June 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
16
marketplace
Nonkqubela Mazwai, “The solutions we
propose contribute to constructing cities
that can provide everyone with decent
housing, cities that are more compact,
cities that are more durable, cities that
are better connected, and let us not
forget – cities that are more beautiful,”
concludes Mazwai.
The company is no longer only a
producer of materials but also a supplier
of solutions, located close to its markets
and customers. “Building better cities
emphasises our position as a solution
provider with innovative products, the
expertise and the unparalleled technical
support of the Group,”says Lafarge South
Africa’s Country CEO, Thierry Legrand.
“By contributing towards building better
cities, wewill sustain growth and improve
the lives of people. It gives bothmeaning
and clarity to our actions.”
Meeting the challenges of
urbanisation
Urbanisation is one of the biggest chal-
lenges of the 21
st
century. In the coming
decades, cities will change substantially
as population growth is anticipated to
occurmostly in urban areas. By 2050, 70%
of the world’s population will be living in
towns and cities, comparedwith just over
50% today, resulting in two billion more
city-dwellers.
To cope with this burgeoning urban
landscape, development at an unprec-
edented scale will be a major challenge
for the whole construction industry,
including in South Africa where the
urbanisation trend has been accelerated.
More and more of our people are migrat-
ing to towns and cities, requiring housing,
hospitals, schools and offices, together with
the associated infrastructure to connect and
service cities, such as roads, airports, water
and power utilities.
As a world leader in building materials,
the Lafarge Group, together with its partners,
will be a major contributor to the creation of
enhanced urban environments.
Lafarge South Africa is in a position to
provide solutions for more housing in cities,
more compact cities, more durable cities, bet-
ter connected cities, andmore beautiful cities.
A strong presence in all its construction
related business lines: cement, aggre-
gates, readymix and plasterboard will
accelerate this.
This same expertise developed for cities,
will also continue to improve development of
South Africa’s rural towns and villages.
Building better cities
The Happy Valley housing development in
Cape Town is a typical example of South
Africa’s drive to provide
more housing in
cities
. The structural frames for 1200 afford-
able houses are being built using Lafarge
readymix concrete, while the remainder
of the structure is plastered brick. Lafarge
South Africa’s readymix team provided
readymix mortar and plaster as the highly
successful quality solution.
To help create
more beautiful cities
,
Lafarge South Africa works closely with
architects, specifiers, contractors and all
stakeholders in the construction chain.
Lafarge Agilia™ Vertical readymix con-
crete recently provided the aesthetic and
architectural solution for the façade of the
stunning Podium landmark building in
Menlyn, Pretoria.
More durable cities
require more
demanding criteria for construction involv-
ing innovative‘green’materials that ensure
strength and lowermaintenance, while tak-
ing full account of environmental concerns
over the structure’s life cycle.
Lafarge South Africa supplied various
grades of innovative lower carbon footprint
readymix concretes for the construction of
CapeTown’s Green Point Stadium, a project
for posterity.
With the dramatic escalation in urbani-
sation, efficient stormwater management
is an increasing challenge to reduce the
risk of flash flooding and sustain natural
water cycles.
Lafarge recently introduced the highly
acclaimed Hydromedia™, a new fast
draining concrete pavement solution
in South Africa. This innovative product
provides rapid storm water removal
from streets, parking surfaces, driveways
and walkways.
Innovation at the heart of the
business
Innovation is at the heart of the Lafarge
strategy and the Group dedicates more
than €100-million to building material
and methods research and development
every year. A unique research and
development centre in Lyon, France em-
ploys over 250 employees. In South Africa,
the highly respected Quality Department
of Southern Africa, is a SANAS accredited
laboratory with all the knowledge and ex-
pertise to support innovativenewsolutions
for our customers.
A world leader in building materials
and a top-ranking player in the cement,
aggregates and concrete industries, La-
farge contributes to the construction of
cities around theworld. Its innovative solu-
tions provide cities with
more housing
and
making them
more compact, more durable,
more beautiful
and
better connected
.
“Our commitment to
Building better cit-
ies
defines our clear sense of purpose,”adds
Legrand. “Our brand repositioning builds
on the company’s established reputation:
it represents a pledge to customers that
Lafarge South Africa can be relied on to
help provide innovative solutions for the
diverse challenges that are continually
being presented by construction.”
●
In South Africa, the com-
pany manufactures and
supplies cement, aggre-
gates, readymixedconcrete,
gypsum plasterboard and
interior building fittings.
Since 2010, the Lafarge
Group has been part of the
Dow Jones Sustainability
World Index, thefirst global
sustainability benchmark,
in recognition of its sustain-
able development actions.
With the world’s leading
buildingmaterials research
facility, Lafarge places in-
novation at the heart of
its priorities, working for
sustainable construction
and architectural creativity.
Lafarge South Africa’s Country CEO, Thierry Legrand.
Lafarge Industries and Lafarge Mining Chairman,
Nonkqubela Mazwai.
