ZAMBIA
For mining back filling, rock bolting and shotcrete
Your guide to
PowerCrete
03 Innovation: Our Perpetual Driving Force
04 About PowerCrete
Applications
05
Strength Performance
Recommended Mix Proportions
06 Guaranteed Quality
07 What the Bag Tells You
08 Safety First at All Times
09 Storing Bags of Cement
10 About Lafarge in Zambia
11 The Global Lafarge Group
POWERCRETE
Innovation:
Our Perpetual Driving Force
At Lafarge Zambia, innovation based on customer needs is the heart of all our
activities as we strive to be the preferred supplier in the building materials
sector.
Producing innovative cement products is the efficient and sustainable manner. Being a part of
perpetual driving force behind our work. With this global network of knowledge and state-of-the-
the added benefit of being backed by the Lafarge art cement technology is translated into a benefit
Group, we are able to continuously operate in an for all our customers – superior quality cement.
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POWERCRETE
About
PowerCrete
The result of careful research and development
by our cement technical experts, PowerCrete is a
specially formulated Portland Composite Cement
engineered for use in all mining, grouting and
concrete works.
With applications such as back filling, rock
bolting and shotcreting, PowerCrete offers the
mining community greater ease of handling while
improving speed of ore extraction.
Applications
PowerCrete comes in 25kg bags that are easier to
carry, especially underground. It offers consistent
strength, fast setting speed, workability and
durability, making it ideal for:
• Back filling grout
• Rock bolting grout
• Shotcrete grout
• Shaft sinking and other development
concrete works
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Strength Performance
PowerCrete offers the following characteristics:
• A high rate of early strength development, • Improved workability for easier placing,
improving the productivity of mining compaction/grouting and finishing.
operations.
• Better cohesion, ensuring that the concrete
• A fast drying rate, which allows for grout or or grout stays uniformly mixed instead of
concrete to quickly harden for fast mining segregation before the setting.
advancement within a short time frame.
RECOMMENDED MIX PROPORTIONS FOR POWERCRETE 42,5R
POWERCRETE CEMENT IS NUMBERS DENOTE VOLUME PROPORTIONS
SUITABLE FOR:
CEMENT SAND STONE
High Strength Concrete:
35-40Mpa 1 2 2
High Strength Grout:
??-??Mpa 1 4 -
High Strength Concrete:
25-30Mpa
Suspended Slabs, Re-inforced
1 2 3
Concrete, Heavy Duty Industrial Floors
Medium Strength Concrete:
20-25Mpa
Driveways, Light Industrial 1 3 3
Floors - Unreinforced
Low Strength Concrete:
10-15Mpa
Foundations, Footings 1 3 4
& Domestic Floors - Reinforced
Brick & Blockmaking
Mix 1 10 -
Note: Use the same size container for
measuring all the materials in a batch - see
volume proportions above:
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POWERCRETE
Guaranteed Quality
At Lafarge Zambia we are committed to developing high-
quality products. Our products adhere to the strictest quality standards whilst meeting
social and environmental requirements.
This is made possible by a world-class Research and Development Centre
in France which enables the Company to actively develop and enhance
truly value-added products aimed at the unique needs and requirements of
its various markets. To this end SupaSet has undergone stringent testing
in laboratories and with customers to ensure the consistency and reliability
for blockmaking and concrete applications.
Lafarge Zambia’s manufacturing facilities are ISO: 9001 certified and
boast the highest possible Quality Management Systems. SupaSet for
blockmaking and concrete is a Class II cement classified as CEM II 42,5R
and is formulated from portland cement clinker in accordance with the
specifications of ZS EN: 197-1.
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What the Bag Tells You
Side of bag Front of bag Back of bag
8
10
3
4
5
2 6
25
1 PowerCrete - for mining back filling, rock 6 Systems certification logo
bolting and shotcrete Certifies that the product is ISO 9001 certified.
The product name.
7 25kg
2 42,5R The quantity you paid for (i.e. the net weight of
Identifies the 28-day strength class of the cement excluding the bag).
cement. ‘R’ denotes RAPID early strength
development. 8 Health and Safety
Take note of the health and safety warning!
3 CEM II Cement dust on moist skin or in eyes can be a
Denotes a Portland composite cement type strong irritant.
Class II.
9 Mix Proportions
4 ‘A’ indicates the proportion of clinker used. Show some typical standard concrete mix
‘L’ identifies limestone as the specific proportions.
constituent used.
10 Hints
5 ZABS logo Some useful guidelines on storing, mixing,
The Zambian Bureau of Standards logo of water addition and curing of concrete.
quality.
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POWERCRETE
Safety First at
All Times
At Lafarge, safety is our No. 1 priority. This is why
you will find that every bag of cement is not only
produced in a safe environment, but contains a
safety warning ensuring that our customers are
safe too.
When dealing with cement, the following safety
measures should be adhered to at all times:
• Avoid contact with cement – skin, eyes, mouth
– wear gloves where possible.
• Skin exposed to wet concrete should be
washed as soon as possible.
• Wear protective masks in high cement dust areas.
• Medical attention should be sought in cases of
excessive inhalation or eye contamination.
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Storing Bags of Cement
For best results, remember to follow these basic
steps to keep your cement purchases in good
condition:
• Stored cement must not be exposed to moisture.
• Remember that this does not only mean
protection from rain, bags left on the ground
will draw moisture from the soil.
• Preferably store loose bags in a warehouse or
waterproof shed, taking care to:
- store in a way so that the oldest cement can
be used first (FIFO: first in, first out)
- keep loose bags off the ground / floor. Use
plastic sheeting.
• If cement has to be stored outside:
- create a platform with timber slats covered in
plastic sheeting on which to place loose bags
- cover the bags with sheeting to protect from
the elements
- create a ridge for the sheeting so that rain
runs off instead of forming a pool
- weigh down the edges of the sheeting with
stones or timber to prevent it being dislodged
by high winds.
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POWERCRETE
About Lafarge in Zambia
Lafarge Zambia is the country’s major cement In 2001, CDC reorganised its cement operations
manufacturer and supplier of the preferred in Southern Africa to form Pan African Cement
Mphamvu and SupaSet brands. (PAC), which owned shares in Chilanga Cement in
Zambia, Mbeya Cement in Tanzania and Portland
The Company was established in 1949 by
Cement in Malawi. In May 2001 Lafarge acquired
the Northern Rhodesian Government and the
PAC from CDC and a further 34% of Chilanga
Colonial Development Corporation, now the
Cement through a compulsory offer to minorities.
Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC).
The minority shareholders are well dispersed with
Cement production commenced in 1951, with the
over 3,200 Zambian shareholders.
installation of two more kilns in 1956 and 1967.
In 1969, the Ndola Plant Kiln was commissioned In 2007, Chilanga Cement changed its name
and in 1974 a second kiln was added. The to Lafarge Cement Zambia to align with the
company was privatised in October 1994 under international Lafarge Group. We have continued
the government privatisation programme aimed at to establish ourselves as a leader in the local
enhancing efficiency of state-owned companies. manufacturing industry. The inauguration of our
It was also the first company to be listed on the new plant at Chilanga has enabled us to cater
Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE), and CDC was the for the ever-growing demands of the Zambian
majority shareholder. regional markets.
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The Global
Lafarge Group
Lafarge is a world leader in building materials and
holds top-ranking positions in each of its businesses across the globe: Cement,
Aggregates & Concrete and Gypsum. With 78,000 employees in 78 countries,
Lafarge posted sales of €15.9 billion in 2009.
Lafarge responds to the needs of its customers, shareholders, local
communities and the environment. This is achieved by research and
development activities at the Lafarge Centre de Recherche (LCR) to develop
new value-added products that provide greater solutions for our customers,
increase our product ranges to better incorporate current sustainable
construction concerns, and research sustained efforts to reduce greenhouse
emissions in our industrial processes and materials.
In 2009, the Group increased the resources allocated to research and
development, reinforcing the Group’s expertise in the various fields across
the three divisions.
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LAFARGE ZAMBIA
Head Office, Farm No.1880, Kafue Rd
PO Box 32639, Chilanga, Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: +260 211 279 029 - 40, 367 400
Fax: +260 211 367 634
Email: cement.enquiries@lafarge.com
www.lafarge.co.zm /
www.lafarge.com
