Malta International Airport has 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 an opportunity to evaluate and discuss the latest technology available on road maintenance and Malta International Airport was the ideal setting for this meeting, due to the work 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 infrastructures, and were contracted by MIA to carry out maintenance work on the aircraft parks. 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 was MIA head of Technical Services Charles Abela, who gave a presentation on the process and methods currently being used for the resurfacing of the runway. RO.DE.CO Group president Gianfranco Battiato and Crafco Inc. director Charles Grady also gave an overview of their novel techniques as well as the methods applied to ensure the longer durability of road surfaces and the cost-effectiveness of such projects.