MEA June 2017

12 MEA MARKETS / JUNE 2017 , PPC Ltd is a leading supplier of cement and related products in southern Africa. Their passion for what they do is built on 125 years in the industry: building homes, roads, buildings and infrastructure that connects people, business, communities and countries. We interviewed the company’s SiobhanMcCarthy to learnmore about their client base and the impact they are having on Africa today. Thinking Global, Acting Local The PPC group has nine integrated cement factories in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Rwanda. In 2016, they commissioned a fifth milling depot, located in Harare, Zimbabwe, bringing their current capacity to around nine million tons of cement products each year. As part of their strategy and long- term vision, they are expanding operations in South Africa and extending their footprint into the DRC and Ethiopia. They’re excited about the potential of these projects and the impact they will have on growth and development across the continent. The company’s Siobhan McCarthy begins by providing further important introductory details. “In addition to manufacturing cement, PPC’s materials business provides ready-mixed concrete, high-grade lime products, aggregates and fly ash. This division, which comprises Safika Cement, Pronto Readymix (including Ulula Ash) and the recently acquired 3Q Mahuma Concrete, forms part of the company’s channel management strategy for Southern Africa. As a result of these acquisitions, PPC’s footprint has grown to include 26 readymix batching plants across South Africa and Mozambique. “We produce aggregates in South Africa and Botswana, with our Mooiplaas aggregates quarry in Gauteng having the largest aggregate production capacity in South Africa. PPC Lime, one of the largest lime producers in the southern hemisphere, produces metallurgical-grade lime, burnt dolomite and limestone. “Our work is about far more than cement and related product production however. We see ourselves as key partners to a variety of industries – from infrastructure and development, to housing, roads and mining, among others. Pivotal to these partnerships is our focus on quality, which ensures we leave a legacy impact well after a project is completed.” Strategic vision The company’s history is closely linked to the growth and development of southern Africa and they have produced cement for many of the region’s most famous landmarks and construction projects, more of which Siobhan goes on to reveal. “With our strategic vision to be a world-class supplier of materials and solutions into the basic services sector, the business is positioned as a critical enabler and participant in the building and construction ecosystem. “Our focus on and investment in technical expertise, has seen us grow a team of industry and sector specialists, from architects to engineers. Many of these team members work directly with our customers on projects. The approach we take speaks to our larger brand promise of ‘strength beyond the bag’, as well as our commitment to deliver quality in all that we do. “We also believe that any user of any of our products is defined as a customer, that is someone whom we have a vested interest in. As such, we serve a very diverse base: from large scale developers and construction companies, to DIY husbands and handymen at home, all the way through to major retailers of building materials and mines.” Client service insights Because they partner with clients from the outset, PPC Ltd can access both their knowledge and technical expertise. These are invaluable Siobhan tells us, before developing this point in her own words. 1702ME12 “At a very practical level for example, this means that a large- scale developer or contractor can work with a member of our architect and technical support team to scope a project, before they take it to the market to tender. “This can be exceptionally helpful from a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) perspective, ensuring that the project is costed effectively and accurately from the beginning. In addition, it is also important to ensure that the design of a project enhances its environmental characteristics and that the application of concrete is optimised, to ensure the long- term sustainability of the building concerned. “Also, our solutions-driven approach is well-known in the market. We spend a lot of time assisting customers with quality testing and/or determining the right specifications for their cement mix upfront, through world-class laboratory facility at PPC Jupiter in Johannesburg. This again speaks volumes about our undoubted commitment to quality.” A commitment to quality PPC Ltd does their best to actively live out their promise of ‘partnership’: which means