Last checked at 4 Aug 2020 07:00
4 August 2020
Directa Plus plc
("Directa Plus" or the "Company")
Genoa's New San Giorgio Bridge Opens with Graphene-enhanced Asphalt Road Surfaces
Directa Plus (AIM: DCTA), a leading producer and supplier of graphene nanoplatelets based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, is pleased to note yesterday's opening of the new Genoa San Giorgio Bridge in Genoa by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella. The new bridge, replacing the old Morandi Bridge structure that collapsed on 14 August 2018, was completed just 22 months after the disaster to designs by Genoa born Renzo Piano. The road pavement on the bridge was constructed using Iterchimica's Gipave® asphalt supermodifier, which contains graphene and a specific type of technically-selected plastic which is usually sent to waste-to-energy plants.
Gipave® was developed by Iterchimica with the support of Directa Plus and resulted from a three year research programme with a patent filed in 2017. To date, two trials have been initiated or completed in the UK in Oxfordshire and Kent and seven more were carried out at various sites in Italy. All tests conducted by universities and official laboratories have shown excellent results in terms of increased pavement performance (especially as regards fatigue and rutting resistance). The improvement of structural performances will extend the pavement's service life, thus reducing maintenance operations and the related costs. In addition, once laid, asphalt with Gipave® can be 100 per cent recycled, which reduces the emissions of CO2 eq in the atmosphere and the extraction of new materials from quarries and first-use bitumen. Moreover, this new technology also allows the recycling of the plastic, which can be sent to waste-to-energy plants.
Commenting, Giulio Cesareo, Founder and CEO of Directa Plus, said: "At a time when the whole world is watching the launch in Genoa of the new Genoa San Giorgio Bridge, we are proud to have participated in this major symbol of hope for all of Italy. The use of Gipave® in asphalt, enhanced by G+® graphene, is exactly aligned with the bridge's sustainable agenda and provides Italy with a shining example of the future of infrastructure projects.
"This is a signal that our G+® graphene technology is mature in construction markets and can improve performance and reduce environmental costs. I congratulate our partner Iterchimica on its contribution to the new Bridge"
Federica Giannattasio, Iterchimica CEO, added: "We are proud to have contributed to such an important project with our new G+® graphene-enhanced technology for asphalt pavements. Gipave® is our latest patented innovation, resulting from the collaboration between Directa Plus, Milano Bicocca University and G.Eco. This is an Italian technology to build green, high-tech, highly resistant, eco-sustainable and 100% recyclable road pavements. It generates environmental and economic benefits for users and is a product that helps to meet Green and Circular Economy standards, UN Sustainable Development Goals and the COP 21 Paris Agreement."
For further information please visit http://www.directa-plus.com/ or contact:
Directa Plus plc | +39 02 36714458 |
Giulio Cesareo, CEO |
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Marco Ferrari, CFO |
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Cenkos Securities plc (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) | +44 131 220 6939 |
Neil McDonald, Pete Lynch |
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N+1 Singer (Joint Broker) Mark Taylor | +44 20 7496 3069 |
Tavistock (Financial PR and IR) | +44 20 7920 3150 |
Simon Hudson, Edward Lee |
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About Directa Plus
Our focus is principally on the two sectors in which we have strong commercial advantage through developed and launched products and a technological lead: environmental (based on our Grafysorber® product) and textiles (based on our G+ products). In addition, we will continue to pursue opportunities in elastomers and composites (including tyres and asphalt), also using our G+ products. All our products are hypoallergenic, non-toxic and sustainably produced.
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