Runway rubber removal is a familiar task for most airports and airport contractors, but restoring surface friction is what truly matters for aircraft safety. At APEX, we’re committed to building equipment and operating parameters that equip teams to achieve both.

Every aircraft landing leaves behind rubber that slowly builds up. Over time, this smooths out the surface, reducing the friction needed for safe braking and directional control. While some in the past have wrongly judged rubber removal results by the appearance of the runway, it’s the friction restoration that matters. That’s the end goal — proper friction results, not white concrete with no rubber coloration. If the goal is to have white concrete afterwards and remove all coloration, you will inevitably remove some of the concrete itself, which should never happen.

In recent field work, we’ve been using our latest 22-inch self-rotated spray bar as one solution for friction restoration. We’ve been encouraged by what we’ve seen so far, especially when restoring texture and bite without scarring or negatively impacting the surface.

This demo snapshot shows the surface after a single pass. The restored surface profile is not easy to see, but when you friction test, it’s clear the grip is back and within an ideal range.

The self-rotated spray bar is one of the two tools APEX offers for runway friction restoration. Stay tuned for upcoming data on our newest hydraulically rotated bar for pavement cleaning, curing compound removal, and friction restoration. Have a great day, and let us know how we can assist you in doing what you do best.