On 10 November 2026, Beton Asfalti sealed the paving joint on the main take-off and landing runway at Milan Malpensa “Silvio Berlusconi” International Airport. The work was carried out during daylight hours, as the runway had been specifically closed to air traffic for this purpose. The joint sealing was performed through a continuous, coordinated sequence of operations, beginning with opening and cleaning the joint using a high-pressure compressor (8–10 bar). The compressed-air jet was combined with an LPG flame to generate temperatures of up to 1,100°C, preparing the joint for the application of a suitable primer and the pouring of bituminous mastic. Bituminous mastic is particularly suitable for this type of application, as it must have a short drying time and quickly achieve its final mechanical consistency, while also maintaining excellent fluidity during application, which takes place at a temperature of 165–180°C. Furthermore, once hardened, the mastic must provide excellent adhesion to the sides of the joint, high surface hardness and a high softening point, preventing it from being pulled away by aircraft tyres. The mastic, supplied in blocks, is melted in a dedicated heating kettle and subsequently poured using a suitable application lance. The final operation consists of smoothing the joint.
The work was completed at a particularly high application speed thanks to the efficient organisation of the operations, carried out using the SBS Sigil plus system. The mastic blocks are transported on the same specially equipped vehicle that also carries the melter and the application lance. Once the mastic had been applied, the runway was reopened to air traffic.
