Cowman presented with top safety award

009Nominated by Ibstock Brick for works we completed at their Dorket Head Factory, Martin Cowman Limited have received a Contractors Safety Award through the Ceramic Industries Pledge scheme.

The award was presented to Mark Moody of Martin Cowman Ltd as recognition for the manner in which we completed the works safely, efficiently and to a high quality standard, whilst accommodating the operational needs of the factory.

This award recognises the commitment the team at Martin Cowman Ltd have to understanding the needs of our customers to deliver a project without compromising on safety, efficiency and quality.

Mark Moody joins Martin Cowman as Business Development Manager

20171005_144219 - CopyMartin Cowman Limited is pleased to announce that Mark Moody has joined the company as Business Development Manager.

Mark has over 25 years experience in all aspects of highway and airport pavement maintenance works. He will bring an extra dimension to the already highly skilled workforce at Martin Cowman Limited.

Mark is an Incorporated Highway Engineer with the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation, the Chairman of the Extruded Sealant Association and an active member of a RSTA sub-committee.

Peter Luckhurst, Director for Martin Cowman Limited, said: “We are delighted that Mark has joined us to strengthen the Management team. Mark brings valuable experience that ensures Martin Cowman Limited continues to drive forward and provide our customers with precisely the solution they require.”

Martin Cowman Limited celebrates 70 years in business!

The timeline below shows the key milestones in our 70 year journey so far …

Bowling Bonanza

Last weekend Martin Cowman Ltd held a Bowling and Buffet evening at the Hollywood Bowl in Leicester. Terry Jones, from one of our hand lay gangs was crowned victorious having narrowly beaten his father, Dick Jones. A fantastic time was had by all!



Fact sheet: coloured asphalt

What is coloured asphalt?

For many years colour choice in asphalts and macadam was limited to black, dark red and dark green. Colour choice was restricted by the manufacturing process, which consisted of adding pigments to conventional asphalt where the binder was black bitumen.

Because of this, colours tended to be dull and somewhat variable.

The development of clear binders now allows production of asphalts in a wide range of colours (from subtle buffs to vibrant reds, blues and greens) without compromise to the durability of the surface.

Where is it used?

  • Play Areas

  • Tourist attractions

  • Residential Drives and Footpaths

  • Public Highway (for aesthetic appeal and safety demarcation)

Where do I get it?

Martin Cowman Ltd are approved installers for quality coloured asphalts including:

  • Lafarge/Tarmac’s “Ulticolour” range

  • Aggregate industries’ “Supercolour Ultra” Products

  • Bituchem’s “Natratex” and “Colourtex” materials.

Martin Cowman Ltd are qualified approved installers of all these materials & would be happy to help you with any enquiries you may have.

Contact: Estimating@cowman.co.uk or alternatively call 01664 424840.

Related articles:

Solar panelled road ways

In the last six months or so it has come to light that an extremely innovative couple from Idaho, USA have come up with the idea of solar panelled roadways. There’s no disputing the concept, it’s an extremely forward thinking idea. The main hurdle the project now faces is raising enough funds to implement the idea. Two key pros are the fact that solar roadways are said to be able to melt snow, countering a problem that can bring communities to a stand still. Along with this they are said to cut greenhouse gasses by 75%!

Check out the link and watch the video provided on their page, it’s an extremely thought-provoking idea with many redeeming factors!

Types of specialist surfacing materials

There is a wide range of road surfacing materials available to suit various needs, offering durable surfaces to suit areas intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as roads, walkways or school playgrounds. But which types are appropriate for your requirements?

Stone mastic asphalt

This is a dense wearing course material developed to overcome rutting caused by heavy vehicles on road surfaces. The distinct advantage of stone mastic asphalt is its high resistance to fatigue and rutting.
This improved binder durability is a result of higher bitumen content, a thicker bitumen film and lower aid voids content. Stone mastic asphalt (SMA) is a mineral aggregate skeleton that is gap-graded; the voids are then filled with a mastic of fine aggregate, filler and binder.
SMA is commonly used as a heavy duty solution for large traffic volumes.
Benefits of mastic asphalt include durability, reduced noise levels, reduction in water spray and consistent appearance.

Coloured asphalt

The conventional colour of asphalt is usually black or deep red as a result of the black colour of the bitumen used in the mix. However, the discovery of a pigmentable clear binder has meant that a greater variety of colours are now available to suit different needs.
Coloured asphalt can be used for a multitude of purposes. However it is commonly used for visual awareness such as traffic or cycle line delineation, or simply to enhance the surface to blend into the surrounding areas.
Other uses for coloured asphalt can include marking out footpaths, brightening parks, play areas and sports grounds, highlighting roundabouts and bus stops or even enhancing entrances to historical sites.

Polymer modified binders

Modified bituminous can bring real benefits to road maintenance and construction. Modified bitumen through the addition of polymer can change the physical properties of bitumen such as the softening point and the brittleness of the bitumen, improving the elasticity and ductility.
The way polymer usually affects bitumen’s characteristics is by dissolving into certain components of the bitumen, spreading long chain polymer molecules to create an inter-connecting matrix throughout, making the bitumen more elasticated.
With so many types of road surfacing available these days, it is becoming easier to find a particular solution that can accommodate surface requirements.
Read more: Road surfacing and Quantity Surveyors