CMA NEWS & ARTICLES
CMA News & Articles
December 10,
2020 382 382
In wind farms all over South Africa’s Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, CHRYSO Southern Africa is adding value to the precast concrete segments used to construct the 100 metre tall wind turbine towers.
The average concrete turbine tower comprises 18 precast segments, each with a height of between 18 to 20 metres and a diameter of between 600 mm and two metres. In the manufacture of these precast elements, the production speed and segment uniformity are essential. This demands high early strengths to ensure fast erection, while giving the towers an ability to withstand demanding fatigue loads. Wind turbines must also be able to perform in some of the country’s harshest working environments, making durability a key requirement for the concrete mixes used in precast units.
November 13,
2020 249 249
Coreslab, a leading South African precast-concrete specialist, is assisting South African municipalities devise innovative ways of delivering world-class water and sanitation infrastructure services.
By mid-2021, Coreslab will have assisted municipalities and their professional teams to deliver more than 140ML of water-storage capacity, despite the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown period on its projects. These include 30ML and 25ML reservoirs that are being built for the Water and Sanitation Department of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in the Springs area.
Tasked with planning and implementing water and sanitation operations on behalf of the metropolitan municipality, the department has embarked on a large bulk-water augmentation drive in the rapidly developing suburban area east of Johannesburg.
October 27,
2020 212 212
The M2 freeway, located in the south of Johannesburg’s CBD, is one of the city’s main motorways. As an important link between the N1 and N3 freeways, this roadway required some attention and rehabilitation.
October 22,
2020 181 181
What is reputedly South Africa largest privately owned bridge was constructed over the Berg River in 2017 at Val de Vie, a luxurious lifestyle housing estate near Paarl in the Western Cape. Spanning 70m, the bridge links the Val de Vie Estate with the R45 provincial road and has reduced the travel time to towns such as Stellenbosch and Somerset West.
A working monument to the practical and aesthetic attributes of hybrid precast and in-situ concrete bridge construction, it was designed by Daneel Strydom of Bigen Africa with sub-consultant assistance on the precast beam design by Pieter Louw and Associates.
October 15,
2020 211 211
Concrete remains one of the preferred building materials for the construction of grandstands for sports and recreational facilities in previously marginalised areas of Limpopo.
October 13,
2020 196 196
At the Sika Capital Markets Day 2020 held in Zurich recently, CEO Paul Schuler confirmed the strategic targets 2023. Under the motto: “Weathering the storm- emerging from the COVID-19 crisis as a stronger company,” members of Group Management and Sika experts explain how important trends such as innovation and digitalization, renovation and sustainability are opening up the opportunity for the company to gain further market share during the crisis.
September 17,
2020 43 43
The Infrastructure Specialist Group (ISG), which comprises Technicrete and Rocla has donated a 12 metre fully insulated containerised open plan office unit as well as paving to the Sifunindlela Primary School, based at Kabokweni in Mpumalanga Province. The office unit will be used by the school’s principal, Mr Ndhlovu and some of the school’s administration staff.
September 16,
2020 201 201
Preamble:
Mr. Rod Taylor, FirstBrick Consulting submitted a report raising concerns about the quality of concrete bricks and block being sold in the Eastern Cape.
- Photographs of the product were circulated, and mention was made about measurements taken, not complying to the South African National Standard.
- Mention was made about the weight of the product.
- According to the report 12 blocks were supplied and tested by Controlab, Mthatha. The product supplied to the testing facility differed in dimensions from those circulated in the afore mentioned photographs.
- It is mentioned in the report that all tested blocks but one, failed compressive strength testing.
It is reported that the use of these products is not isolated but increasing. Mr. Rod Taylor expressed his concern that the suppliers of these bricks and blocks also supply other sub-standard building material, like timber and roof sheeting, into the Eastern Cape market.
Grave concern is raised that structures are being build which is not sound and that fatalities in terms of structural collapse could be expected in the future.
According to the report contact has been made with the NHBRC. They are aware of the situation. No response has been received yet and Mr. Taylor is awaiting opportunity to schedule a meeting with them.
September 8,
2020 52 52
Whether it is a residential estate or a commercial park, style conformity plays an important role in the success of such developments. The choice of paving plays a role, not only for appearance purposes, but also for future maintenance planning. These were the key factors when the owner of a house in a small residential complex in Herbert Baker Street, Groenkloof, Pretoria, decided to demolish and revamp their home after 15 years.
September 2,
2020 204 204
Quality, more than ever before, drives decisions of customers, developers and property owners as they demand value for money, durability and the best service possible.
AfriSam, as a trusted manufacturer and supplier of construction materials, has put quality at the forefront of its technical solutions offering for the past 85 years. Quality policy guidelines underpin the leading construction materials company’s core values: People, Planet and Performance. These are the core principles on which we base a culture of customer satisfaction.