Bosun, manufacturer of concrete paving products, renowned for their innovative solutions like the Large and XXL Urban pavers, has launched a “washed” or “exposed aggregate” range of products.

The “washed” finish is the first finish available in their new line of beneficiated paving units which was announced earlier this year. According to Gert van Wyk, Marketing Manager of the Bosun group, a simplified explanation of the manufacturing process is that fines are removed from the surface of these products with a special water spray technique to expose beautiful small stones in specific colour schemes. This creates interesting yet hard-wearing surface textures on pavers or kerbs. The German equipment which facilitates this process was commissioned with the assistance of global experts in the field.

The washed finish is offered on the Bosun Urban range of pavers, of which some are up to 27 times the size of standard paving bricks, on certain interlocking pavers and on some kerbs. These products can be used in seamless combination with Bosun’s standard and premium ranges of concrete pavers. Hearing the words “water” and “washed” might raise “green” concerns amongst some professionals. Van Wyk however, categorically put this perception to rest as all water used in the process is recycled and waste percentages are negligible. According to van Wyk, Bosun is very conscious of the environment. While so many in the built environment “spin” green we simply try to be green.

Bosun has, for example, taken on a project of maintaining hundreds of trees in the traffic island along Allandale Road in Midrand, for more than two years. These trees have been totally neglected by the Joburg City Council. The company bought poles to support the trees and keep them upright and maintains them on an on-going basis by pruning and cutting the grass under them to protect them from veld fires. “We don’t do this for commercial benefit or good will. This is simply who we are”, says van Wyk.

The rest of the Beneficiated manufacturing equipment is currently being commissioned and tested, which includes machines to do press manufacturing, shot-blasting, grinding and polishing. All the finishes should be available by November 2013. “As we say in our logo, our customers should expect the best from Bosun. We simply need to keep our heads down and produce the best, as that is our promise and our customers’ expectation”, van Wyk concluded.