INTERNATIONAL NEWS LETTER AUGUST 2022 The Water Fountain, Dubai, UAE ISSUE # 12
2 | www.laticrete.com TABLE OF CONTENTS President & COO, International Message Project Spotlight Brand Promises04-0703 08-09 LIVING the LATICRETE Values 10-12 0201 0304
One of the important ways to deliver responsible innovation for our community is by making our company a great place to work by promoting the diversity and inclusiveness of our culture. Also in March, LATICRETE celebrated both Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day with a Live Panel discussion. The inspiring forum featured six diverse leaders from varying locations around the globe who shared their perspectives and advice on relevant topics such as career, work-life balance, and challenges they face in the workplace.
Responsible innovation for our communities.
In the first half of 2022, we built on our strengths and delivered a strong start to the year. Let’s continue to build on this momentum!
Faisal Saleem
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President & COO Message
Earlier this year, we unveiled our 6 Brand Promises, concepts that encompass our commitment to our customers, the earth and the construction industry. I believe these to be a reflection of LATICRETE itself and our deeply rooted responsibility to our communities and to innovation. They also serve as an acknowledgement of the customers who choose to do business with us and are the reason for our ability to persevere. Going forward, each newsletter will focus on one of our Brand Promises. Given our recent accomplishments over the challenging months, one Promise in particular comes to the forefront right now: Enabling Iconic we have made possible the construction of impressive and inspirational projects across the globe. We can proudly spotlight our work on several recent world-class projects, including SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Museum of Future in Dubai, UAE; and the Water Fountain at Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE (read more on pg. 13).
Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, supply chain disruptions and uncertainty, 2021 was an incredible year in terms of sales and profit growth. Together, we have persevered and built on our great results with a strong first half of 2022.
Responsible innovation for our colleagues. Our teams continued to innovate and advance our capabilities, helping us to deepen relationships and enhance our ability to serve our customers. I’d like to express my pride for and extend a special thanks to you, my colleagues, and fellow teammates.
ForDesigns.65years
These are not just modern construction projects; these are challenging, imaginative works of art that expand aesthetic landscapes, draw worldwide tourism and ultimately change our expectations of what we know. And we take seriously the responsibility we hold as the go-to brand for these iconic projects.
Responsible innovation for our customers.
Albeit, for our resilience and hard work, we have seen outstanding performance across all business units, we have reached impressive milestones, we have grown as an organization that continues to move forward with creative strategies, and we continue to drive responsible and sustainable innovation across our business units while investing in the future for our customers, and communities.
In March, we announced the opening of our factory in Nairobi, Kenya, the first factory and office location on the continent of Africa. We are excited and proud to expand LATICRETE’s vision and expand into the African market. This is an important expansion, not just for the company and the International Division, but for the communities we can positively affect with LATICRETE’s vision and our innovative, sustainable, long lasting, and maintenance-free solutions (read more on pg. 26).
We also are seeing the benefits of working together in offices around the world once again. Our company thrives on the culture and connectivity that are sparked from in-person collaboration. But as we move into the next quarter, it’s important to note the challenges that we all continue to face with the pandemic and related issues. All over the world, COVID is still a concern. Health and safety remain our top priorities, so it is imperative that we remain diligent in continuing to follow guidelines to minimize transmission within our organization and our communities.
4 | www.laticrete.com Project Spotlight THE WATER FOUNTAIN AT EXPO 2020, DUBAI
www.laticrete.com | 5 Project Spotlight THEFOUNTAINWATER AT EXPODUBAI2020 Customer: Expo Dubai 2020 Design & Water Choreography: WET Design Main Contractor: Al Naboodah Construction Group LLC Sub-Contractor/Finishes: SIA Landscaping LLC Application Type: Exterior Thin Bed, Façade Area: 300 Sqm. Location: Expo 2020 City - Dubai
The Background Expo 2020 is a World Expo hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from Oct. 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. The event was postponed a year due to the COVID-19 Worldpandemic.Expos have always been a gallery of innovative and creative architectural designs, and this is the first time the fair has been held in the Middle East since it began in 1850. In the UAE, the most fantastic element is transforming a large desert into a city where we can see many architectural spectacles. Undoubtedly, this conversion is a testament to the vision and creativity of the UAE East is proud to be a part of the construction and infrastructure of EXPO 2020 Dubai by delivering a wide range of LATICRETE® products. A 15 km expansion of the metro stations connected to the Expo 2020 city and numerous diversified projects are new feathers in the LATICRETE crown.
LATICRETErulers.Middle
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The Water Fountain's lower plaza area is almost the size of half a football field, with water walls more than four stories high.
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Spotlight
Not only does this fountain look beautiful with six spiraling pillars and vibrant circular tile pattern, but it is also part of a stunning performance of fire and water! The display is set to a piece of orchestral music written for the project by one of the world’s foremost modern composers, Ramin Djawadi, who composed the iconic music from Game of Thrones, Iron Man, Pacific Rim, and many more.
This exclusive water feature is designed by WET Design, an integrated architecture, design, manufacturing, and engineering firm based in Los Angeles, California.
Project
WET Design creates immersive, experiential large-scale water features worldwide, such as this, one of their most significant and most technologically advanced installations for Expo 2020 Dubai.
The four-story walls surrounding this fountain are giant water features that send 153 waves cascading in time with the music, while the six spires in the center exhale hydrogen flames of neon green, red, pink, and yellow. The water is continually filtered and recycled within the system, and the hydrogen flames produce no harmful emissions, making the fountain a certified green project.
The Water Fountain is one of the most significant and attractive projects on the list of projects at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Situated between Al Wasl Plaza and Jubilee Park, the Expo 2020 Water Feature combines the elements of water, earth and fire in a way that will both surprise and delight the senses.
The Challenge Glass mosaics and cement tiles had to be installed on steel metal sheets. Apart from the general need for the installation to be robust, it also had to withstand the hot/cold weather, high operational temperature, and movement stress. Additionally, the grout had to blend in with the bright orange hue of the glass mosaics perfectly, and the stone pavers around the fire spire had to be installed as per heavy duty floor criterion.
The Water Fountain's lower plaza area is almost the size of half a football field, with water walls more than four stories high.
Project Spotlight
254 PLATINUM Adhesive was proposed for installing pavers on the pedestrian area around the fire spire. Complying with the stringent standards of ANSI A 118.15, the product was the answer for external paver installation on floors expecting heavy traffic and various stress. LATASIL™ provided an aesthetically complementing and high-quality 100% silicon treatment to the installation joints.
LATICRETE Solutions
LATICRETE solutions was instrumental in ensuring that the fire spire adorns the center of the majestic Water Fountain - one of Expo 2020 Dubai's many spectacular and eye-catching attractions.
WET Design relied on the globally-renowned expertise of Australia-based tile company Everstone Group. Everstone knew that a project like this would require trusted, quality installation materials, and turned to LATICRETE to supply the grout and adhesive products for this incredible piece of art.
LATAPOXY 300 also has outstanding in-service temperature exposure values, which further substantiated it as the ideal
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The
PRO Premium TRANSLUCENT Grout is a patented extremely high-performance epoxy grout that offers a unique opaque color that diffuses light and makes any design look more Avibrant.unique design component, SPECTRALOCK DAZZLE, adds metallic and glow in the dark enhancements to SPECTRALOCK Pro Premium Grout.
SPECTRALOCK
SPECTRALOCKchoice.®
LATAPOXY® 300 was proposed as an ultimate thin-set solution to installing glass mosaics and cement tiles onto the steel substrate.
Pro Premium Translucent Grout and SPECTRALOCK Dazzle Tangerine Orange allowed the designers to align the grout with their aesthetic preferences closely.
The Outcome Shiv Kumar Nair, LATICRETE Area Sales Manager and the technical and specification team of LATICRETE Middle East, worked to uphold the longstanding and immense trust of WET Design (Project Designer & Water Choreographer).
TRUSTEDENABLINGSUSTAINABILITYCOMMITTEDINNOVATIVETOICONICDESIGNSFORLIFEBESTINSTALLEREXTPERIENCEOURCUSTOMERSAREOURFAMILY
OUR BRAND PROMISE
TRUSTED FOR LIFE: One can trust our products to last for a lifetime, same as one can trust our lifelong support.
Recently, as an organization we have launched our 6 Brand Promises that serve as a call-to-action and encompass our company goals: Innovative, Committed to Sustainability, Enabling Iconic Designs, Trusted for Life, Best Installer Experience, and Customers as Family. These promises are the cornerstone of our company’s mission. Over the next few newsletters, we will explore each promise and what it Formeans.this issue we’ll explore Enabling Iconic Designs. We are the go-to brand for the world’s most demanding and iconic projects everywhere people live, work and are together.
ENABLING ICONIC DESIGN: We are the go-to brand for the world’s most demanding and iconic projects everywhere people live, work and are together.
OUR CUSTOMERS ARE OUR FAMILY: Because we are like them, our customers have a unique experience with us. As a team, all of us can help deliver on these brand promises. In each newsletter moving forward we will showcase one of our brand promises. For this issue, we will highlight SoFi Stadium, a modern example of Enabling Iconic Design. Our solutions are selected for the most demanding and recogni zable projects in the world. In construction, beauty is as important as functionality and durability. Our teams and solutions unleash designers’ creativity and help contractors to make these visions an everlasting reality.
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INNOVATIVE: Our innovations transform our industry with new solutions and opportunities for architects, designers, and installers.
COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY: We are committed to improving the sustainability of our industry and health and safety of our customers and employees.
ENABLING ICONIC DESIGN
BEST INSTALLER EXPERIENCE: We provide the easiest and safest job site experience with outstanding support at every step of the project.
Deemed the world’s tallest statue, The Statue of Unity is 182 meters tall. It was built in Gujarat to pay homage to Sardar Patel's part in uniting the nation of India. To meet the statue's standards, Larson & Turbo decided to turn to the leader in tile & stone installation materials MYK LATICRETE for solutions and Theguidance.following products were used for installing sandstone and granite of sizes ranging from 600mm to 1000mm over 6 lakh sq. ft (55,741 square meter), an area that includes the facade, the sloping roof and internal flooring. The range of products used for this iconic statue included SP-100 for grouting, LATICRETE® 111 filler powder fortified with the LATICRETE® 73 admix to fix sand stones and granite on floor and wall. Lastly, LATICRETE® 190 Sealer sealed sandstone and granite, thus reducing the risk of staining and water absorption. We are proud to be a part of this iconic project that is a great tribute to the invincible spirit of India.
The Statue of Unity, India
Cathedral of The Holy Cross,Boston, Massachusetts, USA For more Iconic Projects, visit ject-spotlightsen/solution-center/prohttps://laticrete.com/-
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For nearly 150 years, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross has been a staple in Boston’s Catholic community and has played host to many significant events in U.S. history, including 1964’s requiem mass to mourn the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Pope John Paul II’s first trip to the United States as leader of the Catholic Church in 1979 and an interfaith service where President Barack Obama addressed the nation after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Generations of use took a toll on the largest Catholic church in New England, and for its first-ever renovation, architects chose to specify products that would stand the test of time by using a full LATICRETE installation system for a 25-year warranty. With almost 1900m² to be tiled, the contractors relied on a vast range of LATICRETE products to ensure this historic project was a success.
The range of products used on this project include LEVEL and STRATA_MAT™ for the underlayment and uncoupling membrane, topped with a layer of HYDRO BAN® and adhesives, followed by grouting with PERMACOLOR® Select and SPECTRALOCK® Pro Premium Grout.
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Blessed under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, and the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Charitable Educational Foundation, the RAK Autism Centre is situated in the neighborhood of Al Soor . It is home to a group of lovable, adorable children, guided by some of the warmest human hearts you will ever come across. This is evident in the love and care the staff demonstrate whilst interacting with the students.
LIVING THE LATICRETE
A few years ago, we visited this center at their old residence, and this week, we were introduced to their awesome, new facility. The principal and key members of his team took us on a tour of the place. We don’t think the pictures in this post do justice to what actually met our eyes: joyful colors, interesting shapes, modern designs, fun, and games. At times, it was indeed emotional for us. We left the place with a promise to visit again and renewed respect for parents, teachers and children who live within the Autism spectrum. We thank Principal Mohammed Hassan Mahmoud Banislaman for spending the day with us and we thank RAK Autism Centre for making a difference in our community.
The Texas Operations team participated on the Big Event with the City of Grand Prairie to clean two large illegal dumpsites -- and we picked a lot of trash! Thank you to all the team members who showed up and helped: Samuel Stivers, Julio Rosario, Francisco Tijerina, Silvia Bagley, Michael E. Hogan, Kimberly R. Robinson, Lucio Madrid, and Diego Aguilar-Osorio.
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During the month of March, the LATICRETE Charitable Giving Committee collected donations to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, www.rmhc-ctma.org, which provides a home away from home to children in need of life-saving medical help and their families around the USA. Through the generosity of LATICRETE employees at all USA plants, we collected boxes of much-needed supplies and raised $3,000 in donations! Well done, Team LATICRETE! #weserve #onelaticreteonefamily Clean-Up (Texas,USA) Ronald McDonald House (Connecticut, USA)
12 | www.laticrete.com Living the LATICRETE Values
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