Growing up in the Lower Mainland, Kari Yuers’ father was always a big supporter of women and instilled into her that she could do anything she put her mind to.

Her mother imparted the same values, having come from a Chinese family with five brothers where women weren’t as highly valued as men.

Both were aligned in their philosophy that both their children – a boy and a girl – be raised equal, and encouraged to achieve their goals.

Throughout her childhood Yuers worked in the plant at her father’s concrete waterproofing business, Kryton International Inc., doing various odd jobs, including sweeping the floors.

“I got a background, and it was a motivation for me and my brother to get an education so that we could do anything but work in the family business,” said Yuers.

She recalled thinking it would be “the worst thing in the world to work for your mother and father.”

Kari pursued a psychology degree at the University of British Columbia because she enjoyed studying human behaviour.

“I think from a business perspective this has always served me well, always trying to have insight into what other people’s views are and what makes people tick.”

However, Yuers never completed her degree and for a number of years found work in construction, renovations, at a golf course and in a smoked salmon company.

In 1991, Yuers conceded Kryton had come a long ways and had had some success, but still believed she couldn’t possibly work for her father as they had always butted heads when she wasgrowing up.

But she decided to meet with him and pitch him on what she might be able to do to help if she joined the company.

Being aware of his daughter’s lifelong hesitancy to work for him, Yuers’ father was wary of bringing his daughter into the family business.

The two agreed to work together, but Yuers’ father made her make a commitment that she would stick with it, and not quit.

Yuers stuck with it and became the general manager of the company’s Canadian operations.

As Yuers leveraged her previous experience in the building industry she saw a lot of success happening with the company’s Australian distributor using a crystal admixture that Kryton had invented.

Although the proprietary technology had been used by clients, including Boeing, since the 1980’s, it wasn’t mainstream as a process yet in Canada.

So Yuers took it upon herself to rename the product, remarket it and get out there and get specifications and talk to contractors in ready-mix.

Kari led the charge in legitimizing Kryton’s Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) technology and saw the product’s inclusion in definitive documentation from the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the authority responsible for writing the building code in the U.S.

This proved a building block through the 1990’s and as the economy got better Kryton began doing bigger projects with bigger players like Dominion Construction, PCL and others.

“When I look back twenty years ago to when I was trying to implement KIM, I had a lot of people say the industry is never going to change, engineering is conservative, they’ll never go for this, just give up.

“I was really young and naive at the time, so I just thought they were wrong and kept going. I’m not sure if I had the same experience now, with what I know now, that I wouldn’t just listen to them and give up.”

Now president and CEO of the family business, Yuers has helped grow the company from six employees and a handful of distributors when she began in 1991 to over 80 staff worldwide with eight remote offices around the globe and distributors in 50 countries.

Throughout her time at Kryton, she has consistently dedicated her time to volunteerism, mentoring women in the business and having a direct impact on worldwide construction codes and practices.

In March, she will become the chair of the international activities committee of the ACI.

As for the future of the business, Yuers said, “it’s continuously reinventing itself; we are looking at both developing and aligning ourselves with new products and opportunities for new channels.

“Unless you are going to change dramatically and adapt to trends in the future, you are probably going to be on the downhill slide.” •

Also see 5 Questions with Kari Yuers 

By Jennifer Harrison
jharrison@biv.com
See original full interview online at www.biv.com

What accomplishments are you most proud of? 

I’m also proud of changing the way people approach concrete waterproofing by using innovative technology on a global scale so that they can build environmentally-friendly structures that will last the test of time. The conservatism of the sector makes this a notable milestone for the industry as a whole.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? 
There’s too many to list just one, but, it would probably be a tossup between dealing with an international joint venture gone bad and getting the adoption of the use of Crystalline Waterproofing admixtures, specifically our Krystol^®_, Technology, in a traditionally conservative engineering environment on a global basis.

What career decisions would you make differently were you starting out today?  
I would have become a golf pro instead. Seriously though, I don’t think I would have made too many different decisions as I have really enjoyed every aspect of my career so far. However in hindsight, I would have liked to have seen faster adoption of crystalline admixtures by the industry. While I do realize that it takes time for these fundamental shifts, I really thought that I could have impacted that change much faster.

What’s one business lesson you’d like to pass on to others? 
Spend time with other people in business at every opportunity. In helping others with their challenges as well as taking advice from others, it has had the most impact on my self-awareness and growth. There is always more to learn and implement and there are amazing women and men out there that are willing to share their experiences.

I’ve had the great fortune of belonging to a number of peer mentoring groups over the last 20 years and it has resulted in the most learning and development for me personally and in turn, the organizations that I have had the privilege to be involved with. 

Is it still relevant to focus on the success and role of women in business? 
Yes. From my experience, I find that teams at all levels of business are better when there is a mix of women and men. Women can bring different strengths to business challenges and leadership opportunities. I think the business world is much better with women in it and there are still too many areas and levels of business that do not have enough representation and participation by women; and the vehicle for change is dialogue.

By Jennifer Harrison
jharrison@biv.com
See original full interview online at www.biv.com

Replacing external membranes, Bentonite systems and liquid solvents, integral crystalline waterproofing turns an entire concrete slab into a permanent waterproof barrier. When the dry powder is added to the concrete at the time of mixing, crystalline chemicals react with water to form millions of needle-like crystals, waterproofing both positive and negative sides of the concrete. This ‘integral’ membrane is impervious to physical damage and deterioration; there is no danger of punctures, tears, or seam leaks. As a result, a structure’s durability is increased, time and money is saved in both the initial process and in the long run as maintenance and repair costs are avoided.

One of the most unique benefits of crystalline waterproofing is its ability to lie dormant within the concrete matrix until settling or a new crack re-introduces water. Reintroducing water will trigger the crystallization process again, ensuring that the waterproofing is intact for the service life of the concrete.

Moreover, crystalline technology enables the concrete to self-seal. The crystalline formula can allow concrete to self-seal hairline cracks up to 0.02 in. (0.5 mm), even years after the original construction. This means that the concrete is more durable as cracks, which serve as water passages, are reduced.

In addition to promoting and enhancing the natural hydration process of cement, these systems are highly reliable for a wide range of applications. For example, concrete treated with crystalline admixtures is suitable for complex architectural designs. As architectural protrusions do not pose any waterproofing challenge, any type of concrete structure—vertical, horizontal or shaped—can be securely waterproofed.

Additionally, crystalline admixtures offer installation advantages. Unlike traditional membrane waterproofing, which tends to be labor-intensive and expensive, crystalline technology decreases installation and maintenance costs and is easy to handle—admixtures can be shipped in dissolvable, pulpable bags that are thrown into the concrete batch during mixing. This speeds up the construction schedule and decreases labour costs by combining steps with concrete placing.

Although sheet membranes have been the industry norm, integral crystalline waterproofing systems are being considered and selected more and more often. Advancements in this technology make it a highly versatile and sophisticated method for waterproofing.

Written by:
Akhil Kakkar is the general manager of Kryton Buildmat Co. Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Kryton International Inc. Kryton is the world’s inventor of integral crystalline waterproofing and have dry projects in the ground since 1973. Be Sure. Be Kryton.

Vancouver, B.C. – (January 24, 2011)
The deteriorating multitrillion dollar infrastructure system in the US can be resolved with Kryton International Inc.’s specialized concrete waterproofing technology. The solution lies in the common link between wastewater treatment plants, dams, bridges, water treatment plants and nuclear power plants, as all of these infrastructures are built with concrete. As nearly all deteriorating begins water, innovative waterproofing solutions such as Kryton’s can extend service life by decades.

Integral crystalline technology works by waterproofing the concrete from the inside out, creating an internal membrane that cannot be punctured, torn or damaged. Kryton’s Krystol® technology transforms common concrete by reacting with water to form millions of long, needle-shaped crystals that grow to block the capillary pores, voids and cracks. This internal membrane does not wear off providing permanent protection. Unlike external membranes that performs best on the day of installation and deteriorates with time, integral crystalline waterproofing can reactivate even decades later.

Through the use of specialized concrete technologies, the US government will benefit from reduced construction costs, increased durability, and safer public structures.

Kryton’s VP of Product Development Kevin Yuers anticipates new projects in the U.S. pipeline, a strong market for the North American company. Yuers says, “In 1983, Kryton waterproofed the foundation of the Boeing Development Center, which was the world’s largest building under a single roof, exceeding 62 acres. Today, it still remains as impeccably dry as it was 28 years ago; and that is value that we can provide infrastructure projects.”

Kryton has developed the most effective and reliable waterproofing systems which were used in challenging infrastructures projects around the globe. This includes BC Hydro dams in Canada, the Alakanada damn in India, Yunnan Shuima Tunnels in China, dry-docks in the port of Dubia amongst others.

About Kryton

Kryton International Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of premium products for waterproofing, repairing and protecting concrete structures. For over 38 years, Kryton’s proprietary integral crystalline technology has helped solve the most difficult concrete waterproofing challenges around the world. An extensive distribution network provides dedicated support that includes third party application training, ready-mix quality control programs, and the waterproofing industry’s leading warranty.

Vancouver architects who have persevered in navigating China’s ever-changing housing policies and know how business gets done in the People’s Republic have hit the jackpot.

Romses Architects principal Scott Romses, for example, first designed homes in China 14 years ago and has watched his Chinese business increase to 30% of company revenue thanks to several current projects.

Competing architect Paul Rosenau, who is principal of Ekistics, generates 80% of his $5 million in annual revenue from China, even though he bases 28 of his 30 staff in Vancouver.

In 2002, Beijing Capital Land (BCL) developers asked Rosenau to provide urban design and architectural advice for what was intended to be an 800-home single- family development in an exclusive area of Beijing.

Rosenau was initially surprised that a Chinese developer wanted to use Canadian consultants. He then learned that many Chinese want to live in west-side Vancouver- style homes without moving to Canada.

Rosenau designed homes made with B.C. lumber and concrete, which contained a waterproofing compound manufactured by Vancouver’s Kryton International. The result was that by 2006 roughly 333 homes were built in what resembled a Vancouver neighbourhood, BCL principal Zhaohui Wei told Business in Vancouver in December via cellphone from Beijing.

But he added that the project stalled when the Chinese government changed its housing policies to discourage building single detached homes because it decided that style of construction was not in the collective interest of the country’s more than one billion people.

In 2009, however, China allowed the Vancouver Forest project to proceed even though the government’s official policy was still to discourage single-family homes.

Wei now expects Vancouver Forest to have 800 homes by 2015. The homes are about 4,300 square feet and sell for more than $1.9 million.

Work on Vancouver Forest has been a springboard for Rosenau, who is a former Business in Vancouver Top Forty under 40 winner.

He bases area managers in Ekistics’ offices in Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City, but all design work is done in Vancouver.

Rosenau said the Vancouver Forest project opened the doors for his company to complete master plans for more than 75 projects in 35 cities in China and Vietnam.

Ekistics’ local work includes designing the Whistler Athletes Village as well as residential resorts on golf courses such as The Rise and Predator Ridge in the Okanagan and Fairwinds on Vancouver Island.

“We never bid on contracts in China,” Rosenau said. “We get called and Chinese developers always say, ‘Can you do this by yesterday?’”

Rosenau and others who have worked in China say the business culture is very different from Canada’s.
Bidding on contracts is a western concept. In China, architects win contracts based on who they know and their past success in the country.

 Rosenau provides local clients an estimate for how much a job will cost and then bills by the hour. In China, he charges a flat fee that’s often far more than it would be if he were to charge by the hour. For Rosenau’s Chinese clients, the key is often to how fast the project can be completed.

Rosenau said Chinese government housing policies that change almost monthly help drive that need for speed.

Many recent changes have been aimed at heading off a real estate bubble. For example, Rosenau pointed out that years ago China had no limit on the number of mortgages a Chinese citizen or foreigner could hold in Romses Architects principal Scott Romses first designed homes in China 14 years ago. He now generates 30% of his revenue from contracts in that country the country. Landowners were then grandfathered when the official policy limited homeowners to a maximum of two mortgaged properties.

China then reduced that threshold to one mortgaged property and, finally, to title for one property, said Rosenau, who has owned and sold property in Shanghai.

Today, even if a property owner could buy a second property by paying 100% of the purchase price, Rosenau said he or she would officially be unable to buy the second property.

Ironically, Rosenau is now designing the Xi Hai Lake Resort. The Chinese project is slated to have 6,000 mansion-style, lakefront homes on larger lots than at Vancouver Forest. The project demonstrates that exceptions to official policy in China remain rife and depend on who you know.

“Homes like that can be built if you can convince the government that the project is tourist based,” he said. “In China, ‘tourists’ means Chinese tourists, not foreign tourists. These are going to be second homes.”

• gkorstrom@biv.com

“Conveying the benefits over an additional cost, typically 1-2% of the project cost is required” feels Mr Patil. “lf some systems such as EIFS. PU insulation foam are used, it might increase by a percent or so. What is most important is that this 1-2% value products, actually decide the quality and life span of the whole structure. If clients, contractors and specifiers recognize this aspect, most of the problems occurring due to use of substandard quality products can be averted. Moreover, these products must be applied only by trained applicators and strictly as per the manufacturers instructions.

Cutting down on surface preparation, mixing methods, primers and curing, could result in major faiIures.” he says. Mr Kommajosyula concurs as he tells us “The major challenges that we face are low product and process  awareness of end users. It is really a challenging task to convince a customer to change his traditional methods and adopt new technology. There is no knowledge, understanding and seriousness by the decision makers in the industry. The greatest challenge is to educate the engineers responsible for on the projects.”