Sustainable building materials producer and distributor Saint-Gobain Africa has officially launched its new fibre cement manufacturing plant, in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

The company says the new plant represents an investment of more than R500-million into South Africa’s economy and reinforces Saint-Gobain’s long-term commitment to local manufacturing, job creation and sustainable industrial growth.

The new plant will produce fibre cement – a durable composite building material valued for its strength, as well as its fire- and moisture-resistance.

The investment is also expected to create numerous direct and indirect job opportunities, while strengthening local supplier development and skills transfer.

In a media release, Saint-Gobain Africa explains that the investment forms part of the company’s long-term commitment to Africa and aligns with the company’s global purpose – Making the World a Better Home – which extends beyond products to supporting sustainable growth, industrial development and social progress.

During the opening on January 27, Saint-Gobain Africa CEO Aymeric d’Ydewalle expressed that the facility represented an important investment designed to strengthen local manufacturing capacity, build supply chains and support the growth of the local construction sector.

He described the plant as a “world class industrial investment” built on Saint-Gobain’s global expertise, drawing on years of fibre cement manufacturing experience across multiple regions of the world.

“This [has] enabled us to design and implement a plant that meets the highest international standards in quality, safety, performance and sustainability,” said d’Ydewalle.

He explained that fibre cement played a key role in modern construction, offering durability, performance, fire resistance and design flexibility, all essential qualities for housing, infrastructure and commercial buildings.

By producing the fibre cement locally, d’Ydewalle said the company was able to improve availability and reliability for the company’s customers.

“This factory enables us to bring the right solutions at the right time for the right market. But beyond the solutions, this factory significantly strengthens our overall offer in South Africa.”

D’Ydewalle said the plant allowed the company to deliver integrated construction solutions across residential housing, non-residential buildings and infrastructure projects.

Additionally, d’Ydewalle emphasised the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in this project, noting support from the government authorities, local institutions and industry partners.

“These ecosystem partnerships are essential to unlock sustainable growth, and today's achievement is a clear demonstration of what we can build together. This factory is also a very tangible example of our regional commitment – Make it in Africa to Build Africa (Maba).”

Saint-Gobain Africa, in the media release, said the Ekurhuleni plant brings the company’s Maba commitment to life, demonstrating its focus on local production alongside skills development, community empowerment and the strengthening of regional value chains.

D’Ydewalle said the company would continue to invest in South Africa, manufacture locally and build strong partnerships with its entire ecosystem.

“This factory is not the end of a journey, it is the foundation for the next phase of growth – a growth that is sustainable, a growth that is inclusive and a growth that is deeply rooted in South Africa's development,” he said.

In the release, Saint-Gobain Africa noted that the opening of the Ekurhuleni plant marks a significant milestone in the company’s long-term presence in South Africa.

As the company continues to invest in local manufacturing, innovation and skills development, it says that it remains focused on building resilient industries, supporting economic growth and contributing meaningfully to the country’s industrial future.

“The opening of this factory is not an end point. Of course, it is a signal. It is a signal of confidence in South Africa, a signal of confidence in Africa, and a signal of Saint-Gobain's determination to continue investing, building and growing in this region,” added Saint-Gobain CEO for Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Saint-Gobain France Thierry Bernard.