RMS - A MAJOR INNOVATOR FOR IRISH ROADS

Road Maintenance Services has been carrying road maintenance for Local Authorities since 1980. It is one of the longest established companies of its kind with bases in Galway, Mallow and Dublin. The business has been run by Tom Walsh B.E., MIEI, MIAT for over 30 years.

RMS Ltd is a sister company of Cold Chon (Galway) Ltd. Tom explains that 'RMS has been the leader in road maintenance techniques for over 30 years. We have introduced Cold Mixes namely Grave Emulsion and Stabilised Wet Mix into the market place'. Tom is a firm believer that all materials used in road maintenance should be bitumen bound. We can see the most telling signs of this in January 2010 and the damage caused by the severe frost. RMS Ltd has provided technical advice and outside assistance to customers in order to maximise the benefits of the various products in our portfolio.

We hold training seminars with Local Authorities to assist in advancing road surfacing technology and innovative techniques. Tom is proud of the company's track record in achieving quality and safety standards, namely: ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System The Safe T Cert, Safety Management Standard

The problem with most Irish roads is that they are very flexible in their structure. Our climate is very wet, thus causing saturation of the road base and aggregates in winter. This is when the most damage occurs, which leads to rutting, cracking and then failure. As a result we developed Bitumen Emulsion Bound Mixes that were available in Europe.

In 1986, RMS in conjunction with Cold Chon (Galway) Ltd., developed a special Binder for cold laid emulsion bound macadam similar to the French grave materials, known as Grave Emulsion. This product was totally different from conventional macadams as it was mixed cold using a specially formulated bitumen emulsion and laid cold using conventional equipment. The product gained acceptance and it was extensively used in Cork on the N8, the N52 in Meath, N11 in Wicklow and Wexford in the early to mid 1990's and numerous regional roads countrywide ever since.It has always been our policy to monitor, what is happening in other countries and then to use Irish expertise to adapt or modify these specifically for Irish conditions.

We developed and introduced, Bitufor Mesh Track, which is a steel mesh reinforcement, essential for use under macadams, on weak bases and bog ramparts, to prevent them from cracking. It was introduced intothe Irish market and has grown in popularity ever since. The first major contract was 50,000m2 in the Tivoli Docks in Cork. We have laid Mesh Track for most County Councils throughout the country ever since. Other products introduced onto the Irish Market from a European influence were Vibraline, Thormajoint, Coloured Surfacings, Ralumac, Fibremac, Safedrain, Colrug and Colsoft, Recycle process, Anti skid surfacings and Geogrids

RMS recognises the need for recycling existing material within the road pavement.Traditionally, this material has been dumped into laneways and field entrances. RMS has pioneered the reuse of these materials in cold recycling techniques, namely "retread'' RMS is well placed to respond quickly to our customer's requirements on a nation-wide scale with offices in Dublin, Galway and Mallow. The team at R.M.S. includes Civil Engineers, Technicians and Chemists who provide the back-up, technical advice and monitoring necessary to ensure that quality work is done safely for our customers

"We have a strong range of products and services which can be used as a solution for a variety of road maintenance problems" says Tom Walsh. "We believe that the Road Industry in Ireland is evolving rapidly. The cold route option, on which many of our products are based, acknowledges the change in public awareness to the future of our environment. We will need to upgrade our national and regional road network in order that Irish business can take full advantage of our participation in a more integrated Europe. It is very important that a company like R.M.S. provides new products and services for an ever- changing Irish Road Industry.

I, as an engineer enjoy the challenge of finding new products and services, which solve some of the problems in our road maintenance programmes. I am aware of the increased need for longer life products in the light of the increased volume and weight of to-days vehicles and as a company we strive to enhance by technology, where possible, our maintenance products and equipment.