Alchatek Blog

Poor compaction, water erosion, broken pipes, and organic material in the soil can all lead to settling of a foundation or a roadway. Traditional slab lifting can bring concrete and structures back into place but it doesn’t necessarily address the underlying issue or guarantee a long term fix. Other methods of addressing deep soil issues require heavy equipment, extended down time, and collateral property damage. These situations create problems for property owners as well as opportunities for the elite contractors that know how to fix them.

Introducing the Deep Lift™ process! Alchemy-Spetec offers a unique combination of high quality structural lifting foams along with the equipment and training needed to address deep soil issues. Now you can achieve soil densification and lifting on large projects with the smallest footprint and least amount of heavy equipment required. The Deep Lift™ process is powerful, painless, and rapid. Deep Lift™ gets to the root of the problems in the soil, it brings the structure back to level, and accomplishes this with minimal imposition or downtime to the property owner.

Want more info on the Deep Lift™ process?

Thanks to everyone who invested their time and money to visit us at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas last week.  We appreciate your interest in new offerings such as the Deep Lift process, the Cart System mini rig and the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun with Stand Up Attachment.  We also appreciate all the interest in the rest of the Geotech and Waterproofing lines.

In the following weeks you will be contacted by one of our representatives to see how we can assist you further.  Let us show you how to get a return on your investment.  We help you do what you do, better than anyone else.  If you need something faster than our representatives are able to reach out to you, please feel free to contact us directly at 404-618-0438.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec Products?

We are excited to welcome Jim Spiegel as the newest member of our team.  Jim comes on as the V.P. of Sales and Business Development for the growing Atlanta-based company.  Jim brings 12 years of chemical injection and concrete repair experience.

Alchemy-Spetec offers the industry a unique combination of technical support and products for geotechnical, waterproofing, and concrete repair applications.  With much of his experience coming from domestic sales management and international distribution, Jim offers a valuable piece in both Sales and Business Development across all product segments.

When asked about the outlook for the company, Jim said, “Looking closely at the Alchemy-Spetec team, you find many decades of collaborative experience representing the most well-known brands in the chemical grout industry.  We have relevant and professional experience in ownership, management, business intelligence, marketing, production, and sales.  It’s very clear that this company is committed to building a quality team, product line, and industry name.” 

Alchemy-Spetec President and CEO Stephen C. Barton added, "I am thrilled to welcome Jim Spiegel to the team as our V.P. of Sales and Business Development.  Jim's high energy and determined focus will help us as we continue to innovate and change the geotechnical and waterproofing landscapes.  Our strategic partners will benefit from Jim's ability to identify and promote new opportunities."

Please look for Alchemy-Spetec at the World of Concrete in the Silver Lot directly across from the entrance to the South Hall where we will be performing live slab lifting demos and showcasing both the geotechnical and waterproofing product lines.

Want more info on Alchemy-Spetec products?

Most of you are probably familiar with our most popular product offerings: polyurethanes for sealing leaks, lifting slabs, and stabilizing soil.  But it's important to be fully aware of all the tools at your disposal.  We also offer water stop, crack repair, and soil stabilizing acrylate products.  Let's take a closer look:

Water Stop

The Spetec Injection Tube System kit is used in conjunction with our leak seal resins as a primary waterstop in cold joints and pipe joints. This system can also be used in retrofit applications for expansion joints and other wide cracks or joints measuring over 3/8 of an inch.

SST500 strips are simply fastened onto an existing joint.  When in contact with water in a confined space, SST500 will swell and stop water infiltration.

Crack Repair

Epicol T is a putty with a simple mixing ratio suitable for filling and moulding.  It can be applied underwater and it sticks to wood, stone, concrete and metal.

Epicol INJ is a low-viscosity epoxy resin for structural bonding of cracks and micro cracks in dry or wet concrete.  It can also be used as glue for bonding and anchoring.

Acrylates for Soil Stabilization

These are three-component, water-swelling hydrogels based on acrylate that harden to an elastic form.  They are especially noted for their low blending viscosity that is almost equivalent to the viscosity of water.

AG100 has a 20 cps mixed viscosity.  It can be used for curtain grouting and ground stabilization.

AG200 has a 40 cps mixed viscosity.  It can be used for ground stabilizion, preventing erosion around floors, walls, etc.  In adddition it can be used for curtain grouting and crack injection.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec Products?

The bane of slab lifting equipment is the iso.  It turns your hands black if you get it on them and it is the main culprit that causes pressure imbalances.  For some reason, in the past few years the problem has gotten worse.  I suspect is has something to do with changes in the chemistry of the raw materials.

Contractors who use their rig on a daily basis have less of a problem.  If your rig sits for any length of time, the iso (A side material) can start to setup in the hose.   We see this most often at the end of the whip hose right next to the gun.  The solution is simple, but you have to be vigilant.  Make sure you have greased up the threads on the A side drum, change your desiccant drum cartridge when the desiccant changes color, and follow the instructions below to recirculate the A side material every 10 days that your rig sits unused.

Step 1:

As I stated in a previous blog post, Polyurethane Leak Seal in Cold Weather, twin streaming can be an effective way to ensure that water reactive resin sets up quickly and thoroughly after injection. In that post I only mentioned twin streaming briefly. Here are some more details:

What is Twin Streaming?

Twin streaming is a technique in which you use a high pressure F-valve to inject resin AND water at the same time. As you can see in the photo, the F-valve has two supply connections - one for water and one for resin. The water and resin come into contact right before they exit the nozzle.

Advantages:

1. Ensures there is enough water for the resin to react with.
2. Starts the reaction immediately.
3. Allows you to inject in cold water.

When Filling Voids Above the Water Table

When working on jobs that require void filling behind walls, also known as curtain grouting, it is imperative that you are prepared for any obstacles that may occur. If the voids are large and dry, resin may not have enough water to react with when injected in the conventional manner. In this case injecting water behind the wall prior to injection might not be sufficient (especially if the void is open or filled with gravel, giving the water an easy path to escape). With twin streaming you are guaranteed there is enough water for the resin to fully react and fill the voids.

While Injecting Under Cold Water

Twin streaming also works well if you find yourself having to inject into a cold, underwater environment. You can inject warm water along with the resin to jump start the reaction process before the cold water gets a chance to slow down the process.

The ratio of water to resin can be controlled by opening the valves at different angles. Some products such as AP Fill 700 and Spetec H100 only need a little water to react with (10:1 resin to water is plenty). In this case, you would crack the water valve slightly, then open the resin valve all the way. Other products such as AP Seal 500 and Spetec GT350 need more water. A 2:1 or 1:1 ratio of resin to water both work well. In this case, you may want to open both valves all the way.

Want more information on Alchemy-Spetec products & equipment?

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the recent hurricanes in Houston and Florida. If you're in any of the affected areas, stay strong and stay safe!  

If you're in a position to contribute to relief efforts, you can do so ON THIS DONATION PAGE AT REDCROSS.COM.

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) gives the EPA latitude to impose criminal and civil penalties on industries not in compliance. In 2014 enforcement efforts policing clean water netted $163 million in penalties and fines, 155 combined years of incarceration for sentenced defendants, and $16 million in court-ordered project clean-ups.

Having products that may come into contact with drinking water certified to NSF 61-5 (approved for contact with drinking water), ensures compliance with the SDWA and guarantees peace of mind for stakeholders on construction projects where this could be an issue. Even when possible contact with drinking water is not a factor, this process assures the contractor that the product is safe for the environment in general.

To receive NSF approval, each product must undergo rigorous testing and the manufacturer's plant and quality assurance practices must pass a thorough inspection. Voluntarily undergoing such a rigorous certification process is invaluable because it provides assurance to all that, at the end of the day, our arsenal of products are not only the top-performers in the market, but also protectors of the environment.

The following Alchemy-Spetec products have received the official NSF seal of approval for contact with drinking water: AP Lift 430, AP Lift 475, Spetec F400, Spetec F1000, AP Seal 500, AP Fill 700, Spetec H100 and AP Soil 600.

Want in-depth information on Alchemy-Spetec Products?

Today's blog post is a brief profile of our longtime Operations Manager, Matt Schmitt. 

Matt's responsibilities include: leading the Production Department in manufacturing our resin products, supervising the assembly of customized equipment such as the MixMaster Pro slab lifting gun, overseeing labeling and packaging, tracking inventory, and ordering raw materials. His management skills and acute attention to detail are key components in ensuring that top quality product is available and ready for use in your next project!

Matt's hobbies include fishing, backpacking and woodworking. At one point in his career, Matt was a very successful chef - which is where he became an expert at keeping track of raw materials, mixing ingredients to perfection, and delivering the best results to customers.

Have a question or suggestion for Matt?

Recently I was interviewed by VoyageATL about Alchemy-Spetec. VoyageATL is a culture and news site that highlights the best Atlanta has to offer. Check out the excerpt below and then click the link at the bottom to read more.

Back in 2012, after three decades in the industry, Stephen Barton decided to start Alchemy Polymers. He wanted to focus specifically on injection resins for sealing leaks, stabilizing soil, and lifting/leveling concrete slabs. Armed with a clear vision for higher quality products and better tech support, he and his team made it a priority to provide customers with the powerful polymers and painless procedures they need to achieve the rapid results their projects demand. Due to this laser focus, they experienced tremendous growth in just a few short years. That success didn’t go unnoticed. This past spring Alchemy Polymers was approached by Resiplast US/Spetec to discuss a potential partnership.

Read more...

Want in-depth info on Alchemy-Spetec products?