The AfriSam Centre for Product Excellence (CPE) supports the continuous improvement of the company’s range of technology and offerings in cement and construction materials and also offers a service to customers and the broader construction sector.

“Our product development team works closely with customers to develop and test products to suit their specific application requirements,” says CPE manager Mike McDonald. “We also conduct ongoing training for customers and the industry at large, empowering companies with skills for quality construction.”

“Skills development remains a critical aspect of contractors’ and concrete manufacturers’ competitiveness, and we have been able to continue our training programmes despite the Covid-19 pandemic,” he says. “In fact, the rapid uptake of digital communication platforms since the first lockdown has opened new opportunities for our training events.”

He highlights that the AfriSam CPE not only reaches a wide audience with its online training, but has optimised the functionality for more interactive learning as well as more effective evaluation of learners’ performance during and after training.

These advances have not replaced the physical, or face-to-face, training though, as this remains preferable for many applications, including smaller companies who don’t have the digital infrastructure to support virtual learning. The company is able to visit sites and uses its own facilities for in-person training.

A focus of its training is to demonstrate how the complexities of cement and concrete can be best managed to achieve quality and durable structures, thereby lowering risk and promoting business sustainability. This includes supporting small and emerging businesses with the basics of mortar, plaster and concrete production, as well as with business skills and management training.

The centre also supports customers in the drive towards a low carbon future and McDonald emphasises the company’s progress in becoming a leading producer of low carbon cement and concrete. While ordinary Portland cement generates about a tonne of carbon dioxide per tonne of cement, AfriSam affirms that it has standard products available that generate only half that amount of emissions per tonne.

Equipped with its own laboratories, the centre acts as an independent testing agency for customers and other parties. The service is primarily for checking internal quality but is also used by smaller ready-mix companies who do not have access to in-house scientifically accredited facilities.