BASF sponsors Concrete Compressive Strength Competition 2014 in Indonesia
300 university students participated to develop most effective concrete mix design
A team from Politeknik Negeri Bandung named winner
Strengthened industry-academia relationship to support sustainable construction industry growth
Surabaya, Indoensia - 14th May 2014 - BASF has sponsored the Concrete Compressive Strength Competition 2014, held at Petra Christian University, Surabaya, Indonesia. The competition ran from March 24, 2014 to May 11, 2014. An outstanding team from Politeknik Negeri Bandung created the strongest concrete by adopting products from Master Builders Solutions and was named the winner.
Under the theme of “Smart Environmental Ductile Concrete”, participants explored ways to improve the ductility and flexural strength of concrete by using admixtures system products from Master Builders Solutions BASF Indonesia.
“BASF’s contribution emphasizes the company’s commitment to Indonesia and our capability in providing innovative solutions that makes construction safer and more efficient,” said CP Chan, Managing Director of BASF Indonesia. BASF also provided guidance to students at the competition’s opening with a briefing by Admixture Systems expert Mr. Constantius Willy Hartono from BASF Construction Chemicals. At the briefing, Willy introduced leading edge admixture systems and helped the students develop skills in applying the materials.
“We are very excited about fostering innovation with the engineers of tomorrow. Together with them, we are improving the sustainability and durability of Indonesian construction,” said Paul John Lowndes, Local Business Manager of Construction Chemicals of BASF Indonesia.
At the competition kick-off event, 300 participating college students from various universities across Indonesia were divided into 75 groups of four. Each group had to create the best and strongest concrete by mixing admixtures, steel or synthetic fibers. After rounds of competition, one of the teams from Politeknik Negeri Bandung was named the winner on May 11, 2014. The winning team prepared the most outstanding mix by using cement 10% less than the traditional approach by using MasterGlenium SKY 8851 and MasterFiber.
Committed to grooming new talents for the local construction sector, Construction Chemicals division from BASF Indonesia regularly conducts training sessions to introduce its admixture systems and technologies to tertiary students. This not only broadens their industry knowledge, but also offers them the opportunities to acquire hands-on experience.