Italian-based Bossong has introduced the E-Plus, a bi-component, styrene-free, pure epoxy chemical anchor resin, which is the newest version of the company’s original Epoxy from the 1990s – with its short new name said to encapsulate 30 years of R&D in the chemical anchor sector.
A key characteristic of the E-Plus is its 100 year service life, which is twice that of the standard 50 years of other products and means it’s the ideal solution for major applications. Other key advantages of the new resin include its applicability for use in flooded holes, having passed submergence testing; and it is also fire resistant, meeting R24 requirements.
The E-Plus also has a natural ability to penetrate holes and hollow materials thanks to an effective combination of fluidity and adherence, which enable it to achieve up to 2.5 metres of extrusion, without expansion or shrinkage. All these characteristics make E-Plus suitable for use with masonry, wood, and concrete, under a range of temperatures up to +50°C, whilst still maintaining a strong grip on smooth surfaces, such as inside core holes.
The new resin has also achieved numerous certifications covering a number of important areas. For instance, in environmental standards – with all Bossong chemical anchors qualified according to the US LEED protocol (which includes the certification of the volatile organic compounds content of a product) – E-Plus has obtained the highest qualification level, with an A+ rating. The resin has also obtained EOTA approval for concrete bonding in accordance with EAD 330499-01-0601 and EAD 330087-01-0601. Its aseismic performance is especially notable, as it’s double that of the current product and has obtained the highest C2 rating for M12 and M24; this attribute is the jewel in the crown of this new 3:1 formula, making it capable of reacting efficiently to significant earth movements – the same trait as displayed by certified 12mm – 32mm aseismic rebar rods, under similar conditions.
While it has been developed to meet construction sector needs, E-Plus also respects the environment, reports Bossong, and offers safety and maximises structural consolidation, which the company highlight are distinctive characters of all its products.
E-Plus is the latest step in a journey that started decades ago. Between the 1960s and the 1970s, the company specialised first in the production of rivets and riveting machines for concrete anchoring, then mechanical anchors and plugs. The shift to chemical anchors was made by chemist and founder of Bossong SpA Italia, Luciano Taddei, and marked a decisive and fortunate change of direction. The formulation and filling of these bi-component chemical anchors to fix metal elements in concrete and masonry structures with epoxy, polyester, and vinylester resins, led to the company’s worldwide success.
At the start of the new millennium, the recently established EOTA certification body approved the products on a European and international scale, but at the same time forced the company to align to increasingly higher standards and face wider competition. Bossong says it accepted these new challenges by focusing on research and innovation, aware that each investment was a step towards market leadership. Indeed, the strength of the company’s anchors, achieved over a full 60 years, is down to its endeavours in innovation and towards attaining the highest level of competencies.
Beyond E-Plus, the recent inauguration of a new logistics centre – with a completely automated and connected warehouse using latest technologies – has left more space in the company’s main building for additional production lines to be added. The premises are also connected using 4.0, next generation technologies and robotics – with 1,250m2 of photovoltaic panels providing almost 200,000kWh of power, equating to approximately 200kW per year, all of which, Bossong says, highlights “the company’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint; a circular economy approach that benefits the entire community”.
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 12 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector – interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe. Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the brand is renowned.
