COMPANYWATCH
PROFILE OF A LEADING SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
90 Constructive Years Guide Solid Future for Afrisam
Celebrating its 90th year in 2024 , AfriSam ’ s expertise and capability in construction materials have created a solid foundation for the country ’ s building projects to be designed and executed with the future in mind .
As a national pioneer in the quest for durability in concrete , AfriSam has also become a leader in finding ways to reduce the carbon footprint of cement and concrete – while providing architects and contractors with science-based solutions for innovative structures . The company has been associated with some of the country ’ s most elegant and demanding buildings including the Leonardo in Sandton , for a period the tallest building in Africa , and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa ( MOCAA ) in Cape Town , repurposed from a 100-yearold grain silo .
Construction Materials Pioneer The company ’ s origin in 1934 was as Anglovaal Portland Cement Company , South Africa ’ s second cement manufacturer . It was the first player in this sector to diversify into other construction materials – moving into readymix concrete through acquiring the company Pioneer Concrete and into aggregate stone by purchasing Hippo Quarries . In 1937 it was renamed Anglo Alpha , and in 1996 it became Alpha Ltd .
By the time the country regained its place in the global economy after the first democratic elections , the company ’ s reputation was well established on the international stage – attracting the interest of the world ’ s biggest cement player , Holcim . It spent several years in the Holcim stable , where it showed its mettle . During this period , for instance , its Ulco cement factory in the Northern Cape was ranked as the third best performer in the Holcim group . After an historic Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment ( BBBEE ) transaction in 2008 , the AfriSam brand was launched .
Concrete Durability Around this time , concrete durability was also becoming a pressing theme in the construction sector , as contractors and clients looked for ways to enhance the strength and lifespan of structures . South Africa enthusiastically embraced this trend in international best practice , and AfriSam took a leading role in producing the materials to meet new durability specifications .
Over the past nine decades , AfriSam has created a solid foundation for the country ’ s construction industry
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