Igneous Concrete was initially established given a desire to create highly durable, long wearing and weather resistant furniture.  However, it was very soon evident that the material qualities that lent themselves so well to furniture design would add great value to the pot and planter market.  In particular, Igneous recognised the need for large scale pot and planter development, combining improved material strength with customised design. 

As such, Igneous now has a growing range of both resin based polyconcrete and glass fibre reinforced polyconcrete pots and planters ranging in height, but importantly ranging in diameter / top widths from 750mm to 1.75m. 

The resin based polyconcrete uses our standard material – a resin and aggregate mix to provide a fully weather-, acid and alkali resistant as well as water repellent pot.  The final product is also half the weight of standard cementitious concrete.  Glass fibre reinforced polyconcrete – combines a thin, 5-8mm, coating of polyconcrete to a glass fibre reinforced shell.  Not only this option two thirds lighter than standard cementitious concrete, but highly price competitive too. 

The high strength – light weight combination of both materials also results in excellent options for load bearing structures and can either reduce, sometimes even eliminate, the need for cranes for placement of items of roof tops or difficult to access areas.

An article by Rachel Nowak, appearing in The New Scientist Journal (Volume 197, Issue 2640, 25 January 2008) shows that the manufacturing of polyconcrete produces 10 to 20% less greenhouse gas emissions than cementitious concrete, the latter requiring higher temperatures for production and emitting significantly higher levels of CO₂.

In a related article from the Cement and Concrete Research Journal (Volume 37, Issue 12, December 2007), Peter Duxson et al show that while certain compliance tests on polyconcrete are inconclusive, polyconcrete compliance with performance-based standards using accelerated durability testing show very promising results.

While there are differences between polyconcrete as a replacement for cementitious concrete use and that used in decorative, furniture and ceramic-type application (as is the case with Igneous Concrete), the applicability of polyconcrete to the cement and concrete world is ever increasing.Polyconcrete is therefore at the forefront of the sustainable concrete movement.

• IGNP006 – RECTANGULAR TROUGH PLANTER | material :: glass fibre reinforced polyconcrete | width 500mm; length 900mm; height 550mm; material width 8mm; 40mm internal lip return; horizontal and vertical internal ribs (for installation at Holiday Inn Express, Umhlanga Rocks on behalf of Insite Landscape Architects)
• IGNP007 – RECTNGULAR PLANTER | material :: resin based polyconcrete | width 550mm; length 700mm; height 900mm; material width 20mm (for installation at Holiday Inn Express, Umhlanga Rocks on behalf of Insite Landscape Architects)
• IGNP008 – SUGARBOWL | material :: glass fibre reinforced polyconcrete | top diameter 1.73m; bottom diameter 800mm; height 840mm; material width 8mm; 40mm internal lip return; horizontal and vertical internal ribs (for installation at Alice Lane Towers, Sandton on behalf of Insite Landscape Architects)
• SCULPTURAL TREE | material :: resin based polyconcrete | height 2.5m; overall width 1.6m  (see draft picture below for installation at Goldfields Mall, Welkom on behalf of Boogertman and Partners PTA)

Igneous Concrete is fast developing a reputation as a leading supplier of light weight resin based polyconcrete street furniture for use in high traffic, all weather environments.  Igneous’ in-house pattern maker and ongoing innovation in concrete technologies, also allows the company to offer client-driven design, matching the client’s ideas on furniture and related items to the envisaged architecture or landscaping.   

The opportunity for involvement in the Moses Mabhida Stadium project in Durban and thus the manufacture and installation of furniture to suit this new-build stadium was a fantastic showcase for this fast growing company.  In conjunction with Iyer Urban Design and TJ Architects, Igneous developed the park benches, installed at the adjacent People’s Park, refuse bins and some 600 traffic bollards – to compliment the hard landscaping surrounding the stadium.  The bollards have also been installed on traffic islands extending into the city, as part of a related contract with the eThekwini Municipality. 

The resin based polyconcrete has qualities that are both beneficial to its design capabilities as well as their practical use.  Each item is mould cast, and does not require any steel reinforcing, while still being shaped into very basic geometric or curved forms.  The material is fully weather resistant, water repellent, the pigments are UV stable and the epoxy sealant top coat is both alkali and acid resistant.  Igneous Concrete is a highly durable product that can be cast and manipulated into a variety of designs to suit your requirements and overall aesthetic.