Durable Floor Solution for Demanding Conditions in Science Centre Heureka’s Maintenance Areas

Picture 1. Heureka’s metal workshop and loading dock usage requires a durable floor.
In spring 2024, Finland’s most famous science centre identified a need for a floor solution in maintenance areas that would withstand wear caused by continuous heavy use. A bio-based TKR quartz sand coating was selected as the coating material.
Heureka’s Challenging Initial Situation Required a Robust Solution
The usage rate of Heureka’s maintenance areas places exceptionally high demands on floors.
The metal workshop’s 100 m² and loading dock’s 160 m² floors are subjected to heavy loading daily: the space accommodates massive metalworking machines, portable equipment, forklifts, and personnel lifts. Traditional paint surfaces had not previously withstood long periods of such wear, requiring repeated floor repairs.
At the beginning of 2024, Heureka began seeking a more durable solution to the situation in collaboration with a contractor. The goal was to find a coating that would excellently withstand tensile strength under heavy machinery and provide a safe and long-lasting platform in a demanding environment.
After careful consideration, a bio-based TKR coating was selected as the solution, reinforced with a special TKR-quartz sand mixture. The combination offers excellent wear resistance precisely in conditions where ordinary paint surfaces fail quickly.
Picture 2. Before the project, area floors were continuously repaired due to wear caused by heavy machinery.
Professional Implementation as a Smooth and Fast Process
The coating work was implemented in spring 2024 in two phases, which enabled moving heavy equipment to the other side of the maintenance area as work progressed. The two-part approach minimized disruptions to Heureka’s daily operations.
The coating work began by carefully preparing the surface. The old floor surface was completely ground off with a grinding machine down to the concrete surface. The surface was then thoroughly cleaned by vacuuming and finally with acetone to remove remaining dust.
Next, a TKR-quartz sand mixture was prepared and spread evenly with a toothed spreader across the entire floor surface as a 3 mm thick layer. Special attention was paid to safety.
A separate roughening with quartz sand was done in front of the loading dock entrance, which prevents slipping even in wet and snowy conditions. A light gray shade (47) was chosen for the coating, which stylishly suits the spaces’ appearance.
Processing both floor areas took just over a week total, after which the new coating was allowed to cure for another week before moving heavy equipment back into place.
Picture 3. The end result: a stylish, safe, and durable floor coating.
No Wear Marks After More than a Year
Heureka’s property manager Harri Liljelund expresses his satisfaction with the durable and functional floor coating, which has perfectly met the science centre’s demanding needs.
“The coating has now been in heavy use for over a year and appears to withstand as well as promised. During the year, we have not observed the coating cracking or becoming damaged when we use it under normal work stress.”
Overall, the project was also a success from the client’s perspective.
“The project was completed according to schedule. From the client’s perspective, we have therefore received value for our investment, and the goal was that the coating wouldn’t need renewal every few years,” Liljelund states.