AfriSam has evolved from being a company that traditionally
supplies materials and services to one that is able to provide
customers with solutions to their specific constructionmaterial
requirements. This transition is one of the primary outcomes
of the company’s Customer Value Management initiative
introduced to unlock value for AfriSam customers in new and
innovative ways.
cover story
e believe we
can turn this
into a competi-
tive advantage,
because we are
the best vertically
integrated con-
struction materials
supplier in the ce-
mentitious materials
industry, notably in the major urban growth
nodes,” Grant Neser, AfriSam sales and mar-
keting executive, says. “Today’s customers
are looking for more than just products and
services – theywant solutions to construction
project challenges that include delivering
quality structures and buildings as quickly
and effeciently as possible.
“Although construction techniques and
methodologies have changed over the
years, the recent focus on sustainability has
introduced a new dimension to changes
impacting this industry. In the construc-
tion world sustainability has many facets,
including the sustainability of construction
materials utilised – notably the ability to
re-use and recycle materials. It also includes
the effective use of resources such as power
andwater during the lifetime of the building,
typically for the heating, cooling and lighting
of the building. A major challenge that has
remained unchanged however is the need
to construct cost effective buildings and
structures that generate a good return on
investment for the owner.
“Clearly, therefore, the three main drivers
in today’s construction industry are cost effec-
tiveness, without compromising on quality,
speed and sustainability.”
Neser says these drivers have led to
innovative advancements in construction
materials andmethodologies in recent years.
For example, with the growing demand for
lighter weight materials that offer improved
insulation, synthetic composite cladding
systems have emerged as a viable alternative
to brick and mortar.
“Lightweight cladding is about to take off
in this country,” he predicts. “South Africa’s
traditional status of being brick and block
dependent is coming under pressure as the
cost of these alternative materials comes
down. This cladding is quick to erect and
provides better thermodynamic qualities.”
Other recent developments include ‘tilt
up’ construction, in which concrete ele-
ments such as columns, walls and structural
supports are formed horizontally. Once the
concrete has cured, the elements are ‘tilted’
to a vertical position and fixed into place.
This method allows large precast units to
be built to exacting standards, with very
precise finishes and effects, far quicker than
traditional methods.
A growing demand for hi-tech flooring
that is extremely smooth and precisely level
for warehouse and other industrial flooring
is also impacting the concrete industry.
Traditionally, this concrete flooring involved
joints typically at 4 m by 4 m centres to al-
low for shrinkage during the curing process,
but recent developments include steel fibre
reinforced concrete, containing additives that
provide for shrinkage compensation. This
allows much bigger panels to be cast, virtu-
ally eliminating the need for joints. Another
benefit of this flooring alternative is that it
requires far lessmaintenance over its lifetime
than the traditional flooring solution.
AfriSam is working closely with Concrete
Laser Flooring (CLF), a local company that has
secured an international agency agreement
with the developers of this type of flooring
technology. Neser says a recent trial inwhich
a new ‘jointless’ concrete floor was laid in
6 – 2 800m
2
panels at a 18 000m
2
warehouse
in Johannesburg using CLF’s Prime Compos-
ite product proved very successful.
On major construction projects AfriSam
is able to offer a full solution in the form of
cement and aggregate and concrete. AfriSam
has also has added the capability to erect
on-site batch plants if the customer prefers.
“We believe we offer customers added
security of supply, as all the materials are
from a single supplier,” says Neser. “Coupled
with our warranties and track record, these
customers are assured that they are manag-
ing the risk of material supply appropriately.
We also run an efficient business that allows
us to be cost competitive. In addition, we are
able to intimately involve ourselves in the
AfriSam: construction materials
customers’ specific concrete requirements
anddesign solutions accordingly. An example
of this is the project to upgrade Transnet’s
City Deep container terminal, where we are
using a very high fly ash concrete developed
in conjunction with the contractor.”
AfriSam has set the pace as the leader in
the production of low clinker cements and
concrete. Through ongoing research, both
at its own laboratories andwith partners, the
company has been able tomodify its cement
chemistry and use carefully selected admix-
tures to produce cements and concretes
with cement clinker contents as low as 25%.
Industrial by-products, such as pulverised
fly ash from power generation and slags
from the metallurgical industry, are blended
with AfriSammilled clinker to produce these
low clinker Advanced Composite Cements,
characterised by very low carbon footprints.
Research is ongoing to produce cement with
an ever lower carbon footprint.
“We have the largest installed readymix
concrete capacity in Gauteng, allowing for
very fast track projects,” Neser says. “We can
deal with concrete pours of 120 to150m
3
per
hour comfortably and, on several occasions
we have poured over 2 000 m
3
in a 24 hour
period. In the Sandton/Midrand/Centurion
corridor, our installed capacity allows us to
pour 4 000 m
3
in a day. On certain projects,
we have been the only company capable of
accomplishing these big pours.
“We are prepared to augment our fixed
commercial capacity with mobile capacity,
should the need arise and we go to great
lengths to interact with our customers in
order to understand what it is they want to
accomplish,”Neser concludes.
●
December 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
6
