Local authorities switch to modern road repairs

Eighteen local authorities (LAs) have signed up to road repair process Rhinopatch amid concerns about asphalt costs and new procurement processes.

The interest marks a 50% increase in business for Rhino-patch owner ASI Solutions, which has signed up 35 LAs over the past seven years. Among the LAs to have recently joined are Northamptonshire, Bucking-hamshire and Nottingham.

Managing director Neil Caldwell told CJ the company is aiming to sign up another 50 LAs this year. He said: "I think there’s a lot of aversion to change within the industry. It is taking an awfully long time to get these people to turn to a new process."

Caldwell said the government’s asset management plan is driving LAs to review how they mend roads. He said: "All roads are now classed as an asset and people have an obligation, if they’re going to do something, to do it properly first time."

He said the process, which uses infra-red technology to melt the road surface around damaged areas, is preferable to conventional techniques as it does not leave joints in the road.

LAs are able to hire the equipment in the same way they may hire a roller or air compressor. Caldwell said: "There’s a huge capital expenditure problem within LAs.

"We’ve structured our business so we can offer Rhinopatch on a hire basis. It’s made it more accessible to LAs because they can use it on their hire registers."

He added the process dispenses with the need for jackhammers, which allows contractors to work at night.

Caldwell said high materials prices and environmental issues are making Rhinopatch an attractive option to LAs. "The issue now for the industry is that it has been hit with a 20% increase in asphalt prices. It is widely recognised that this won’t be the last increase in the short-term."

The Rhinopatch process is preferable to recycling the road surface, said Caldwell. "There’s sustainability to think of, and the additional cost of throwing the waste away. Even if you recycle the asphalt, you’ve still got to move it away from the site. Ours is a heating process that reuses the material onsite – you’re saving 94% of your waste immediately."