CRC VS CRC I2

The boundaries of using the original CRC® material have been challenged.

MORE FOCUS ON INNOVATION

Hi-Con was founded as a classic—but innovative—production company, primarily selling and manufacturing balconies and stairs in Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) for the Danish market.

In 2009, Hi-Con, like much of the construction market, was hit by the financial downturn, which led to a change in Hi-Con's strategy and vision. We wanted more focus on innovation, such as marketing our existing products in new markets, but also developing new products for both old and new markets. This process, aimed at making us less vulnerable to downturns in individual markets, is still ongoing.

This also meant that the boundaries for using the original CRC® material were challenged, and the material was therefore "updated." The latest developments in additives and superplasticizers needed to be utilized, but it was also important that previous documentation and experience remained valid, so all changes were thoroughly tested and validated.

This new generation was named "CRC i2®," which has been the name of the improved CRC generation since the beginning of 2015, and it is the material used for most products at Hi-Con.

What exactly is Ultra High Performance Concrete CRC?

AMBITIONS TO EXPLORE BOUNDARIES

In 2016, Hi-Con launched CRC i3®, which contains less cement than our CRC i2, reducing its environmental impact.

CRC i3® is specifically designed for use in larger elements, where there is room for coarser aggregates. It has increased stiffness and lower shrinkage and creep, while exhibiting the same toughness and durability as CRC i2®. CRC i3® has been used in projects such as the Catharina Bridge in the Netherlands.

Another product based on CRC® is our CRC JointCast®. CRC JointCast was developed in the 80s and brought to market in 1995—at that time as "Densit JointCast."

CRC has an extremely good anchoring ability, and CRC JointCast® is a dry mortar that can be used for on-site cast joints, requiring only the addition of water and fibers. CRC JointCast has been used, for example, on the Catharina Bridge in the Netherlands and for special staircases like the Per Aarsleff staircase.

Another example is a project from late 2016 where we cast a series of unique benches designed by Zaha Hadid for the Winton Gallery Science Museum in London. For this project, we used CRC i4, specially developed for non-load-bearing structures.

At Hi-Con, we have ambitions to continue exploring the boundaries of UHPC's potential—and good cooperation with the construction industry's stakeholders often helps to challenge us.