Behind every tonne of asphalt produced at John Wainwright & Co Ltd is a dedicated technical team working to ensure our materials meet the highest standards of quality, performance and sustainability.

Recent investment in our laboratory facilities is helping the team work smarter, faster and more safely than ever before, while supporting the business’s long-term goals for innovation and environmental responsibility.

Bringing Testing In-House

One of the latest additions to the laboratory is a state-of-the-art hydrocarbon analyser. While the technology behind it is complex, its purpose is simple but vital: testing recycled materials to ensure they are safe and suitable for use in future asphalt mixtures.

Previously, samples had to be sent away for specialist testing, resulting in additional administration and delays while waiting for results. Now, the team can complete the process in-house and receive results in as little as 10 minutes.

Technical Manager Elliott Curtis recently carried out the first test using the new equipment. “Until now, we’ve had to send recycled asphalt samples away for hydrocarbon testing, which meant waiting for results before making decisions about how materials could be used,” says Elliott. “Now we can generate results almost instantly, allowing us to respond much more quickly.”

The analyser forms part of a wider programme of laboratory improvements designed to enhance accuracy, efficiency and the overall capability of the technical team.

Creating a Better Working Environment

The laboratory upgrades haven’t just focused on technology. A major priority has also been creating a safer and more comfortable workplace for the people who use it every day. A new air bench installed in the aggregates testing laboratory is a great example. During aggregate grading tests, technicians sort materials through a range of sieves, a process that can generate significant amounts of dust.

The new system uses built-in extraction technology to capture dust before it enters the surrounding environment, helping to create cleaner working conditions and reducing the need for additional protective equipment during routine testing. “It’s crucial that we look after our people,” Elliott explains. “The technical team’s activities support almost every part of Wainwright’s operations, from the quarry through to our asphalt plants, so it’s important that our processes are as safe and effective as possible.”

Improving Efficiency and Accuracy

Alongside employee wellbeing, increasing efficiency and enhancing testing accuracy have been key drivers behind the laboratory upgrades. One of the most significant additions has been an advanced asphalt testing analyser, which is transforming the way samples are processed.

Traditionally, technicians would manually separate bitumen from asphalt samples using specialist chemicals that require careful handling. The new analyser performs this process through a sealed, closed-loop system.

The benefits are substantial:

• Reduced manual handling
• Enhanced health and safety
• Greater testing accuracy
• Faster results
• More efficient laboratory processes

For the technical team, it represents a major step forward in both safety and performance.

Supporting Wainwright’s Sustainability Goals

The improved accuracy and speed of testing equipment are also helping Wainwright further its sustainability ambitions.

Technical Director, Martyn Tatlow explains that the business is focused on increasing the use of recycled materials across its asphalt products, helping to reduce waste while maintaining the high standards customers expect. “We’re on a mission to increase our use of recycled materials, supporting our sustainability objectives while maintaining product quality and performance,” says Martyn. “More accurate testing helps us optimise the use of recycled materials in our mixes, ensuring consistent results across our product range.”

The technical team’s work has already helped increase the use of recycled asphalt within the business, supporting Wainwright’s wider environmental commitments and long-term sustainability targets.

“What gets measured gets managed,” Martyn adds. “Working closely with our operations teams, we’ve used testing data and insights to drive best practice, improve recycling performance and optimise our processes.”

Building for the Future

The laboratory refurbishment has also introduced a range of additional testing equipment, helping the team analyse materials more accurately and efficiently than ever before.

One of the key improvements has been the introduction of a new asphalt testing analyser, which has transformed how samples are processed. Previously, technicians manually separated bitumen from asphalt samples using specialist chemicals, requiring significant handling throughout the process. The new analyser now carries out this testing through a sealed, closed-loop system, reducing manual handling, improving safety and providing more accurate, consistent results.

As Elliott explains:

“We take a sample of asphalt from the plant and let it cool. To ascertain the binder content and grade the other components in the mix, we strip the bitumen from the sample using wet methylene chloride. That process used to be done manually, but the analyser enables us to do it using a closed-loop system. This reduces manual handling and greatly improves the accuracy of our testing.”

From aggregate testing and air void analysis to binder recovery processes, these enhancements provide valuable data that supports product development, quality control and operational excellence across the business.

Together, these improvements reflect Wainwright’s commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring we have the technology, expertise and facilities needed to support our customers, our people and our environmental ambitions for years to come.

Keep an eye out for the next instalment in our Technical Team series, where we’ll continue to explore the innovation, expertise and people helping shape the future of Wainwright.