SA Affordable Housing July - August 2019 // Issue: 77 | Page 9

EVENTS
Sod-turning ceremony kicks
off Corobrik’s new facility
Corobrik’s new R801-million factory in Driefontein, Carletonville,
Gauteng, expects to see the first bricks exit its kilns in early 2020.
By Benjamin Brits | Photos by SA Affordable Housing
Digging in are, from left: Lerato Mokgotsi and Rehab Mathobela, recently elected Corobrik directors; Peter du Trevou, Corobrik
chairman; and Bryan Soldaat, director: Resources Based Industries for the Department of Trade and Industry.
C
orobrik is making steady progress in the construction
of its new factory, which will be the largest and most
environmentally-friendly brick factory in Africa.
Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony of the new
factory, chief executive of Corobrik Dirk Meyer welcomed
all guests and said, “Corobrik is a proudly South African
company and from humble beginnings more than 100 years
ago, the company has grown into one of South Africa’s
instantly-recognisable brands. As a supplier of quality
building materials, Corobrik was born in South Africa, has
grown in South Africa, and is world-class in every way.”
Corobrik is confident in South Africa and believes that its
mission is to build a better South Africa. Its products are
used all over the country and provide quality, durable and
safe shelter for the people of the country.
“We are committed to South Africa and believe that it is
just a matter of time before the construction sector
improves. The construction industry and the associated
brick industry has traditionally been – and still is, cyclical.
Corobrik has always invested strategically at the bottom of
the cycle to be better prepared to reap the rewards of an
upturn,” said Meyer.
www.saaffordablehousing.co.za
Meyer continued, “We are investing in this state-of-the-art
facility to ensure the relevance and sustainability of
Corobrik for another 100 years. The technology to be
employed at the new factory is among the best used around
the world.”
The new factory will produce 100 million face bricks a
year at very competitive costs and these bricks will build
more than 7 000 houses a year, that, as a consequence of
the multiplying effect, creates a multitude of employment
opportunities down the line. In addition, Corobrik strives to
consume minimal natural resources and maximise the
product of the resources. The factory will be equipped with
two gas-powered dryers and kilns that will minimise the
factory’s carbon footprint.
The factory roof will be covered with photovoltaic (PV)
cells that produce electricity in excess of 1.1 million
kilowatt-hours per annum, which feeds directly into the
factory. The power generated from the PV system will
produce about 15% of the factory’s annual power
consumption.
The whole factory site has been profiled to collect any
run-off rainwater to be stored accordingly to what is
JULY - AUGUST 2019
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