Construction World October 2019

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

“We decided that, to enhance the quality of our bricks, we needed to upgrade our production equipment and we therefore invested in the most advanced technology available.” The Rosema Bricks’ Olifantsfontein factory, which has been operating for 32 years, boasts a face brick range consisting of nine products – three satin texture and six travertine texture. Proving particularly popular in the housing and warehouse development markets, the Redwood, Protea Travertine and Terracotta Satin ranges are currently emerging as top choices. “We are a major player in the face brick market for good reason,” continued Rosema. “We offer a wide range of colours and textures, and our Gauteng location, the need for back-buttering on large format tiles. This results in costs savings in both time and consumption per square metre (subject to required thickness). It is ideal for use as an adhesive on ceramic, porcelain and natural stone (non-moisture sensitive) installations in internal and external environments. The product is easily trowellable and allows for light traffic within four hours. As a smoothing compound, it can be used on interior and exterior surfaces generally found on site up to a maximum of 20 mm thick. Providing the substrate is clean with no loose debris, it can absorb deflections on the substrate and provides easy levelling and localized smoothing which sets within four hours. This gives contractors the ability to use a single product to ensure both a cost and time savings on projects. What’s more, it can even be used as a mortar for brick and concrete block walls for building, wherever

the fastest-growing construction area nationwide, makes us perfectly positioned. “Training plays a major role in the success of our business, thus our operators were trained as the new setting machine was installed to ensure a smooth transition,” explained Rosema. “Plans are already in place to install a new de-hacking station as well as an extra dryer. The setting machine has the capability to manufacture 50 mm paving bricks and clay maxi bricks, however production of these will only commence once the new de-hacker is installed.” These superior-quality face bricks form part of the extensive Corobrik brand, adhering to all international quality control standards. All of Corobrik’s clay face bricks boast superior thermal and noise reduction qualities, retaining structure and aesthetic quality.  quick curing and high strengths are required “It is important to remember that if the easy-to-use product is used as both a smoothing compound and a tile adhesive - the smoothing layer needs to be hardened and prepared correctly before proceeding with the tile application” says Zamaswazi Ntobela, ceramics product manager for Mapei South Africa. Adesilex P4 is suitable in heavy traffic zones, such as offices, shopping malls, hospitals and schools. Its wide temperature range means it can just as easily be used over underfloor heating installations or any other application where temperature extremes may occur. “Although our product guarantees 100% coverage of surfaces with no need to ‘back- butter’ large-format tiles, it also provides the benefit of one multipurpose product with the obvious cost and time saving benefits,” wadds Zamaswazi. 

L eading chemical and adhesives manufacturer; Mapei, has released its new locally produced multifunctional cementitious tile adhesive, Adesilex P4, a C2F class adhesive which can also be used as a levelling compound. Adesilex P4 is first and foremost an innovative, rapid-setting, semi-fluid, full contact adhesive which has the added benefit of 100% tile coverage, eliminating

R osema Bricks, a Gauteng-based alliance factory of Corobrik, will be bringing a superior-quality face brick to the South African market as a result of its R85 million newly-installed brick manufacturing technology. This substantial investment in the Olifantsfontein factory will improve the quality of Rosema Bricks’ ‘satin-texture bricks’ which is set to have a significant impact on the brick market going forward. “Corobrik’s decades-long alliance with Rosema Bricks has continued to bring the highest possible face brick range to the construction industry,” said Musa Shangase, Corobrik’s Commercial Director. “Their latest investment in what is seen as state-of-the- art extrusion and setting technology globally, will elevate the quality of face brick, ensuring the South African market continues to receive the best available product.” Rosema Bricks, which produces 34 million bricks annually, has spent four months implementing a new setting machine with robotic packing onto kiln cars. This has the ability to pre-groove the bricks with rounded corners. The bricks are then cut by a push-up cutter, a first for the factory, all of which will drastically enhance the quality of the finished product. The kiln has also been upgraded so that it’s able to produce 25% more bricks in the future. “Quality in the face brick market is very important which is why we upgraded the plant in 2019,” explained Theo Rosema, CEO of Rosema Bricks.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2019