Features

Helping shape the standardisation framework of the bitumen industry in Europe

European standardisation is an important area for the bitumen industry in general and for Eurobitume members in particular. Appropriate product performance and testing standards not only benefit manufacturers, specifiers and end-users, but also help facilitate the use of different types and grades of bitumen and bituminous binders across Europe.

Stakeholder research: improved understanding for more effective communications

Eurobitume’s mission is ‘To be the first reference for bitumen in Europe’, but for this to happen we recognised that a greater understanding was needed about the communication needs and channels used by our target audiences. The first step was to commission specialist agency, 31Volts, to undertake detailed interviews with an anonymised selection of stakeholders drawn from across Eurobitume’s target audiences.

Bitumen data collection project: review and findings

A variety of traditional and new test methods are used for the technical classification and assessment of different types of bitumen and bituminous binders at assorted temperatures. When the product standards for bitumens are under revision, most recently the specification for polymer modified bitumens, Eurobitume provided expert input recommending the appropriate incorporation of new assessment methods.

Safety guidance across the bitumen supply chain

To help Eurobitume fulfil the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)-related elements of our Mission, the Eurobitume HSE Committee brings together HSE experts from member companies to co-ordinate, monitor and manage Eurobitume’s HSE programmes and activities related to the manufacture, handling and application of bitumen and bitumen-based products.

Bitumen and Sustainability

As the importance of reducing contributors to climate change and helping create a more sustainable future continue to rise, sustainability has never been higher on the agenda of corporations, industries and society in general.

The virtual E&E Congress 2021 was successfully delivered

Close to 800 bitumen and asphalt professionals from five continents and 48 different countries attended the 7th E&E Congress, an innovative and highly interactive online event which provided excellent learning and networking opportunities for delegates, exhibitors, speakers and sponsors.

June 2021, Eurobitume Technical Committee: supporting our members

Eurobitume Technical Committee: supporting our members

From developing and communicating industry positions on technical matters through to producing technical guidance and providing expert input into the creation and revision of bitumen and bituminous binder standards, Eurobitume’s Technical Committee undertakes a wide variety of activities on behalf of members to help promote the safe and efficient use of bitumen in road, industrial and building projects in Europe.

May 2021 - Bitumen 4.0 and Future Mobility

Bitumen 4.0 and Future Mobility

In the second of our articles on how roads are being shaped by future mobility, we take a closer look at the ways in which the bitumen sector is gearing up to the changes that a digitised world will bring. It is a topic that will be centre stage at the 7th E&E Congress in June 2021 with its theme of Asphalt 4.0.

February 2021 - Asphalt 4.0 and future mobility

Asphalt 4.0 and future mobility

The quadrennial E&E Congress has always been an effective forum to learn about trends and innovation in our sector. This year’s virtual event in June, postponed from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be a key opportunity to share experiences and come together as an industry to discuss the potential challenges that lie ahead as we work to ‘build back better’.
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September 2020: Supporting our members on standardisation in Europe

Supporting our members on standardisation in Europe

Appropriate standards for product performance and testing benefit everyone involved with the bitumen industry: they help specifiers select the best product for each application and eliminate potential commercial and technical barriers to trade, by providing a set of common references for buyers and suppliers.
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March 2020: Handling bitumen safely

Handling bitumen safely

Bitumen is an important, environmentally-friendly material that helps provide a wide range of performance benefits and is used across a diverse range of applications: from road pavements and race-track surfaces through to airport aprons, runways and industrial water-proofing.
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January 2020: The bitumen Life Cycle Inventory

The bitumen Life Cycle Inventory

Access to credible, authoritative, current data for each of the four main cradle-to-gate life cycle stages of bitumen - Oil extraction, Transport, Refining and Storage - is very important for anyone wanting to calculate the environmental impact of manufacturing end-products that incorporate bitumen.
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May 2019: Feature TIS documents

Important test methods made clearer with Technical Information Sheets

The European Union Single Market requires that there are no barriers to trade across Europe. A critical part of this involves the harmonisation of bitumen specifications. Currently, for road applications, there are European specifications for paving, hard paving and multigrade, polymer-modified bitumen as well as for cut-back & fluxed bitumen and for cationic bitumen emulsions.
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February 2019: Feature Exposure and Reduction

Minimising exposure to bitumen emissions in the workplace

Bitumen emissions at ambient temperature are negligible. However, bitumen is hot when manufactured and, because of its physical characteristics, it is also hot when transported and hot in most applications.
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November 2018: Feature Bitumen trends

Bitumen trends: new and existing technologies

A huge amount of research and development work is continually being carried out across Europe, exploring many areas that have potential to positively impact bitumen in different ways - including technologies, compositions, production methods and application techniques. Read more...

August 2018: Feature Reference for bitumen

The first reference for bitumen in Europe

Eurobitume’s vision is to be the first reference for bitumen in Europe. The main task of Eurobitume is to promote the safe, efficient, effective and economic use of bitumen in road and industry applications on behalf of its members. Read more...

July 2018: Feature Future Cities

Cities of the future

As mobility evolves to reflect changes in technology, attitudes, policy and the environment, bitumen is at the heart of this changing ecosystem as road infrastructure becomes increasingly ‘smarter’. Read more...

May 2018: Feature Bitumen Burns

Avoiding and managing bitumen burns

Contact burns are the number one hazard when working with hot bitumen, which is used in a diverse range of applications. Read more...

December 2017: Feature Events

Eurobitume events: coming to a city near you in 2018!

Eurobitume will hold a number of events over the course of 2018. Read more...

October 2017: Feature Roofing

Bitumen protects buildings

For centuries, bitumen has been recognized as an excellent waterproofing material. Waterproofing is currently the second largest application for bitumen and accounts for between 10 and 15% of all the bitumen produced in Europe each year...
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June 2017: Feature Cycling

Bitumen and cycling

With the 2017 Tour de France starting in Düsseldorf on 1st July and ending on the Champs Elysées in Paris on 23rd July, we explore the key role that bitumen plays in cycling.
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May 2017: Feature Energy Efficiency

Driving on asphalt roads takes less energy

Bitumen is a core component of the asphalt used in road construction and influences the energy that needs to be expended by a vehicle travelling along that road.
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March 2017: Feature Bitumen production

Bitumen comes in many forms

Bitumen is a very versatile material that is produced in many forms and has many different applications - 80–85 % of bitumen produced today is used in paving applications, with the balance in roofing or industrial applications.
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February 2017: Feature Standards

Shaping the future

Eurobitume is the focal point for the bitumen industry in Europe, and one of our key functions is helping shape the future of the industry through the development and evolution of comprehensive international product standards:
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January 2017: Feature HSE

Bitumen: Hot stuff, handle with care!

Our experts have developed a wealth of valuable guidance and advice to help ensure working with bitumen is safe.
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December 2016: Feature Roads

Investing in our greatest asset: Roads

An efficient, effective, well-maintained road network is not only crucial economically (to the transportation of people, goods and services), but also extremely important socially (to mobility) and to the environment (CO₂ emissions).
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