As critical infrastructure adapts to handle advancements in robotics, logistics and IT loads, durable concrete becomes integral to performance and long-term value

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / January 29, 2026 / With warehouses, data centers, and transit facilities increasingly relying on robotics, heavy machinery, and AI-driven infrastructure, concrete floor performance has become mission-critical. Seemingly minor failures such as microcracks or water ingress can escalate into costly outages, equipment damage, and operational shutdowns.

From hyperscale data centers built in regions with high water tables and seismic risks to next-generation logistic hubs that support electric fleets, the integrity of such facilities is only as strong as its foundation and flooring - which are subject to persistent pressure and impact.

"Durable concrete flooring is a critical - yet often overlooked - component of facility planning," said Kari Yuers, President of Kryton International, the global leader in concrete waterproofing and durability solutions. "Using innovative admixtures such as Hard-Cem on facility floors can help immensely from an operational standpoint, maintaining uptime and safety, as well as long-term asset value."

Kryton recently supplied durable concrete admixtures for the new 20-acre Miami-Dade Transit Operations Center, which was designed to support the significantly heavier loads of electric buses. To reduce long-term maintenance demands, project specifiers turned to Kryton to ensure that the facility won't suffer from downtime as a result of premature wear or failure of the concrete floors, ramps and maintenance pits. It is scheduled to open mid-year.

The concerns are similar in industrial warehouses and data centers. Those floors are often subject to extreme abrasion from sliding pallets, equipment or materials and wheeled traffic of vehicles, forklifts, pallet jacks and carts. Robotics and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) impose repetitive wheel paths and concentrated point loads that can exceed the tolerance of conventional concrete.

"Electric fleets and automated operations are significantly increasing floor loads and wear. Facilities that plan for durability today are the ones that will avoid costly retrofits and service disruptions tomorrow," Yuers said.

Precision is equally critical as robotics, automated material-handling systems, and high-bay storage structures require tight flatness and levelness tolerances. Surface defects, such as spalling and surface wear, will compromise performance and productivity over time.

Environmental and chemical resistance are also critical factors to consider when specifying materials for a modern facility. Industrial floors are routinely exposed to oils, hydraulic fluids, cleaning agents, battery acids, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. Concrete designed with low permeability and advanced admixtures better resists chemical attack, water intrusion, and freeze-thaw cycling - giving facilities a lifespan of up to 100 years with reduced risks of downtime.

"As facilities become more automated and mission-critical, the floor can no longer be treated as a commodity," said Kevin Yuers, Vice President of Product of Kryton International. "Our approach is to build durability into the concrete itself, so facilities are protected from day one."

Kryton's Krystol Internal Membrane™ (KIM®) and Hard-Cem® admixtures address these challenges by producing concrete floors that are self-sealing, waterproof, and highly abrasion-resistant - without relying on external membranes and surface treatments.

Such material improvements are also beneficial for facility owners and operators, who are looking to reduce their carbon output, because durable structures won't require as many repairs - if any at all.

"More and more, material specifiers are looking to reduce carbon in the structures they design," Yuers said. "As the materials change, we need to ensure that we don't sacrifice long-term durability requiring repairs or replacement, or we will not achieve our sustainability goals."

By integrating Kryton's technologies directly into the concrete during construction, project specifiers are enhancing performance from within, while preventing significant investments in long-term maintenance.

For more information on Kryton's concrete flooring solutions for data centers and industrial facilities, visit www.kryton.com.

ABOUT KRYTON
Kryton International Inc. is the inventor of the crystalline waterproofing admixture and has been protecting concrete structures with its proprietary Krystol® technology since 1973. Kryton is recognized globally for innovation, manufacturing excellence, and leadership in durable concrete solutions. The company is an active member of the American Concrete Institute, International Concrete Repair Institute, American Shotcrete Association, and numerous other technical organizations. Kryton exports its Smart Concrete products to more than 50 countries worldwide. www.kryton.com

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Andrew King, aking@hoytorg.com, 914-513-6895

SOURCE: Kryton