Cement & Concrete SA (CCSA) was launched on 1 March this year following the amalgamation of The Concrete Institute (TCI), Concrete Society of Southern Africa (CSSA), and Association of Cementitious Materials Suppliers (ACMP). Here Hanlie Turner, Business Development Manager of CCSA, outlines the operations and future plans of the new organisation for Construction World.
Where is Cement & Concrete SA (CSSA) head office?
Cement & Concrete SA’s offices are centrally located in Midrand, Gauteng, in the same offices previously occupied by TCI.
How many branches with their own committees will operate within the CCSA concept? And where?
There are currently three active branches: Inland, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. These branch committees will ensure that CCSA has concrete ambassadors in various regions. Committee members are all volunteers and will be responsible for arranging area specific events such a technical meetings site visits. It is also convenient for the regional branches to interact with the tertiary organisations in their respective areas.
What has been market feedback on the creation of the new body so far?
Reaction has been very positive as CCSA is now the one-stop shop for all things cement & concrete, removing confusion in the industry as to which body to approach for the various services.
CCSA has been established following the amalgamation of The Concrete Institute (TCI), Concrete Society of Southern Africa (CSSA), and Association of Cementitious Materials Suppliers (ACMP). Can you briefly tell us what the principal role of the three bodies were, and when they were established?
TCI, and its forerunners (Concrete Association of South Africa, The Concrete Association, The Portland Cement Institute, The Cement and Concrete Institute) have been in existence since 1938. It was initially established to promote the use of Portland cement and concrete by disseminating information through a centralised library and offering independent laboratory testing, training and advisory services.
In 1969, the Concrete Society of Southern Africa was founded out of the Prestressed Development Group which had been in existence sine 1952. CSSA was established as an interest group based on a membership where exchange of information relating to development in concrete technology was paramount. This body actively arranged events and created opportunities to promote excellence in concrete.
In 2003, ACMP was formed to guard the interests of producers of SABS-approved cementitious products in South Africa. ACMP evolved from the old South African Cement Producers’ Association (SACPA), to deal at industry level with production issues related to, for example, Health and Safety, Minerals, Mining and Energy, Environmental Affairs, Risk Management, as well as Transport and Logistics.
Does the amalgamation give the cement and concrete industry a far stronger and more united voice the industry has had until now?
The different stakeholders have identified the need for less fragmentation of the services to the industry, ultimately to reduce duplication of services, to close identified gaps, and to eliminate confusion for the users of cement and concrete. At a time where many conflicting and ambiguous messages are shared readily on various platforms, and with the proliferation of substandard products and services, the need for authoritative engagement with all stakeholders has become critical. This can only be achieved from an official, unified platform as we now have with Cement & Concrete SA.
What is CCSA’s stance on issues such as cement imports?
CSSA will continue engagement with ITAC, DTIC, parliamentary portfolio committee chairs and members through the Industry spokesman: CEO of the Cement & Concrete SA, Bryan Perrie. Advocacy for both cement and concrete matters will be high on the agenda for CCSA.
Will the new issue of Fulton’s Concrete Technology be launched as a CCSA publication in future, and when is the latest issue scheduled to be available?
Indeed, all the valued services of the three bodies have been retained and will continue under the Cement & Concrete SA banner. The editorial committee, led by emeritus-professor Mark Alexander, is in the final throes of preparing the 10th edition of the authoritative handbook which will be published soon.
What are the plans for other publications?
CSSA will continue to make technical leaflets and publications available and will take guidance from the technical committee on possible new titles. Concrete Beton, the only non-commercial technical journal in our industry, will continue as the flagship quarterly CSSA publication, in digital format.
Will marketing and promotion of CCSA employ the digital platform on a far bigger scale than the three foundation bodies had done in the past? Some examples of social media components and plans?
In line with international best marketing practice and based on research into channels for reaching various audiences, we will definitely embrace digital offerings far more than any of our predecessors. The COVID-19 pandemic in particular has catapulted our services into the digital and virtual space. CONCRETEFiX the Series, technical hour-long webinars, have taken the place of physical seminars and have proved so successful that these are now becoming a feature in CSSA’s technical calendar.
Can you briefly tell us about your personal duties as Business Development Manager?
My role is to pursue strategic opportunities for CCSA, by cultivating partnerships and relationships with members and other stakeholders to identify new markets for cement and concrete in South Africa.
How will the new CCSA “membership model” work? What are the main benefits of membership, who can join and at what cost? Will corporate membership cost more than that of an individual person? Will there be membership incentives for SMEs and emerging companies?
The membership model was designed to make it very easy for potential members to select a category in line with the size of a particular business, offering various cost and benefits structures to suit their needs. The model makes it convenient for SMEs to find appropriate levels of engagement. A special category for emerging contractors is included. Members will be entitled to many services either free of charge, or at member discounted rates. Free services for members include access to the comprehensive Information Centre and free advisory services. Training in our School of Concrete Technology, consulting services, attendance at events and purchase of publications are available at special member discounted rates.
CCSA’s focus on committees will ensure that all relevant business areas are addressed with expertise through consultation with the members of committees dealing with topics such as technical issues, marketing, education and training, standards, health and safety, etc. The committee structures will empower members to guide and shape many of the services and benefits.
Will CCSA ensure that its members uphold ethical standards, and be selective in granting membership? Will you conduct audits and handle consumer complaints, for example?
CCSAs membership in meant to be very inclusive. However, membership may be declined based on technical and quality concerns in the case of product and service providers. As a body that stands for unity, leadership and relevance, we cannot afford to support the substandard products and services I referred to earlier.
Currently we do not have the mandate or the capacity to be the industry ombudsman. However, through our consulting service, members can get expert, unbiased information and advice from our technical team.
Will the cement producers provide input and exercise a level of control in the running of CCSA? Who funds CCSA?
Four cement produces, AfriSam, Lafarge, PPC and Sephaku have come on board as Partner members, providing a substantial percentage of the funding for CCSA. The rest of the funding will come from other memberships, publication sales, attendance of SCT courses, and other events and consulting service.
What about the Concrete Society’s 2022 Fulton Awards – when will this now be held?
The prestigious Fulton Awards will continue under the CCSA banner. Non-members are welcome to enter their projects. This prestigious event which was initially scheduled to take place this year was postponed till 2022 because of the limitations and restrictions of COVID-19 lockdown levels. We are all set to host the event next year to showcase and reward excellence in concrete, as has been done for decades.
