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1. The use of quality ready-mix concrete and doing concrete right the first time ensures that structures do not have to be rebuilt due to shoddy materials.
2. Concrete is the most used construction material globally.
Sarma
Robyn Grimsley( RG): Give us a little information about yourself and your background. Johan van Wyk( JvW): I studied civil engineering at the Central University of Technology( CUT) and, of course, advanced concrete technology at the then Concrete and Cement Institute( today The Concrete Institute). After obtaining my civil engineering diploma, I was a lecturer for 10 years at CUT, following which I moved to Lafarge, then WR Grace and BASF. In addition to being director of Sarma, I am currently also the chairperson of the Inland Branch of the Concrete Society.
RG: When did you join Sarma, and how did that come about? JvW: I joined Sarma in May 2013. Sarma had nearly closed shop before that, but the members decided that a dedicated person needed to be appointed as general manager of Sarma. This brought new focus to Sarma and, I’ m proud to say, the ready-mix industry.
RG: Tell us about Sarma and its role in the industry. JvW: Sarma represents all the reputable ready-mix companies, and is responsible for promoting the ready-mix industry and establishing ready-mix as the preferred construction material. In brief, Sarma’ s purpose is to set standards and guidelines with regard to environmental, safety, and quality issues.
First and foremost, we are for quality concrete, and we are there for our members to ensure that they do it right the first time. We assist plants with their health, safety and environmental concerns, as well as with their road transport and the quality of their product. To do this, we run two audits each year: an announced audit by an external auditor, and a possible unannounced audit, which we introduced to make sure that the audits are not simply window-dressing.
Sarma’ s mission is to represent industry interests, promote the use of ready-mix concrete, and act as a forum for our members. Our aims address what we see as the primary needs of the industry. We aim to advance industry technology through research and participation; to encourage the development of industry standards promoting the use of ready-mix concrete; to disseminate information on current and prospective uses of ready-mix concrete to our members; to interact with stakeholders and interested parties at all levels; and to promote ready-mix concrete as the construction material of choice.
We have also launched an insurance scheme for Sarma members where we insure trucks as well as the concrete against failure. This is a unique insurance for Sarma members only, where in the past insurance would only replace the concrete if failure did occur; we now insure the full structure on
the back of the audits and the good quality that our members give to the industry.
We were able to bring the premiums down quite substantially, specifically because Sarma members have stringent quality assurance methods in place. It’ s exactly the same with the truck insurance. Because of the road transport policies and specifications that we have in place and which Sarma members are audited on, that insurance is now much more affordable— typically, about 25 % of the premiums that were previously charged.
RG: You were recently promoted from general manager to director of Sarma. How will this change your duties and focus over the next year? JvW: I don’ t think there will be an immediate change in duties, but there will be even more focus on making quality ready-mix concrete the construction material of choice. We will focus on bringing additional concrete knowledge to the industry.
RG: What is the role of Sarma in South Africa’ s construction industry? JvW: Sarma has set itself the goal to grow the ready-mix industry through training, education, and increasing awareness of the quality of ready-mix concrete. The use of quality ready-mix concrete and doing concrete right the first time will ensure that structures will not have to be rebuilt due
34 _ QUARRY SA | March 2017