Higgins Asphalt & Bitumen Surfacing

Higgins has been manufacturing its own asphalt since the '70s and each Higgins plant utilises the latest technology to blend and mix aggregate, bitumen, modifiers, polymers, fillers, and pelletised fibre. As a leading supplier of bulk bitumen, Higgins also operates its own bitumen modification plant.

Higgins covers the complete spectrum of asphalt mixes – from hard-wearing rut resistant mixes like SMA (stone mastic asphalt) to open mixes designed for lower noise and better water dispersion.

Higgins operates nine permanent and one mobile production plant throughout the North and upper South Island.  Every plant is operated to ISO9001 and the Roading New Zealand-governed Asphalt Plant Accreditation Scheme (APAS). Higgins undertakes in-house quality control through its IANZ-registered laboratories, which design all formulas and test samples to ensure they meet quality and performance specification.

Higgins is also among the leaders in recycling of existing asphalt surfaces for further roading use as part of its Sustainability Program.

At Awatoto in Napier, Higgins' specialist polymer modification plant converts bitumen into hot and emulsified products, ranging from general purpose emulsified bitumen to specialised spray seal, slurry seal systems, crack seal and colour coatings.

Hot polymer modified bitumen is supplied in a number of grades of concentration and has a range of synthetic materials cross linked and integrated to form a permanently modified binder, available for hot spray seals or asphaltic manufacture.  The modification process creates a longer binder life, higher resilient toughness, and higher temperature softening points.