VELOSIT founder Jens Hofele visits Hychem as decade-long partnership drives new product development

VELOSIT founder Dr Jens Hofele has visited Hychem Infrastructure teams in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, marking more than a decade of collaboration between the German construction products manufacturer and its Australian partner.

Meeting with the Hychem team in August, Jens’ visit sparked discussion about VELOSIT’s product range, the Australian market and potential new solutions, with two products identified for adaptation for Australian applications.

The visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on a relationship that began almost as soon as VELOSIT was established in 2014.

Founded in Germany after building his career in the construction chemicals industry, Jens developed the company’s first products in a small laboratory before establishing its manufacturing operations. Australia quickly became part of VELOSIT’s international story, receiving the company’s first export container.

The connection was also personal, with Jens having a long-standing relationship with Hychem director Dean, who worked alongside him previously. That early relationship developed into the ongoing partnership between VELOSIT and Hychem, which has now spanned around 10 years.

Jens said Hychem’s technical expertise was a key reason the relationship had continued for so long.

“Hychem has a key point of difference and that is that the entire team is genuinely technically oriented,” he said.

“They have a strong understanding of each of the products and their unique applications, which makes a real difference when we’re working through real-world challenges across a broad range of projects.”

That exchange of technical knowledge was evident during the Brisbane visit, with Jens and the Hychem team discussing opportunities to adapt existing VELOSIT formulations to address specific requirements in the Australian market.

“We discussed two new products that are definitely needed for the Australian market, which will be an adaption of previous formulations,” Jens said.

“Hychem has the ability to provide invaluable feedback to us in terms of product innovation, so we’re looking forward to announcing these new solutions for Australian infrastructure projects very soon.”

VELOSIT currently produces specialist construction products across four main areas: waterproofing, concrete repair, flooring and tile setting.

The company’s approach has centred on developing products that can improve construction efficiency, with Jens personally identifying speed and low shrinkage as key drivers behind the company’s original product development.

Its products are now being used across Australian infrastructure projects, including the Adelaide Convention Centre Plaza deck and Newcastle SeaBreeze, as well as concrete repair and waterproofing applications.

Jens said seeing VELOSIT products used on major Australian infrastructure project was a highlight of his career.

“It’s a fantastic situation when you know that your product is on top of the Adelaide Convention Centre Plaza deck,” he said.

“You walk over these landmarks and you know under your feet is your product – it doesn’t get much more rewarding than that.”

Looking ahead, VELOSIT is also developing acid-resistant cementitious materials based on geopolymers, targeting applications where concrete is exposed to highly acidic environments, including sewage and biogas facilities.

The technology is currently being tested through projects in the Netherlands, with Jens identifying potential applications for the Australian market.

The development reflects the broader role of the Hychem and VELOSIT partnership, with technical feedback from the Australian market helping identify where existing formulations can be adapted and where new products may be required.

To learn more about VELOSIT and Hychem range of infrastructure solutions, click here.