Holcim develops faster, more cost-effective building solutions

MANILA, Philippines — The administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte aims to upgrade the country’s extensive infrastructure network and spur economic growth in the countryside through his flagship project called Build, Build, Build — a series of infrastructure projects worth P8 trillion and aimed for completion by 2022.

To bolster the government’s efforts, building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. has embarked on a series of projects in an effort to increase its cement production capacity, from the current 10 million metric tons to 12 million metric tons by 2019.

The endeavor will improve Holcim’s ability to provide its most valuable material to where it is needed more. At the same time, the company is looking into creating a more positive impact beyond supplying cement to industry partners and consumers in face of this large-scale infrastructure endeavor by the government. The company aims to demonstrate to industry partners that innovative building materials — from structural to finishing applications — are crucial in complete projects in a faster and more cost-effective manner.

“We are every day committed to foster in improving building and construction in the Philippines. There’s a lot more beyond just building materials that Holcim is now providing through its services, training an accompaniment of our partners and customers in the construction industry with a clear goal to bring them more value, convenience and expertise from design to successful execution, be it a simple but important project, such as a dream house of a Filipino family or a massive building program on roads or infrastructure,” said Holcim Philippines head of marketing and innovation Paul Vu Huy Dat.

Giving Holcim Philippines the advantage in this endeavor is its ability to tap into the technical expertise from its parent company, LafargeHolcim Group. This, combined with the company’s ongoing commitment to acquiring better insight on its consumers’ needs, the company can proactively engage with key project specifiers right from the beginning.

 “By working hand in hand with our partners and customers at the very start, we gain a deeper understanding of their needs, allowing us to fully and jointly focus on value to support with tailored approaches, products and services that improve their execution of projects,” Vu Huy Dat said.

This strategy has allowed Holcim Philippines to develop an array of innovative construction solutions and services that are useful in all phases of construction — whether in road, infrastructure, residential and other construction projects. Dubbed PROSOLUTIONS, these construction solutions and services reflect the company’s commitment to help industry partners and consumers build better with certainty.

PROSOLUTIONS has already been offered in the road infrastructure segment, which is an important aspect of the Build Build Build program. So far, it has received positive response from industry partners working on the government’s road infrastructure projects.

One such solution already introduced is the roller-compacted concrete (RCC), which the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already set standards for last year. The product is seen to hasten the road construction process, particularly for secondary roads.

Another solution also introduced is SuperFast-Crete, which has been already used in the past two years to conduct road repairs along C5 and EDSA, two of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila. SuperFast-Crete is a fast-setting concrete solution that allows construction crews to finish road repairs rapidly, enabling them to open the road within 12 to 24 hours after work completion.

Holcim Philippines is also putting forward its soil stabilization technology for consideration in government projects. The said technology improves existing soil conditions in places not suited for road construction.

Anticipating the rollout of road infrastructure projects in rural areas, Holcim Philippines also began development of mobile laboratories last year to enable fast access to soil testing and to provide technical support to construction crews. The mobile laboratories can be easily deployed in project areas and are well equipped to conduct material testing of concrete, aggregates, soil and other as-built requirements, thereby enabling contractors to optimize requirements and save on costs. These also serve as a classroom-on-wheels for project workers that need training on best practices and latest techniques in the building industry. A new, dedicated technical laboratory in Davao will complement these laboratories this year.

These road solutions are among Holcim Philippines’ PROSOLUTIONS offerings. With the Build, Build, Build Program now underway, the company is beyond ready to support the government and its industry partners deliver additional value to their projects.