SATBinderrr 2022 will be bigger and better

SATBinderrr 2022

will be bigger and better

Following the success of the inaugural SATBinderrr conference in 2021, the Society for Asphalt Technology (SAT) is proud to announce that the 2022 SATBinderrr conference will take place on 21 and 22 September 2022 as a hybrid event.

The success of our first conference in 2021 clearly demonstrated the need for SAT to host an annual industry conference,” says Herman Marais, president, SAT. “We are delighted to be able to host a physical conference this year, while the hybrid model gives everyone a chance to get involved and recognises the need to contain costs in the difficult economic climate.”

Delegates will be able to attend the live conference at the CSIR in Pretoria or access the event remotely via the Zoom platform.

Audrey Copeland, president and CEO of the National Asphalt Pavement Association in the USA, will be the keynote speaker at SATBinderrr 2022. Copeland has a PhD in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University, is a founding member of the Women of Asphalt Council, and has served as president of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists. She sits on the boards of the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University and the National Transportation Research non-profit to improve the American road network.

“SAT is committed to levelling the industry playing field by attracting more women to our ranks, and we are honoured that Audrey will be helping us to drive home this commitment and instil renewed interest among young women in our sector,” says Marais.

Focus areas

This year, the conference is being broadened from four to seven focus areas. The initial four focus areas represent the core of the asphalt and bitumen sector, namely Asphalt, Seals, Pavement Design and Binders. The three additional focus areas for the 2022 event are: • Recycling for Flexible Pavements • Chemistry for Roads • Industry Disruptors. “These topics, very significant today and in Audrey Copeland, president and CEO of the National Asphalt Pavement Association in the USA, will be the keynote speaker at SATBinderrr 2022

Herman Marais, president, SAT

the future, will help us to provide a more inclusive and compelling view of what is important for the sustainability of the asphalt and bitumen sector in Southern Africa,” Marais adds. “We are very pleased with the quality of the presentations that are being submitted within our focus areas and have made the abstracts available on the SAT website.”

He adds that the Industry Disruptors focus area will endeavour to include issues such as building information modelling (BIM) for asphalt and seals, the rapid development of an online asphalt industry value chain, including laboratory tools and services, and the online management of asphalt and seals operations.

Marais adds that competitive sponsorship packages are being offered to SAT’s industry partners, with excellent returns in terms of visibility prior to and during the conference.

Developing current and future capabilities

SATBinderrr 2022 continues to give young, passionate practitioners a platform among the stalwarts of the industry – a strategy that proved successful in the inaugural event in 2021. “The conference aims to provide value for all participants in the asphalt and bitumen sector at all levels, so input and advice are also being sought from our older, seasoned experts to ensure that we present an event that has something worthwhile for everyone,” Marais concludes.

Look out for more information on SATBinderrr 2022 on the SAT website at www.socsat.co.za.

SPONSORS TO DATE

SILVER:

• KBK Engineers • Specialised Testing Laboratory

BRONZE:

• Anton Paar Southern Africa • Liesen • Roadlab

FOCUS AREAS:

• BVi Consulting Engineers –

Recycling Focus Area • Colas Africa – Seals Focus Area • National Asphalt – Asphalt Focus Area • ROMH – Pavement Design Focus Area • Tosas – Binders Focus Area

MEET THE SATBINDERRR 2022 FOCUS AREA CHAIRS

The focus area chairs are talented young professionals who bring fresh perspectives and energy to their roles:

Seals: Nishaat Mowzer, iX engineers

Pavement Design: Dr Elaine Goosen, Stellenbosch University Asphalt: Tafadzwa Mafuma, AECI Much Asphalt

Binders: Kele Makamu, CSIR

Recycling for Flexible Pavements:

Tumelo Thothela, ROMH Consulting

Chemistry for Roads:

Gretchen Weber-Cherry, Sanral

Industry Disruptors: Trevor Zumani, Sanral