Midland provides liquid asphalt products and processes for applications that include rural and urban roads and airport runways.

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Specializing in road resurfacing technology, Midland Asphalt Materials Inc. has enjoyed continuous growth in its 70-year history. Founded in 1938 in Buffalo, N.Y. – and with storage plant facilities in Tonawanda, N.Y. – the company provided liquid asphalt products and application services for highway construction and maintenance to local municipalities at its inception.

Now headquartered in Tonawanda, Midland has expanded its services to offer its clients “a complete range of specialty products, services and skills to meet [their] particular civil engineering needs,” the company says. “Midland is committed to quality, service, dependability and customer satisfaction.”

Midland’s products and processes include NovaChip, cold-in-place recycling and full-depth recycling. “With an extensive range of products and services, Midland can meet [any] surface maintenance requirements for rural and urban roads, airport runways and any other areas in need of asphalt surface treatment,” it explains.

A Strong Bond
Midland says research and development help the company introduce more efficient methods and effective products. In fact, the company recently introduced FiberMat, a new technology designed to reduce breakage in the roads. It is a combination of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, chopped glass fiber strands and aggregates.

“This combination creates a robust membrane that absorbs stresses generated in the pavement structure yet is ductile and continuous to form a waterproofing barrier against the ingress of water,” the company explains.

Described as the “ultimate crack inhibiting and sealing membrane,” FiberMat has two forms: Type A, known as an enhanced chip seal membrane, and Type B, known as the stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (SAMI).

“[The] Type A process [is] specially developed unit glass fibers in-place and applies them between two layers of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion,” Midland explains. “Fibers are applied at a rate of nominally two to three ounces per square yard, dependent on the severity of the cracking. The asphalt emulsion is applied in two simultaneous applications totaling to 0.4 to 0.8 gallons per square yard.

The final step is the application of an aggregate to create the new surface likened to a rolled chipped seal.”

SAMI also applies fiberglass between two layers of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, the company continues.

“The glass fibers in this type are dispersed at a rate of three to four ounces per square yard,” it explains. “The emulsion is again applied in two simultaneous applications totaling 0.3 to 0.5 gallons per square yard.

“The final step is the application of the aggregate allowing the surface to be opened to traffic prior to the proposed overlay application.”

FiberMat is used to:

• Absorb stresses within the pavement;
• Re-stabilize, strengthen and resurface projects; and
• Delay cracking in the pavement.

“The tensile strength of FiberMat has been proven to absorb pavement movements,” Midland says. “This layer will effectively flex instead of crack.

“Tests have concluded that FiberMat enhances the tensile strength and fatigue performance by 30 percent and wheel-track cracking rate by 300 percent.             “Propagation of cracks is delayed three- to fourfold in laboratory testing vs. control specimens and indicators of 10 or more times from field specimens.”

Other FiberMat benefits include:

• Its fast application process;
• It is open to traffic minutes after completion;
• It reduces, repairs and resists cracking;
• It increases tensile strength and flexibility; and
• It bonds well to concrete and asphalt.

A Growing History
Since the company was founded, Midland Asphalt says it underwent various expansions that led it to become “the leading company in road resurfacing technology.”

Two years after its inception, the company acquired storage facilities in Binghamton, Rochester and Troy, N.Y.

In the late 1940s, the company purchased a coal storage facility with rail siding in North Tonawanda, and in 1953, it built a new repair garage, a business office and a storage area near the facility.

In 1961, the company underwent new ownership and changed its name to Midland Asphalt Corp.

Consequently, a new electronically heated storage facility and dispatch office in Victor, N.Y., helped expand the company’s marketing coverage from four counties to 10.

“The Tonawanda location expanded in 1968 by adding an asphalt emulsion production plant,” Midland Asphalt recalls. “Production commenced on a full line of paving grade emulsions, both anionic and cationic.” Soon after, the company acquired Independent Asphalt.

In 1983, Midland purchased The Krantz Asphalt Co., while continuing to operate its Buffalo facility as a distribution center. In 1992, it opened a sales office and equipment facilities in Celeron, N.Y. The following year, Midland and Penn Can Road Materials Inc. created a co-company – Lyons Asphalt Products Co.

In 1998, Midland purchased the assets of Alle-Catt Asphalt Co. In February 2000, Barrett Paving materials Inc. acquired Midland, changing its name to Midland Asphalt Materials Inc.
Ensuring Clients’ Confidence
Midland says it maintains an environmentally friendly operation through its Pavement Preservation program.

“[It] is a set of methods and practices utilized to extend the service life of pavement surfaces,” the company explains. “These processes are cost-effective in that some reuse existing road surfaces during construction.”

Asphalt is the most recycled product, according to Midland.

“The Federal Highway Administration and Environmental Protection Agency have recently researched the amount of recycled products in the country per year,” the company says.

“The results suggest that road widening and resurfacing projects reuse 80 percent of removed asphalt to form new roadways and highways.”

This is just another example of the company’s commitment to quality and service, it adds.

“From highways to runways, we pride ourselves in combining innovative technology with money-saving tactics,” the company says. “Midland Asphalt is sure to ensure [our clients’] confidence in any newly treated road surfaces.”