Malta International Airport hosted a multi-national meeting on preventive maintenance and preservation of airport pavements, which was organised by the Italian company RO.DE.CO SpA. The meeting provided the opportunity to evaluate and discuss the latest technology available on road maintenance, and Malta International Airport provided the ideal setting for this meeting due to the works currently underway on a number of aircraft parks at the airport.

RO.DE.CO are the representatives in Europe of the USA-based company Crafco Inc. suppliers of innovative equipment and material for the preventive maintenance of infrastructure. MIA contracted RO.DE.CO to carry out maintenance works on parks at the airport. Delegates representing various airports and civil engineering organisations from the USA, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany and France attended the meeting.

Among the main speakers at the meeting was Maj. Charles Abela, Head of Technical Services at MIA, who gave a presentation on the process and methods currently being used for the resurfacing of the runway. Dr Gianfranco Battiato, President of the RO.DE.CO Group and Charles Grady, Director of CRAFCO Inc. of the USA, also gave an overview on their novel techniques as well as the methods applied to ensure longer durability of road surfaces and cost-effectiveness of such projects.

MIA’s CEO Julian Jaeger welcomed the delegates, saying that it was a priviledge for MIA to have been selected as a showpiece for these organisations.

The meeting was also addressed by the Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea and by Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett. The Italian Ambassador Paolo Andrea Trabalza visited the works on course.