“The Circle of Innovation” is the latest initiative ran by J. Rettenmaier & Sons, the worldwide leading producer of fibers for road construction.

The first meeting took place in Aril 2006 at the headquarters in Rosenberg/Germany:

Realise problems,
Make use of know-how,
Think over basic approaches,
Pave new ways…

The creation of ideas and new concepts for the asphalt industry is the target of  “The Circle of Innovation” and for JRS in the focus of their R&D work.

A group of thirty experts in asphalt research, development and practical experiences had come together for this first meeting. In a brainstorming a lot of ideas had been exchanged. Current problems of asphalt industries as well as road making future claims and visions, mixtures and raw materials were considered. Prof. Dr. Rolf Leutner from the Highway Research Institute (Institut für Straßenwesen) of the Technical University of Braunschweig who was moderating the brainstorming was surprised about the all the interesting topics raised by the experts.

Already in autumn 2006 the main issues of the first event and their realisation had been discussed.

Dr. Hans-Georg Brendle head of the JRS R&D department exemplified the use of fibers in other industries and applications to demonstrate how innovative JRS fibers actually are.

This leads to the major question: How can the asphalt industry make use of these enormous variety of fibers to further enhance the properties of any kind of asphalt mixture ?

As the number one topic the optimisation of binder course mixtures was chosen. Klaus Graf, managing director of the Schellenberg institute in Leipheim for many years, presented various technical lectures which depicted the experiences of binder courses based on the SMA principles. The experience with these highly deformation resistant binder courses especially on the motorway A8 around Stuttgart airport created a lot of interest. Mr. Berwich Sluer from Holland was able to stress that SMA binder courses have been used successfully in the Netherlands for a long time.

Each of the subsequent discussions proofed how different technical approaches can help to build roads more durable and safe to achieve long-life asphalt pavements (LLP).

In December 2007 “The Circle of Innovations” was held for the third time and the first successful uses of ideas and concepts were presented.
Marco Schünemann, head of R&D at Kemna Bau/Hamburg presented the results of the monitoring of highly deformation resistant SMA binder courses paved at sections in the Hanover area. Fiber modified binder courses are the foundation for durable and persistent roads – long-life pavements.

Traffic noise can be considered as the adverse effect for human beings as a consequence of growing mobility. The tires’ industry as well as the asphalt industry will have to contribute to develop controversial measures to the increasing traffic noises. Today’s pavement selection provides a good tool to reduce noise production and propagation as well as to absorb noise that is produced. While conventional low noise road surfacings especially reduce traffic noise on roads carrying vehicles at higher speeds, newly developed low noise surfacings also offer considerable noise reductions on urban roads with slower moving traffic.

Mrs Kerstin Gärtner of the Highway Administration North Bavaria in Nürnberg gave a lecture on modified SMA wearing courses with noise reducing properties. Several sections which had been paved with the new noise optimized SMA show extraordinary good results and will be one of the alternatives for future projects.

“The circle of innovation” by JRS is an initiative supported by many experts to further enhance the properties of asphalt mixtures for all roads. JRS displays its responsibility for the establishment of sustainable asphalt roads.

Bernd Schneider

JRS Area Sales Manager Facility North