In a bid to strengthen the cement manufacturing industry, building solutions firm Holcim Philippines Inc. led the formation of a dedicated group that will spearhead discussions on innovations in the cement industry.
The initial meetings of the Holcim Concrete Quality League (HCQL), launched last Jan. 12 and 19, gathered stakeholders in the cement and construction sectors to share best practice on concrete production, manufacturing, and sustainability.
The participants included various builders who have had a hand in some of the country's major infrastructure projects like the ongoing Metro Manila Subway, North Luzon and South Luzon Expressway (NLEX and SLEX) connector roads, and the North-South Commuter Railway.
Key construction leaders of the Davao Coastal Road, Davao City Bypass Tunnel, and Tagum Flyover also joined the event.
According to Holcim President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Horia Adrian, the HCQL aims to "create a community of experts and professionals that closely collaborate and learn from each other on making concrete better."
He expressed the company's eagerness to provide technical assistance and knowledge to its local and foreign company partners in the Philippines to build stronger, more stable infrastructure that can stand the test of time.
The HCQL will meet on a quarterly basis to continuously enhance concrete quality.
Among the topics discussed by Holicm Group experts and other invited speakers in the meetings were issues affecting the durability of concrete structures and potential remedies such as utilizing low-carbon blended cement.
For instance, Holcim has launched cement alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) such as the general purpose cement Excel ECOPlanet and limestone blended cement Optimo last year.
Aside from conducting productive talks and networking, the participants were also toured around Holcim's two plants in Norzagaray, Bulacan and Davao City, where they showcased Holcim's cement manufacturing process and sustainability efforts.