Officially launched in March of 2021 the formation of Cement & Concrete South Africa (CCSA) became the consolidated industry body of 3 different organizations that is set to take the lead on all matters cement and concrete in South Africa. Because the importance of the cement and concrete industry cannot be reiterated enough, the industry in South Africa has moved to form a consolidated industry body to provide the sector with a single voice that will take the lead on all cement and concrete matters. CCSA following an extensive and thorough process of engagement with various stakeholders to consolidate 3 different organizations:
The Concrete Institute (TCI)
Concrete Society of Southern Africa (CCSA)
Association of Cementitious Materials Producers (ACMP)
Bryan Perrie,
CEO-CCSA,
Former Vice-President-ISCP (2016-2018),
and Long-time Former Director-ISCP (2012-2016),
spells out the reasons behind the move:
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CCSA will grow industry expertise and build capacity by developing and offering courses, seminars and training materials. That cement and concrete are staple materials in any modern economy is no overstatement. Today, second only to water, concrete is the most-consumed material—3 tons per year used for every person in the world! Cement is an important constituent of concrete and acts as the ‘glue’ that binds the various materials used in concrete production. CCSA has been mandated to promote and support the industry, drive growth, and deliver shared value through a unified platform for cement and concrete.
Perrie said that at a time when many conflicting and ambiguous messages are shared easily on various platforms, and with the proliferation of substandard products and services, the need for authoritative engagement with all stakeholders is critical. The new, consolidated body will create long-term shared value and industry growth in South Africa through collaboration, skills development, innovation, and high standards in sustainable cement and concrete materials and products. For the consolidated body to meet its obligations and targets, leadership was always going to be a principle factor. Leadership, by its nature, can be the difference between an organization’s success or failure. With that in mind, Bryan Perrie, also previously the Managing Director-The Concrete Institute, was appointed CEO of CCSA. Perrie is a veteran who has devoted his whole working life to advancing the cement and concrete industry, not only in southern Africa but across the world.
— Bryan Perrie
A holder of both a BSc and MSc in Civil Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand-South Africa, Perrie is a registered professional engineer (PE), a Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering, a member of the Institute of Concrete Technology-UK, and an Honorary Member-International Society of Concrete Pavements (ISCP) (Since 2020). Having started his career in the contracting fraternity throughout southern Africa, for 29 years, Perrie was with the now-defunct Cement and Concrete Institute (C&CI), previously the Portland Cement Institute, and Managing Director-C&CI the last 5 years. Following the demise of the C&CI in April 2013, he was instrumental in creating The Concrete Institute, where he was the MD until the formation of CCSA (2021).
Perrie:
• Authored several books on:
– Concrete floors
– Concrete roads
– Sections of several editions of Fulton’s Concrete Technology
– Co-author with the late Louis Marais, the definitive technical handbook, “Concrete Industrial Floors on the Ground”
– Developed the mechanistically and risk-based cncPave design method for continuously reinforced concrete pavements with Dr Pieter Strauss and Dr Martin Slavik—which he presented at the ISCP Orlando 7th International Concrete Pavement Conference (7th ICCP—which is still the standard for concrete pavement design in South Africa
• Written many papers for publication and presentation at local and overseas seminars, conferences, and symposia
• Board Member-Concrete Society
• Past President-Southern Africa Road Federation
• Past Vice President-International Society for Concrete Pavements
Currently, Perrie:
• Chairs the South African Bureau of Standards’ Sub-Committee on Cement, Concrete and Concrete Products.
Commenting on the reasons behind the move to consolidate the 3 associations to form one industry body, Perrie said there was confusion about which bodies provided services to the construction industry. There was also some duplication and gaps in services offered by the various associations.
He said CCSA has been mandated to:
• Promote and support the industry
• Drive growth
• Deliver shared value through a unified platform for cement and concrete
Other GOALS include:
• Promoting the value creation story of the cement and concrete industry in South Africa
• Supporting research as a means of increasing the ongoing expertise base
• Promotion of industry standards and audit compliance among members and industry role players
MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Through its members, CCSA will create the opportunity to build a healthier future through a network of influencers. Working with industry role players to develop the value propositions of cement and concrete is one of the identified objectives of CCSA.
A new and inclusive membership model—free or at discounted member rates—will make the portfolio of services offered by CCSA to individuals or corporates, including:
• Courses presented by the School of Concrete Technology
• Access to the Information Centre
• Attendance at technical events and webinars
• Publications
• Hyperlinked listings on various electronic sources
• And more …
On a more practical level, CCSA will:
• Grow industry expertise
• Build capacity by developing
• Offer courses, seminars and training materials
• Provision of information, research, advisory, and on-site technical consulting services
COMMITTEES:
CCSA’s dedicated focus on committees will ensure that all relevant areas are addressed with expertise through consultation. The committee structures will empower members to guide and shape many of the services. The branch committees of the erstwhile Concrete Society of Southern Africa will be retained to ensure that CCSA will have concrete ambassadors in various regions.
“The launch of CCSA as a consolidation of 3 industry bodies is definitely a trend where the need to present a unified voice to all stakeholders has been identified by many industries,” said Perrie.
Commenting on some of the trends identified in the cement and concrete industry, Perrie says the most significant driver for new technology trends is the quest for sustainability. To address that, cement manufacturers and concrete producers emphasize higher extender contents to minimise the potential negative impact on the environment.
“Where possible, recycling and refurbishment are being considered over the use of virgin materials. We are also starting to see the impact of drones, virtual reality and 3D printing on sites where these techniques are used to enhance traditional construction practices,” he adds.
Perrie also alludes to the fact that all is not rosy in the industry, and challenges abound. He said, “There are a number of challenges, which include the:
• Depressed state of the construction industries—building and civil … largely due to the lack of government spending. However, we remain hopeful that the infrastructure development plans put forward by government will come to fruition as a matter of urgency.”
• Loss of skills in the broad construction industry that CCSA hopes to address through the School of Concrete Technology’s numerous courses and seminars, workshops, and technical publications.
• Cement Imports—One of the pressing issues for the industry. The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) started a ‘sunset’ review in December 2020 (may last up to 18 months) of import tariffs imposed on cement from Pakistan. Existing anti-dumping duties (first implemented in 2015), will remain in place during the review. “We have submitted a Safeguard Application to ITAC for a general import tariff on all imported cement, which they are busy dealing with,” he said.
• Cement “Designated”—Perrie said the industry is also in discussions with South Africa’s Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) to have cement “designated”—only locally made cement—manufactured with locally produced raw materials to be used on any national, provincial, or local government-funded projects and by state-owned enterprises (such as Eskom, Sanral and Transnet).
“We are excited about the future of the cement and concrete industry in South Africa. The industry body is ready to discuss membership options and benefits. We are poised to add value and unlock opportunities for all members and the industry at large,” concluded Perrie.
For the full articles, please go to:
“Taking the Lead on All Matters Cement & Concrete in South Africa”: https://www.aggbusiness.com/feature/taking-lead-all-matters-cement-and-concrete-south-africa
“Global honour for CCSA’s Bryan Perrie”: https://www.crown.co.za/modern-quarrying/industry-news-mq/18334-global-honour-for-ccsa-s-bryan-perrie
Photos: CCSA will grow industry expertise and build capacity by developing and offering courses, seminars and training materials
Bryan Perrie
CCSA has been mandated to promote and support the industry, drive growth and deliver shared value through a unified platform for cement and concrete
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cement-and-concrete-sa/