CREaTE and REAM jointly organise the International Seminar on Natural Rubber in Roads

The Centre of Excellence for Engineering & Technology, Public Works Department (CREaTE) and REAM jointly organised the above seminar on 27 and 28 April 2017 at the newly minted CREaTE complex located in Alor Gajah, Melaka.

YB Datuk Rosnah binti Abdul Rashid Shirlin, Deputy Minister of Works delivered the Minister of Works’ opening address and declared open the seminar on 27 April 2017. 

The objective of the one and a half-day seminar was to update the industry players on the latest development pertaining to the use of natural rubber in roads and also give awareness on issues and challenges arising from the implementation of using natural rubber in roads.

The seminar which was organised within a constrained period of some two months was in response to the recent clarion call by the Prime Minister for the increased laying of rubberised roads in Malaysia to further facilitate the utilisation of the country’s natural rubber towards stabilising the price of the commodity at optimum level.

The seminar which culminated in a resounding success registered more than 500 participants. Exhibitors too snapped up all the 20 booths made available.

(Left) YB Datuk Rosnah binti Abdul Rashid Shirlin, Deputy Minister of Works delivering the Minister of Works’ opening address. (Right) The delegates at the opening ceremony. 

YB Datuk Rosnah (4th from right) at the exhibition booth.   

Ten Malaysian and foreign papers were presented encompassing the following enlightening topics: 

1. Road Surfacing Material by Mr. Michel Lenfant, Kemaman Bitumen Company, Malaysia;
2. A Brief History of Bitumen Modification and the Important Role of Modified Bitumen in the 21st Century by Dr. Richard Taylor, Global Technical Development Manager, Shell International Petroleum Company Limited;
3. Use of Natural Rubber Modified Bitumen for Road Construction: The Indian Experience by Dr. James Jacob, Director of Rubber Research Institute of India;
4. Shell Thailand Experience on Hot And Cold Applied Natural Rubber Modified Bitumen (NRMB) In Thailand by Dr. Chakkrit Sirimaitrie, Application Advisor, The Shell Company of Thailand Limited;
5. Natural Rubber Modified Asphalt: Malaysian Experience, 1950 - 2016 by Mr. Mohd Hizam Harun, Head of Road Research Laboratory, CREaTE, Public Works Department Malaysia;
6. Lesson Learned on Natural Rubber Modified Asphalt Concrete from Thailand Practices and Experience by Mr. Promma Tepsriha, Director of Bituminous Surface Branch, Ministry of Transport Thailand;
7. Rubberised Bitumen Based Natural Rubber - An Innovative and Sustainable Technology for Road Pavements by Dr. Mazlina Mustafa Kamal, Programme Head, High Value Added Nano Structured Material, Malaysian Rubber Board.
8. Rubberised road: Turning Rubber into Road Materials by Dr. Norhidayah Abdul Hasssan, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
9. Implementation of Natural Rubber Modified Asphalt Concrete in Thailand: A Case Study from the Department of Highways Research Project  by  Dr. Auckpath Sawangsuria, Senior Professional Civil Engineer, Ministry of Transport Thailand;
10. Study on Natural Rubber as Bitumen Modifier for Greener Pavements  by  Dr. Cao Rongji, Vice President, JSTI Group, China.