Magnaclad making good progress in Tete

By Justin van den Berg

12 August 2011

Magnaclad is making good progress with a residential development in Tete, Mozambique. The company was awarded a contract to build 33 three-bedroom houses and three apartment buildings with four units per building. Magnaclad is also responsible for earthworks, roads, installation of bulk services, water purification and sewage treatment, as well as the construction of recreational facilities.

Magnaclad proposed light steel frame (LSF) construction technology, which offers several advantages to the project. The remote location and limited availability of materials, together with a shortage of local construction capacity, make it costly to use conventional building methods in Tete. By using LSF technology, Magnaclad was able to provide a cost-competitive solution.

Since the project started in November 2010, construction crews have erected nine houses and one apartment building. At the moment, foundations are being constructed at a rate of two per week, and one house is completed per week, with each house taking a total of six weeks to build.

Civil work has taken longer than normal, due to extremely rocky soil conditions that make excavation for foundations difficult. Even with the slow civil work, the project is expected to be completed by February or March 2012, two months ahead of schedule. On-site water treatment and sewage treatment facilities will be installed to ensure the development is as self-sufficient as possible, because reliable municipal services such as water, sewage and electricity are not readily available in Tete. One resource that is abundant is sunshine, making solar street lighting and solar powered water heaters a viable option.		Rocky soil conditions make excavation  difficult.
Thanks to advanced insulation materials, light steel frame houses offer better insulation compared to conventional houses. This means that even with air-conditioning switched off, the homes will be much cooler than the ambient outside temperature. Designed to cater for expatriate staff employed by newly established coal mining operations in the Tete/Moatize region, the development will provide various recreation facilities, including a soccer field, swimming pool, entertainment area, barbecue and restaurant. The private investor who is funding the project expects recover his full investment in less than three years, making this a very attractive development from a financial perspective. Magnaclad is keen to work with other investors in Africa who are interested in property development. To find out how Magnaclad can help you generate quicker returns, please contact Tiaan Grobbelaar or Justin van den Berg on +27 (12) 345 5090.

Magnaclad starts construction at Kinshasa's ''River City''

By Justin van den Berg

15 February 2011

La Cité du Fleuve to set new standard for housing in Africa Magnaclad has started building the first of several apartment blocks at La Cité du Fleuve ("River City”) in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This exclusive development is situated on two new islands in the Congo River, which are being reclaimed from sandbanks and swampland. La Cité du Fleuve is built on land that is being reclaimed from sandbanks and swampland.
Main Island is a mixed-use development, offering commercial, retail and residential space, while North Island is reserved for residential accommodation. According to Robert Choudury, managing director of project developer Hawkwood Properties, the apartments, houses and villas at La Cité du Fleuve will set a new standard for property developments in Africa. "It is our intention to ensure that the buildings will be of the highest quality,” says Mr Choudury.	Main Island is a mixed-use development, while North Island is for residential use.
Magnaclad designed an apartment building that is both aesthetically pleasing and superbly equipped.	Magnaclad designed an apartment building that is both aesthetically pleasing and superbly equipped. Most of the materials used in the project are manufactured in South Africa, while the bulk of the construction work will be done by local workers. Knowledge transfer is a key element of the project, and a highly skilled team of South Africans is currently on site in Kinshasa to train the Congolese construction teams in light steel-frame building methods. "Magnaclad is excited to be involved from such an early stage with the inception and realization of La Cité du Fleuve,” says Tiaan Grobbelaar, managing director of Magnaclad.
Steel-frame construction: the right technology for Africa Steel-frame building is not a new concept, but it’s still relatively unknown in most parts of Africa. Light steel frame (LSF) construction method offers several advantages: Traditional skilled trades are not required, and local workers can easily be trained to assemble buildings using simple hand tools.  The weight of a Magnaclad light steel-frame building is about one-tenth of an equivalent conventional brick-and-mortar building.  Once the foundations are poured, little or no cement is required because Magnaclad uses state-of-the-art materials manufactured under controlled conditions, ensuring a final product of consistently high quality. Materials are lightweight, which reduces transport costs -- particularly relevant given the logistical challenges of getting materials to Kinshasha. Wall panels incorporate various insulation layers, offering far better temperature regulation than brick, block and cement buildings. Long-term running costs are significantly lower, because less energy is required for heating and cooling. Light steel-frame technology allows you to use the world’s most advanced building materials manufactured to international standards. Consistent material quality ensures that every building meets performance specifications, regardless of local conditions and the production capacity of local materials suppliers.
Magnaclad, with its extensive experience and African network, is able to supply and erect high quality structures in the most remote and difficult places. Contact Details:   La Cite du Fleuve Mr Robert Choudury +243 99 590 9001 info@lacitedufleuve.com Magnaclad Maria-Anna Deroukakis +27 12 345 5090 maria-anna@magnaclad.com

Magnaclad starts Tete Housing Project

By Maria-Anna Deroukakis

21 December 2010

Magnaclad launches mid-market residential development in Tete, Mozambique.

November 2010 saw Magnaclad commence with works at the site of what is to be a mid-market residential development in Tete, Mozambique, for a private developer. Magnaclad was contracted to deliver a turnkey construction project, comprising of the provision of the land-survey, architectural, engineering, bulk earthworks and bulk services. The development, will contain 33, three bedroomed houses and 3 flat blocks containing 4 apartments each. The intention is to realise the project within an estimated time frame of about 16 months. "We are extremely pleased to be involved in a development of this nature which in its own way is contributing to the tremendous growth of this very dynamic region in Mozambique", commented Tiaan Grobbelaar, the MD of Magnaclad.

The Tete project will be built using the light steel frame method of construction for which Magnaclad has become renowned. A mobile steel framing production unit has been dispatched to the site of the works and has already commenced with the rolling and cutting of the steel for the first unit to be built. The labour component of the project has been sub-contracted to Magnaclad's affiliate company in Mozambique, Moya Homes Lda, which currently employs 40 qualified steel framing construction staff. The site for the development has been prepared and the pouring of the foundation for the show units will commence within days.

The Tete region has one of the world's largest deposits of untapped coal, and Magnaclad believes that the requirement for accommodation will escalate exponentially in the coming years, as the mining companies increase production.

Magnaclad provides quality industrialized building solutions to the African continent. Magnaclad empowers localised construction partners with training and support as well as the most advanced building materials and methods of construction, allowing them to execute mid-to-large scale housing projects. Quality control is key to Magnaclad's delivery, thus ensuring that every building meets the performance specifications for which it is intended.

Constroi Angola 2010

By Liam McGlynn

22 October 2010

Magnaclad Protection Systems (Pty) Ltd teamed up with Magnaclad Angola LDA to exhibit a 24m2 shown house at Constroi Angola 2010 to introduce LSF technology into Angola. Constroi Angola is currently in its 8^th year and was held at Luanda International Fair (Filda) from the 14-17 of October.

The house selected for the trade fair was from Magnaclad standard catalogue, the Classic house, which has been designed into three modules:

• A studio (including kitchen area, bathroom with shower and BIC’s),
  
• A two bedroom unit, and
  
• A three bedroom unit. 

Only the 24m2 Studio module was shipped up for the show.

A large amount of interest has been shown in the house and LSF technology with the added benefits of construction, with the Minister of Urbanisation and Construction, H.E. Jose Ferreira visiting the Classic Show house.

Magnaclad is currently in negotiations for the show house to be erected on a 10000m2 stand in Malange for a future development in LSF. This forms part of a 600 hectare allocation for housing in the area.

Magnaclad opens new Technology Centre in Pretoria

By Tiaan Grobbelaar

31 January 2010

Magnaclad has moved into its new permanent home in Pretoria – a 10,000 square metre facility which has been completely refitted to accommodate the company’s growing team. The newly opened Magnaclad Technology Centre houses one of three automated roll-forming machines used for the manufacturing of building frames. Each machine has the capacity to manufacture 2000 to 3000 metres of steel-frame buildings per daily shift. This capacity translates into 2 to 3 100sqm houses.

According to company president Jacques van den Berg, the focus of Magnaclad’s Technology Centre is to provide integrated support services.  "By locating our sales and marketing, quantity surveying, architectural, engineering, manufacturing, procurement and logistics teams under the same roof, we can provide comprehensive support services. We now have a multidisciplinary professional team available on site to assist clients and business partners with all aspects of building design, structural engineering, costing and project management.”

Magnaclad signs construction contract for
Bela Vista Rice Project, Maputo, Mozambique

By Tiaan Grobbelaar

18 November 2009

Magnaclad has concluded a contract with LAIP/Ubuntu Mozambique for the construction of residential and commercial buildings for the planned Bela Vista Rice Project. Construction will commence in January 2010.

According to sales director Tiaan Grobbelaar, Magnaclad was selected because their steel frame construction technology lends itself to cost-effective building in remote locations. Magnaclad will deliver a turnkey solution including architectural designs, quantity surveying services, procurement, project management and construction.

The five-year, 30 million US dollar Bela Vista Rice Project was launched in August 2009 by LAIP/Ubuntu Mozambique, a consortium formed by Libya Africa Investment Portfolio (LAIP) and Mozambican company Ubuntu SA. Initially rice will be grown in an area of nine hectares, with an expected annual harvest of 40 thousand tons of rice. Within 3 years, the project is expected to meet at least 20% of Mozambique’s rice needs.

Steel Frame Construction Staff Wanted

By Lilla Pepler

15 October 2009

Are you a steel framing expert, searching for a bright future?

Do you want to get out and experience Africa?

Don't search any longer; we have the job you have been waiting for.

We are expanding throughout the African continent and we can use your valued experience in all aspects of steel frame construction.

We are currently looking for individuals with the following skills:

• Steel frame assembly and erection
• Drywalling, cladding and finishing
• Roofing
• Site management

Click on our Careers tab and submit your application to start your career as a steel frame construction expert in Africa.

Timber Frame Building Professionals are welcome too.

Work starts on 10 plantation houses in Mozambique

By Eben Rootman

15 September 2009

Magnaclad has deployed its first mobile manufacturing unit from Pretoria to the Nampula district in the north of Mozambique. Ten 230 m2 plantation houses will be fabricated on site for a Banana Plantation.

Work is scheduled for completion at the end of 2009. The mobile facility is fully equipped to fabricate buildings in remote sites.

Magnaclad acquires 2000 m² facility

by Jacques van den Berg

1 September

Magnaclad has acquired a 2000 m² facility in Pretoria, South Africa intended to be a training centre for Light Steel Frame Technology in support of its remote site operations.

The facility will be undergo extensive renovations and is expected to be ready for use by the end of 2009. The facility will also be used for short production runs to satisfy the needs of small projects and continuous research and development.

Magnaclad invests ZAR 4.5m in roll-forming plant

By Johan Morgan

26 May 2009

Magnaclad has ordered 3 specialised roll forming machines for a total value of
ZAR 4,500,000.

One of the machines will be deployed to Magnaclad's Training Centre in Pretoria, while the remaining two will be configured as mobile fabrication units that can be deployed anywhere on the African continent.

Show house in Lubumbashi

By Maria-Anna Deroukakis

25 January 2009

The first of 50 houses is completed at the prestigious Aramis Housing Estate on The Plateau in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The economic meltdown and the subsequent mass closure of mines in the area will hamper the development, and work on the estate is only scheduled to commence in 2010, subject to the mines resuming their operations.