AS controversy rages on over the cement standard, especially grade of
cement to be used in the country, manufacturers of UNICEM brands cement
have raised fears that consumers may pay more, if 52.5 grades is adopted
by producers.
The Managing Director of Unicem, Mr. Olivier Lenoir disclosed that producing at that quality would be expensive and would be waste of resources when construction companies could use 42.5 percent for their mix.
Lenoir who stated this during the launching
of Unicem’s maiden Health and Safety month programme held at the
Company’s factory in Mfamose, said that its plant can produce any type
of cement and much better quality.
According to him, their competitors were just using cement grade as a business strategy to get more customers to patronize their products, adding that it does not have any significance to the construction companies.
He said there are lots of false information in the media about the good quality of cement and “it does not mean whether it is 42 or 32.5 percent grade. “It does depend on what you want to do. This plant is very modern. We have two mills. We can produce a new quality; we can offer any type of cement much better than the three general ones depending on the request of the customer.
“We are producing 90 percent of 42.5 percent grade because our customers need 42.5 percent and when it is necessary we produce 42.5 percent which we are delivering in bulk.
“We don’t put it in bags. We sell in bulk. That is because the target market is the construction companies that need them. 32.5 is very good cement. We have a 32.5R, which means it is rapid. That is what the block makers need because they can move their blocks quickly.
“Our competitors have different strategies. That is fine but it does not mean that our product is not good product. It is not only in Nigeria. Most other countries use 32.5 and it depends on what you do with the concrete. You can have very good cement but if properly mix you will have a good concrete”.
He said if 52.5 percent grade is sustained, the consumers will bear the brunt and this will not be good for the general public.
Regarding the maiden safety month, Olivier, said the management has decided to increase the one week programme to a month because of lots of activities which could not be covered within a week adding that the objectives still remained the same.
“We want to have a healthy work force and also opportunity for the people to have more activities. Two years ago we scored below 40 percent and last year we have shifted close to 74 percent and a very good average score is 85 percent reaching 85 percent is our objective.
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The Managing Director of Unicem, Mr. Olivier Lenoir disclosed that producing at that quality would be expensive and would be waste of resources when construction companies could use 42.5 percent for their mix.
According to him, their competitors were just using cement grade as a business strategy to get more customers to patronize their products, adding that it does not have any significance to the construction companies.
He said there are lots of false information in the media about the good quality of cement and “it does not mean whether it is 42 or 32.5 percent grade. “It does depend on what you want to do. This plant is very modern. We have two mills. We can produce a new quality; we can offer any type of cement much better than the three general ones depending on the request of the customer.
“We are producing 90 percent of 42.5 percent grade because our customers need 42.5 percent and when it is necessary we produce 42.5 percent which we are delivering in bulk.
“We don’t put it in bags. We sell in bulk. That is because the target market is the construction companies that need them. 32.5 is very good cement. We have a 32.5R, which means it is rapid. That is what the block makers need because they can move their blocks quickly.
“Our competitors have different strategies. That is fine but it does not mean that our product is not good product. It is not only in Nigeria. Most other countries use 32.5 and it depends on what you do with the concrete. You can have very good cement but if properly mix you will have a good concrete”.
He said if 52.5 percent grade is sustained, the consumers will bear the brunt and this will not be good for the general public.
Regarding the maiden safety month, Olivier, said the management has decided to increase the one week programme to a month because of lots of activities which could not be covered within a week adding that the objectives still remained the same.
“We want to have a healthy work force and also opportunity for the people to have more activities. Two years ago we scored below 40 percent and last year we have shifted close to 74 percent and a very good average score is 85 percent reaching 85 percent is our objective.
Copyright PUNCH
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