29.7.2008

Mannvit Co-Sponsors 13th International Conference on Alkali-Aggregate Reaction

The 13th International Conference on Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete was held in Trondheim, Norway on June 16-20, 2008.  Mannvit was one of the sponsors of the conference.  In attendance were the most prominent experts in the world on the topic of Alkali-Aggregate Reaction (AAR). 

The conference was attended by 175 people from about 30 countries.  In connection with the conference, 133 peer-reviewed articles were submitted (published on cd) and 124 presentations were given.  One of the main conference organizers was Børge Johannes Wigum, an employee of Mannvit’s building materials research department.  The conference is held every four years with the next one planned for 2012 in Austin, Texas.

Three employees of Mannvit, Børge Johannes Wigum, Sóley Unnur Einarsdóttir and Gísli Guðmundsson submitted articles and presented at the conference.  In between their presentations they also manned an exhibit to promote the company.  The exhibit received a lot of attention, especially a video demonstrating the RILEM concrete testing method.

Mannvit hosted a reception on June 17th where an International committee on testing for Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete met for the first time.  The committee, an initiative of Mannvit, is composed of 20 experts in the field.  The goal is to develop AAR testing standards for concrete in the field.

At the conference the need for reliable International consulting and testing was recognized for the upcoming years.  It is the goal of Mannvit Engineering to be on the forefront of technology in the area of alkali testing for the global market.