CEMEX have been working with graphene specialists, Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) at The University of Manchester and construction firm Nationwide Engineering, to develop an innovative product that it is hoped could revolutionise the concrete industry and its impact on the environment in the future.

The graphene enhanced concrete known as ‘Concretene’, developed by Nationwide Engineering, is in the early stages of development and CEMEX has been working with them to optimise the design and industrialise the product. We have suppled concrete for testing out of our Gorton Readymix Plant and initial tests have included a small slab of concrete, poured at the GIEC in Manchester, followed by a much larger mezzanine floor at Escape to Freight Island, behind Manchester Piccadilly. This was the first time concrete had been used in this application – a concrete floor without any reinforcement (or movement joints).  Initial tests showed the slab had no shrinkage or cracking and due to these positive results the project won the Mercer Innovation Award at the ICE North West Civil Engineering Awards earlier this year.

CEMEX was delighted to part of this award winning project and is continuing to work with Nationwide Engineering and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) to work towards an industry standard for graphene enhanced concrete and an industry ready product – offering a lower carbon construction material and overall cost savings.