Apurba Mallik, Head Technology and R&D , STP Limited. In an Interview with B2B Purchase.

How is the industry responding to the ever increasing demand for waterproofing solutions? 

The demand for the waterproofing segment is growing rapidly, particularly for infrastructural development. Bridges, tunnels, and helipads are the areas where new demand is estimated to grow by 20 percent in the year 2025 compared to today’s demand. 

In addition, preformed membrane is the major thrust product in those areas. TPO, EPDM, PVC, and modified bituminous sheet materials will find higher growth in demand. Both indigenous and imported materials are in the run. All reputed waterproofing material manufacturers are aligning their activities to meet the market’s needs. STP, being the pioneer in the waterproofing industry, is all set with the product basket and a well-experienced application team to help the nation build a durable structure.

Can you brief about the latest innovations in the waterproofing segment? 

Waterproofing process is followed in four ways, which includes, Integral Waterproofing, Preformed Membrane, Liquid Membrane, and Injection System.

While injection systems are done when an existing structure shows leakages from unseen cracks, integral waterproofing is done during the making of the structure. Both preformed membranes and liquid membranes are suitable for both existing structures and new structures. Innovation and technology upgrades are implemented on a continual basis in all our systems. For integral waterproofing, nanocrystalline admixture is the latest trend.

For pre-formed membranes, the upgrade happened in fire resistant types, anti-root types, and self-healing types. For Liquid Membrane, Hybrid Polyurethane-Poly Urea, Fast Setting Polyurea, Odour Less PU Dispersion, and PU Acrylics are the new technology-driven products.

How are you catering to the demand for odour-free waterproofing solutions across the industries? 

Odour-free water proofing ideas are for green level tags for the products. These are mostly related to liquid applied membranes where solvent odours and chemical odours are not desirable for confined areas of waterproofing.

The most popular products are the solvent free liquid application systems, low VOC liquid membranes, and water-based systems. 

STP has high solid PU, Polyurea, and water based acrylics, PU acrylics, Silicon acrylics, and polymer modified bitumen emulsions to offer as odour-free products for confined areas of applications.  

What are your latest and key offerings in the waterproofing segment? 

STP is proud to offer SuperThermolay FR as a fire resistant bituminous membrane and SuperThermolay AR as a root resistant bituminous membrane. ShaliProtek PuR 40-a polyurea based product, PuR 100-a Hybrid Polyurea product with fast setting, ShaliCryl LM HI-a water based insulation and waterproofing material, TarFelt LM, a polymer modified bitumen emulsion, ShaliMastic RSTC, and Tar-based emulsion to enhance the life of asphalt pavement by stopping water ingress that causes potholes.

STP not only offers products; the expert team of STP helps in specifying waterproofing systems to the builders and specifiers for new construction of buildings, basements, bridges, tunnels, water reservoirs, etc.