Construction World October 2015

READYMIX

BEST YEAR EVER Expect more from the readymix industry in future as years of hard work and planning culminate in the professionalisation of the industry and the widespread adoption of certified readymix as the construction material of choice by the country’s most influential construction bodies.

“This is good news for the local construction industry as it ensures our construction projects have world-class concrete. It also ensures that acceptable minimum standards are main- tained that will put an end to building collapses and ramshackle houses as a result of inferior products being used,” says Sarma president, Deon Fourie. Speaking at the association’s annual general meeting recently, he said that these develop- ments mark a watershed as the construction industry embraces necessary quality over price. Sarma certified members cannot cut corners and had sometimes been undercut by non-compliant readymix suppliers. This not only jeopardised the integrity of the structure but also

The year 2015 will go down as the most ground breaking year since the establishment of the Southern Africa

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Readymix Association (Sarma) more than a decade ago, as industry organisations repre- senting engineers, contractors and building professionals accept Sarma certification as the criteria for all readymix supplied to their members’ construction sites. Simultaneously, the country’s main contracting firms, as well as parastatal organ- isations including the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and other Government entities have also specified that only Sarma certified readymix concrete may be used on their sites. Growing support “This had the knock-on effect of attracting a growing number of non-member readymix suppliers who have begun working tirelessly to meet membership requirements and become part of the association. As a result membership has grown in leaps and bounds with growth of 11% in accreditedmember numbers during 2015.

Sarma Chairman, Deon Fourie.

“Under his leadership the association is also throwing its weight behind the setting up and adoption of new modern-day standards for readymix, as well as pushing for higher stan- dards of testing from the country’s laboratories when it comes to dealing with concrete. In addition, there are also moves afoot to start a cleanup squad to remove concrete spills from our roadways, as well as new training initiatives to improve the skills of concrete workers and professionals,” Fourie summarised.

led to unfair competition. Ongoing initiative

“Thanks to the efforts of general manager, Johan van Wyk’s role-players across the country and increasing amount of organisations are seeing the benefits of using only accredited readymix and he is slowly winning the fight to profession- alise readymix concrete in South Africa.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2015