By Wahard Betha
Cement manufacturing giant LafargeHolcim Malawi has taken the market by storm with the launch of Instacrete Ready Mix Concrete, which is the first commercial ready mix concrete to be introduced on the Malawi market.
Lafarge CEO Albert Sigei said at the launching ceremony of the Ready Mix Concrete at the Company’s Central Region offices in Kanengo, Lilongwe, that the new product will simplify the building process for contractors making it faster, better and safer as compared to the man mixing process.
Sigei said; “Building solutions around the world have been evolving; and the same needs to happen in Malawi. As a country with one of the highest urbanization rates in the world, it is expected that the demand for infrastructure development will be high.”
“Building solutions that provide faster and higher quality materials for the development of that infrastructure are, therefore, critical at the current stage of our country’s development.”
Instacrete Ready Mix Concrete will be produced by InstaCrete Limited, a subsidiary of Lafarge.
Lafarge also launched a concrete laboratory that will support InstaCrete through provision of technical services by ensuring that the concrete mix designs are innovative and tailored for different building projects.
“This laboratory has the capability to develop concrete mix designs, test aggregates and provide technical expertise for major concrete structural work. The laboratory is open to all customers that may wish to use these services,” he said.
Lafarge’s Head of Marketing and New Solutions ChikondiNg’ombe, urged building contractors to start using Instacrete Ready Mix Concrete saying it is far much better than the man mix process which on some occasions has resulted in the collapse of the structures due to poor mixing.
“It is difficult to control quality using the man mixing process as some mixer’s overdose on some materials,” she said.
Lafarge has only introduced the new product in Central Region but Ng’ombe said the Company has planned to introduce the Concrete in Northern and Southern Regions since there is rising demand for the product which shows that the market is ready for it.
“We have a readily available market for the product and we have already started supplying to some major Lilongwe construction works including Area 18 interchange,” said Ng’ombe.
Formerly Portland Cement Company, LafargeHolcim Malawi has been a leading building solutions provider in Malawi for over 60 years providing innovative building solutions serving masons, builders, architects and engineers.
Lafarge’s cement brands include Supaset (CEMII 42.5R), Duracrete (CEMII 32.5N), Kumanga (MC 22.5X), and Khoma (MC5).
The Company also produces SupaLime (hydrated lime) and, according to Ng’ombe, other innovative products are in the pipeline.
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