Mortar factory celebrates 40th anniversary

Remix Dry Mortar BV is 40 years old. What once began as a 2-man mortar factory in the Drenthe countryside, has grown over the years through innovation and product development into a leading international mortar manufacturer. Today Remix has several production locations and customers in many countries.

From kilo to silo

Remix Dry Mortar BV develops, produces and markets high-quality dry mortars for the professional processor, including the contracting industry and building materials trade. "Thanks to a balanced assortment and more than 1,000 sophisticated recipes, we offer the perfect mortar for every construction project," says Product Manager Jan Jousma. "From masonry mortars to drive-through mortars, thin-bed mortars, jointing mortars, adhesive mortars, concrete mortars, floor mortars, pouring and underlay mortars and lime cement mortars: from our production sites in Ellertshaar and Hardenberg, we supply dry mortar products in silos of up to 35 tons, big bags of 1,000 kilograms, rain- and dust-proof PE bags of 25 kilograms or buckets of 5 kilograms to customers at home and abroad. We distinguish ourselves through our size, extensive know-how and innovative product development.

First mortar factory in northern Netherlands

Remix's success story starts on March 6, 1981. As a subsidiary of the neighboring Vos sand dredging company, a mortar factory was started in Ellertshaar, Drenthe, with 2 employees. This made Remix the first mortar factory in the Northern Netherlands, with a fully automatic production process already in place at the time. In 1989 the majority of the shares were sold to the Finnish company Lohja, which resold them 2 years later (1991) to AGAR Holding B.V.. This holding also includes Betoncentrale Twenthe BV, Betoncentrale Diamant BV, Betoncentrale Eemsmond BV, Betoncentrale Drenthe BV, Betoncentrale Nederrijn BV, Betonpompbedrijf Nijwa BV, Zandmaatschappij Twenthe BV, Orion Beton BV and Diamant Beton BV, all of which have their own specialties. Together, the companies provide a complete package of products and services in the fields of concrete mortar, dry mortar, concrete products and sand/gravel. 

In 2000, the Sakrete factory in Hardenberg was also acquired by the holding company. Since then, Remix has very successfully carried the Sakrete brand as a trademark in the Netherlands, with its own bagged goods line and its own extensive dealer network.

Low efflorescence Mortar

Under the banner of AGAR Holding B.V., Remix has developed from a regional player into a leading mortar manufacturer with exports to many European countries. Innovation and product development have always been of paramount importance and have led to many unique innovations and awards, says Jousma. As an example, he mentions the low efflorescence Mortar, which minimizes or even prevents lime deposits (whitewash) on facades and guarantees a high-quality facade appearance. "Thanks to our Low Efflorescence Mortar, the evaporation of the moisture flow takes place ín the mortar and not at the facade surface. This allows contractors to save significantly on their cleaning costs. A breakthrough, which in 2018 was rewarded with an honorable 4th place in the national SME Innovation Top 100. And still our Low-Elustration Mortar is not matched by any other party."

Mortar-On-Size^®

Also unique is the Remix Mortar-On-Masure^®-system. "The choice of the right mortar is always customized," emphasizes Jousma. "After all, only a correct, balanced mortar composition enables optimal processing, a high stacking rate and an excellent-looking facade. We are happy to play a role in this with our Remix Mortar-to-measure^®-system, in which we determine the best solution for the execution and aesthetics of the masonry in consultation with the client, architect and executing parties. To achieve this, in addition to brick choice, adhesion, jointing method, masonry speed, weather and site conditions also play a role. Whereas with certain mortars larger layers can be stacked without the mortar sagging, other mortars are more suitable for finer work. With our own developed thin-bed mortars, joints of 5 to 8 mm can be realized, while our FX grouts guarantee superior adhesion to siliconized bricks."

Earthquake-resistant Mortar

Two years ago, Remix Mortar-Op-Maat^® expanded with a new asset: the ER^® (Earthquake Resistance) mortar, which is particularly helpful in the northern part of the Netherlands. "The ER^® mortars form a particularly strong and elastic bond between the masonry bricks. Moreover, they guarantee superior adhesion, preventing brick loosening and cracks in the facade," Jousma said. "During a vibration table test by TNO, the ER^® test wall a maximum peak table acceleration of 0.84 g, while during the earthquakes near Huizinge (2012) and Zeerijp (2018) peak ground accelerations of 0.09 and 0.11 g, respectively, were measured. With our mortars, earthquake resistance and safety can therefore be significantly increased, at a minimum additional cost of approximately €200 per home."

Dubo certification for sustainable construction 

In addition to safety, Remix is also at the forefront of sustainability. For example, Remix was the first mortar manufacturer to achieve the prestigious Dubo certification for sustainable construction. "We are very critical of our mortar raw materials. And our production processes, packaging and transport movements are also very sustainable," said Jousma. "Our entire machinery runs on wind energy. In addition, the mortar products are transported in clean and economical trucks."

Art silo

Especially for Remix's 40th anniversary, painter Geert Oldenbeuving has painted a Remix construction site silo as an art object, which will tour various Dutch construction projects.