As Africa’s construction industry embraces greener practices in meeting its infrastructure needs, CHRYSO is on board with a rebranded focus on sustainability. 

Having merged with GCP Applied Technologies under the Saint-Gobain banner, Chryso’s new identity reflects its commitment to eco-friendly innovation, according to Sibu Hlatshwayo, Managing Director of Chryso Southern Africa. This focus is at the core of its mission to responsibly support Africa’s infrastructure growth.

“We are addressing local needs while helping customers reduce CO₂ emissions,” says Hlatshwayo. “Our new green branded identity signals our dedication to pioneering the future of construction by creating practical, sustainable solutions.”

He highlights that Chryso’s approach centres around four pillars: innovation, proximity, partnership and sustainability. An example of its innovative edge is the Chryso® Quad Range, which allows contractors to use local aggregates that fall below traditional standards, to minimise transport distances and reduce carbon emissions. 

“Our Chryso Quad app complements our technical capability, guiding users to the best products based on specific aggregate characteristics, while our clay testing kit helps ensure quality results,” he explains. “Our Chryso EnviroAdd Range further reduces the environmental impact of construction by lowering clinker content in concrete mixes, as clinker is one of cement’s most energy-intensive components.”

Another breakthrough is Chryso’s innovations related to limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), a more sustainable alternative to traditional cement that blends limestone and clay to produce a greener concrete.

“Proximity is also a critical aspect of CHRYSO’s strategy, as we consider ourselves as a ‘multi-local’ business – rather than just multinational,” he says. “Our African footprint is well equipped to meet specific local needs with our facilities and our sales and technical support teams. By expanding our network of local laboratories – recently opening a new facility in Kenya, for instance – we can test raw materials locally and quickly to provide optimised solutions.”

Through more localised production, such as its manufacture of cement additives in Ghana, customers have the advantage of quicker turnaround times and reduced logistics costs, as well as the convenience of purchasing in local currency. 

“CHRYSO is also driven by a passion for collaboration,” says Hlatshwayo. “Climate change requires a united approach, so we work with partners across the construction ecosystem to enhance our impact.”

Sustainability is at the heart of Chryso’s mission, and the company shares both admixture solutions and specialised knowledge to help customers to reduce their environmental footprint. The Chryso Academy is a valuable resource in this mission, offering courses to contractors, universities and other stakeholders to promote sustainable construction.

He concludes that sustainability needs to include renewed attention on the circular economy, as Africa’s rapid urbanisation is demanding increased recycling of concrete. This is another area where Chryso admixtures are playing their role. 

Concrete performance and durability underpin the value to society of water-retaining structures such as water treatment plants and storage reservoirs – and admixtures make all the difference.

Challenges, including cracking and permeability, can undermine the strength and longevity of these structures, according to Michelle Fick of CHRYSO Southern Africa’s Concrete Aesthetics Business Unit.

“Cracking of concrete, for instance, often calls for urgent and costly maintenance of water-related infrastructure,” says Fick. “In addition to leakage, cracks can undermine the strength of a structure due to corrosion of the steel reinforcing.”

She highlights the importance of reducing shrinkage in concrete to avoid cracking, using admixtures such as CHRYSO® Serenis. By reducing the volume changes that occur during the curing process, this admixture helps to prevent cracking. It works by decreasing capillary tension, protecting concrete against moisture transmission, chemical attack and corrosion of reinforcing steel.

There are also waterproofing agents, like pore blockers such as CHRYSO® Fuge B that further enhance concrete’s resilience against chemical attack and reduce permeability, she adds. 

“Another waterproofing agent is crystalline admixture such as CHRYSO® CWA 10,” she says. “This reacts with moisture to form crystals deep within the pores and capillary tract of the concrete structure.”

Admixtures such as plasticisers and super plasticisers are critical in ensuring workability of concrete, which is especially vital to heavily reinforced structures like reservoirs, adds Patrick Flannigan, Technical Manager of the Concrete Business Unit at CHRYSO Southern Africa. 

“Water in the concrete mixture must be kept to a minimum to ensure strength and density, which could hamper its workability,” says Flannigan. “However, admixtures allow the concrete to continue to flow into the cavities between the steel reinforcing, which is often extensive to ensure strength in these large water-related structures. Secondary reinforcing can be achieved through the application of macro-fibres and micro-fibres, which can reduce the amount of steel while also further reducing the risk of cracking.”

Another aspect of water-retaining structures to consider is their weight, so the ground underneath them must be well drained if they are to remain stable. “To ensure water does not collect, a pervious base layer usually needs to be installed,” he says. “This is constructed from no-fines concrete, which allows water to flow away without eroding the sub-base material.”

He notes that an admixture like CHRYSO® Easy Drain is ideal for no-fines concrete, as it coats the coarse aggregate to ensure a stronger bond between these particles and the cement-water mix.

In today’s construction industry, the twin imperatives of sustainability and efficiency are driving transformative innovations. One such advancement making waves is the use of fibre in concrete, replacing traditional steel reinforcement. This shift not only results in substantial time and labour savings leading to significant cost efficiencies, but also plays a pivotal role in reducing the carbon footprint associated with construction projects.

Steel reinforcement, while indispensable for its strength and durability, exacts a heavy toll on the environment. The production of steel involves substantial energy consumption and emits significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). According to the World Steel Association, the steel industry accounts for approximately 8% of global CO2 emissions, making it a prominent contributor to climate change.

Michelle Fick, BU Development Manager: Concrete Aesthetics at CHRYSO Southern Africa, says that fibres, in contrast, are made from synthetic and natural materials and offer a far more sustainable alternative. Concrete containing fibres is thus easily recycled for reuse as crushed aggregates for other projects. 

The environmental benefits of this shift are significant. The production of fibre materials, particularly synthetic ones, generates considerably less CO2 compared to steel production. Additionally, the energy requirements for manufacturing fibres are significantly lower. 

“By substituting steel with fibres, construction companies can markedly decrease their carbon emissions,” Fick says. “Further unlike steel reinforcement, which often involves cutting and fitting, leading to substantial scrap material which needs to be managed, our Advil fibres can be precisely mixed into concrete, minimising waste on construction sites. This reduction in waste contributes further to the sustainability credentials of fibre-reinforced concrete.”

Beyond the environmental advantages, fibre reinforced concrete offers several practical benefits that enhance construction efficiency. Integrating fibres into concrete is straightforward and can be done during mixing, eliminating the labour-intensive steps of placing and tying steel reinforcement. 

This streamlined process significantly accelerates construction timelines. The simplicity of using fibres reduces the need for specialised labour typically required for handling and installing steel reinforcement. This not only cuts down on labour costs but also mitigates the risk of on-site injuries associated with traditional steel handling. 

Fick says that while the initial cost of fibres may be close to that of traditional steel reinforcement, the overall savings in labour, time and reduced waste translate into lower total project costs over the lifecycle of the construction project.

Fibre-reinforced concrete has been successfully deployed in numerous projects globally as well as locally, highlighting both its practical and environmental benefits. Infrastructure projects like roadways and bridges have reported enhanced durability and reduced maintenance costs due to the use of fibres. 

Moreover, residential and commercial buildings have benefited from faster construction times and improved structural performance, highlighting the versatility and effectiveness of fibre-reinforced concrete across diverse applications.

Available from CHRYSO, Adfil’s range of high quality fibre reinforcement solutions are designed to enhance the performance of concrete by improving its durability, reducing cracking and increasing its structural integrity. By integrating Adfil fibres into concrete, construction projects can achieve superior results while also benefiting from the environmental advantages of reduced carbon emissions and lower energy consumption.

Adfil offers a range of fibres tailored to various construction needs including macro-synthetic fibres, micro-synthetic fibres and steel fibres. These products are engineered to provide optimal reinforcement, ensuring that concrete structures can withstand the demands of modern construction without the drawbacks associated with traditional steel reinforcement.

“We believe that the adoption of fibre in concrete represents a paradigm shift in the construction industry, and offers contractors  a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional steel reinforcement,” Fick says. “By reducing carbon emissions, minimising energy consumption and cutting down on waste, construction companies can significantly lessen their environmental impact while bolstering their operational efficiencies.”

“As the construction sector continues to prioritise sustainability, embracing innovative materials like fibre will be pivotal in fostering a greener future. These advancements not only align with global environmental goals but also position construction companies at the forefront of sustainable practices, driving both environmental stewardship and economic viability,” Fick concludes. 

In recent years, the mining industry in South Africa has become a major user of fibre-reinforced shotcrete for underground support. In line with this trend, CHRYSO Southern Africa reports growing demand for its market-leading CHRYSO® CSF 6000 high performance macro-synthetic fibres.  

Fall of ground (FOG) – one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in underground mines – remains one of the biggest obstacles to the industry’s quest for Zero Harm in South Africa. The fight to eliminate FOG incidents is therefore one of the main reasons for the escalating use of fibre reinforcement in shotcrete, says Willie Nel, Technical Sales Consultant at CHRYSO Southern Africa. 

Having traditionally used reinforced shotcrete with wire mesh or welded mesh, the industry then moved over to fibres. These were initially steel fibres and then rigid polypropylene ‘broombrissel’ fibres took centre stage. However, the past decade has seen an accelerated switch to polypropylene homo-polymer fibres – a soft tape fibre. 

“The move to soft tape fibres gained traction from around 2012,” explains Nel. “During that period, we have experienced growing demand for our CHRYSO® CSF 6000 high performance macro-synthetic fibres which are specifically designed to satisfy the demanding requirements for modern day shotcrete reinforcement technology. In our experience, the trend is largely being driven by new mining projects.”

A major advantage of the CHRYSO® CSF 6000 is its flat, flexible nature which leads to better tensile strength than, for example, the rigid ‘broombrissel’ counterparts. In addition, it combats the formation of plastic shrinkage and plastic settlement cracking, while still providing high impact-, abrasion- and shatter-resistance. The technology, adds Nel, boasts greater ductility, which allows it to deform under tensile stress, as well as enables greater energy absorption. 

This was proven at one of the biggest copper mines in South Africa, where the client stipulated a 45 MPa shotcrete mix design. CHRYSO Southern Africa went on to achieve over 1000 joules of energy absorption by using the CHRYSO® CSF 6000 macro-synthetic fibres.

“Traditional reinforcement practices such as wire mesh and welded mesh are not conducive to high productivity and are costly due to the labour intensive process of mesh installation. In contrast, macro-synthetic fibre-reinforced shotcrete is a system capable of supporting rapid application and semi-automation,” concludes Nel.

As demand for innovative concrete solutions has grown around Africa, CHRYSO Southern Africa has extended its footprint to get closer to customers with the products and services they need. 

According to Armand van Vuuren, commercial manager exports at CHRYSO Southern Africa, the company’s expansion strategy has been pursued for almost a dozen years – with great results. There are now distributors in a range of key markets including Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“We also have an established office in Nairobi, Kenya and are expanding into Tanzania,” explains van Vuuren. “Through our extensive presence across Southern, Central, East and West Africa, we supply not just the readymix and precast sectors, but also specific construction and infrastructure projects.”

The expertise and resources of CHRYSO Southern Africa’s distributors in these countries is supported by the technical team in Johannesburg, who can step in whenever necessary with the required specialised input. He emphasises that these partners are carefully chosen to act essentially as extensions of the company – delivering the same high level of service wherever their clients work. 

“Africa is an exciting continent, and this is where future economic growth is going to come from,” he says. According to the African Development Bank, the expected growth rates in West and Central Africa are expected to be 4,2% and 4,6% respectively in 2023, while East Africa will reach 5,5% in growth terms. 

Van Vuuren highlights the extent to which many countries have invested heavily in infrastructure in recent years – demanding large volumes of concrete for civil engineering projects. The construction work involved in the Decongestion Project for Zambia’s capital Lusaka, for instance, has changed the face of that city in a matter of years. 

“CHRYSO Southern Africa and our distributors have been working with a range of contractors and other businesses to ensure that their concrete meets the exacting specifications of the contract,” says van Vuuren. “Whether the application is bridges, dams, mining infrastructure or precast manufacturing, we continue to play a vital and growing role in Africa’s development.”

An important element of CHRYSO’s presence is the stock that is held by distributors in their respective regions – giving customers easy access to product as and when it is required. End-customers are provided with full site support from a technical perspective, including access to the specialist team in South Africa. 

“With our current momentum, we are planning to set up more of our own offices and production facilities in key regions, paving the way to serve larger and more complex requirements,” he says. “Africa’s leading countries have their plans in place for future development and, despite the occasional setbacks, they are on track for long term growth. CHRYSO Southern Africa is working with the concrete and construction industries of Africa to help make this happen.”

This strategy is bolstered by recent acquisitions by its parent company, Saint-Gobain, of companies such as GCP Applied Technologies that will offer access to innovations and new products. Firmly committed to customer centricity and proximity, the organisation has local operations in 45 countries and this footprint provides its service offering to more than 100 countries.