” says Stefano Iannacone, managing director of Mapei Construction Chemicals.

The product, according to Iannacone, offers outstanding sporting comfort and provides excellent technical performance characteristics. While it is the preferred product for sport surfaces, Mapecoat TNS System is very versatile and may be used to form flooring for indoor and outdoor multi-purpose areas such as tennis courts, basketball courts, skating rinks, recreation parks, and football pitches. 

The Mapecoat TNS System comes in six configurations to suit clients’ needs.  These include Mapecoat TNS Professional, a multi-layered system, and Mapecoat TNS Cushion, a medium-elasticity multi-layered system, both of which are designed for professional indoor and outdoor tennis courts.

Other configurations include:

• Mapecoat TNS Comfort: A high-elasticity multi-layered system used in combination with granular rubber matting for professional indoor and outdoor tennis courts;

• Mapecoat TNS Multisport Professional: A multi-layered system for indoor and outdoor multi-purpose sports pitches;

Athens College basketball courts ... feature the TNS System.

• Mapecoat TNS Multisport Comfort: A high-elasticity multi-layered system used in combination with granular rubber matting for professional indoor and outdoor multi-purpose sports courts;

• Mapecoat TNS Urban: An acrylic resin-based coating multi-layered system for coating cycle tracks or urban features.

Established in Milan in 1937, Mapei is among the leading manufacturers of chemical products for the construction sector, which includes special mortars and admixtures for concrete, special decorative and protective coatings for walls, waterproofing products, technology for underground tunnelling and grinding aids for cement. 

In addition, Mapei is the world leader in the manufacture of mortars, grouts, adhesives and complementary products for the installation of all types of flooring and wall coverings. 

“In the sport flooring sector, too, Mapei is synonymous with research and innovation to meet the requirements of a market in which the quality and reliability of a sporting surface play a key role in bringing out the best in players’ abilities while safeguarding them from injuries,” Iannacone says.

Mapei has a long-standing commitment to the environment, which gives it a competitive edge when it comes to innovative products in the industry. 

All its facilities, products and processes are designed using responsible solutions such as maximising the usage of recycled materials, formulating ecologically sustainable ‘solvent- and pollutants-free’ products and systems, and minimising waste. 

In addition to the sustainability factor, Mapei is constantly evaluating and sourcing materials that suit the local requirements. By developing products and solutions that are tailor-made for the market requirements, Mapei is able to maintain its reputation of quality and state-of-the-art manufacturing.

“When looking at examples of the efficiency and capability of Mapei and its products, we do not have to look further than two of its more recent projects – the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre in Riyadh and the Dubai Opera House,” Iannacone points out.

Dubai Opera House ... Mapei supplied grouts and finishes.

For the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre project, Mapei provided a complete solution for the application of the wet area and bathroom waterproofing. The top-performing products supplied included Mapeproof Swell, Mapeband, Mapegrout Tissotropic, and Mapelastic Aquadefence to ensure the project was able to meet the waterproofing requirements and standards. 

For the Dubai Opera House, Mapei’s extensive colour range of grouts and finishes including Karaflex, Adesilex P9, Kerapoxy and Ultracolor Plus provided the project with the perfect solution for completing one of the most cutting-edge architectural complexes and challenging technical projects. 

The company intends to expand its activities in Saudi Arabia this year and is exerting efforts to provide the right solutions, products and services to Saudi Arabia, despite the slowdown in the execution of projects.

Iannacone comments: “Low oil prices have no bearing on Mapei’s production of raw materials. There are still a lot of opportunities in the region. If one specific country shows signs of slowing down, it does not imply that the rest of the region is suffering from a lack of growth. When it comes down to it, some infrastructure projects will have to be done no matter the financial/budgetary restraints.”

Despite the challenging economic climate in the region, Mapei believes the Saudi market has enormous business potential, which is why it has not hesitated to get involved in multiple projects in the country including the Riyadh Metro, Clock Tower in Makkah, and the extension of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, to name a few.

The Saudi government plans to continue investment through projects that include construction of schools, hospitals, affordable housing, while simultaneously fuelling the growing regional hospitality industry, states Iannacone. 

“I see the country pushing ahead with its investment plans in the sector, and we at Mapei are seeking to strengthen our foothold and increase presence,” he adds.

Earlier this year the company exhibited at The Big 5 Saudi for the first time to showcase its products and services. Despite the ‘warning signs’ of a troubled economy, Iannacone insists “all these signs are not to be taken negatively as we all know these are part of a cycle. We have had the first signals already a few months ago and have organised ourselves to be able to minimise the impact on our daily activities”.

Products exhibited at the event included Mapeplan, a roofing and waterproofing synthetic membrane that has been used for the Riyadh Metro, and Adesilex P10, a high-performance white cementitious adhesive, with no vertical slip and extended open time for glass, ceramic and marble mosaic (waterproofing system for the installation of glass mosaics in swimming pools) which has been used for the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. 

It also showcased Ultraplan, an ultra-fast drying self-levelling compound for thicknesses from 1 to 10 mm (laying rubber flooring onto concrete substrate), which has been used for the Foremarke School in Dubai. 

Future plans

Moving forward, Mapei will focus on strengthening its market presence in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman by enhancing its existing sales channels and by reinforcing the ties it already has with the major regional players. 

The company is also planning to expand its warehouse and production facilities by adding an additional 25,000-sq-m warehouse, and will begin the construction of a 2,000-sq-m regional head office at its Dubai Investment Park facility, the current home of Mapei Construction Chemicals.