Specialty chemicals company LANXESS and Hindustan Colas Private Limited (HINCOL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to evaluate advanced bitumen and asphalt modification technologies for India's road construction sector.

The agreement establishes a framework for technical and commercial collaboration, including joint laboratory and commercial-scale trials. The companies aim to assess solutions that can improve pavement performance, production efficiency, environmental impact and health, safety and environment (HSE) standards.

The collaboration will focus on LANXESS' Addipave CR 36 technology for polymer modified bitumen (PMB) applications. The cross-linking technology will be evaluated for its potential to improve PMB production efficiency, product consistency and quality, operational safety and pavement performance. LANXESS will provide the product, technical expertise and trial support, while HINCOL will contribute testing facilities, operational support and performance assessments under Indian conditions.

The companies will also evaluate Addipave WM 23, a warm mix asphalt additive technology. Joint trials and market development initiatives will assess its potential to lower asphalt production and paving temperatures while maintaining road performance standards. The technology is intended to reduce energy consumption and emissions and improve workplace conditions during paving operations.

The partnership combines LANXESS' expertise in specialty additives and formulation technologies with HINCOL's experience in bitumen technology, road construction solutions and infrastructure projects in India.

“With HINCOL’s local market insight, we aim to expand our footprint in India for asphalt applications tailored to the requirements of the local market,” said Vince Patram, Global Head of Marketing, Business Unit Lubricant Additives, LANXESS.

Neelanjan Banerjee, Senior Vice President and Global Head of the Business Unit Lubricant Additives, LANXESS, said the collaboration would help demonstrate the potential of Addipave technologies to improve operational efficiency, quality and environmental performance in road construction.

Debashis Chakraverty, CEO and Director, HINCOL, said the partnership brought together complementary expertise and would help evaluate technologies with the potential to improve pavement performance and sustainability in India's road construction sector.