Products
New ‘Innovation’ Products Launched
In 2008, Lafarge became the only local cement manufacturer to offer its customers a complete range of extended ‘green’ cements. This included the innovative Rapidcem CEM II 52,5N, the first CEM II in its strength class to be offered to the South African precast and specialist construction industry.
Following the successful introduction of these products, we undertook an extensive research programme to identify the ongoing needs of cement users in the main market channels. In the resellers bagged product channel, the research highlighted a demand for:
- High strength cement
- A smaller (25kg) bag for homeowner customers
- Stronger product differentiation
We listened and we responded with two innovative new bagged products:
- Le Classic:
a versatile premium 42,5 strength cement in a convenient 25kg bag - Fastcast:
an extra strength (52,5) cement offering economical solutions for general and specialised concrete work
Choosing The Right Cement
“In 76 countries around the world, the Lafarge brand name stands for caring for customers and leadership in building materials: leadership that has been achieved by applying the knowledge within the Group to bring innovative products and solutions to satisfy the needs of our customers’ businesses …”
Ilsé Boshoff
National Marketing Manager, Lafarge Cement
Your choice of cement will depend on the application e.g:
- The type of concrete, plaster or mortar work you are planning
- Whether the scope of the work can be covered by one quality grade general purpose cement (eliminating the inconvenience and wastage that can occur with having different grades of cement on site)
- Which cement will be able to meet the needs reliably
First consider:
- The performance required from the cured concrete:
- What strength is suitable for the particular application?
- Is good durability needed for high a traffic area?
- How important is it to be watertight?
- Is resistance to weathering a concern? - The impact of the choice of cement on the cost of the concrete
- Will early strength gain save time and money spent on labourers and formwork?
- Will the work be done in summer or winter?
- Appearance: how important is an attractive finish to the concrete?
All cements are NOT the same, even if the description on the bag looks similar:
- A reliable branded cement has a back up service and all-round quality assurance?
- A reliable brand has the investment and technology to ensure that the cement will perform consistently?
The Lafarge brand assures you of consistent high quality, user-friendly cements
Better Value Through Innovation
The unique Lafarge range of cements
| Bagged Products - Le Classic |
Bulk Products - Powercrete Plus - Rapidcem |
Le Classic
A premium 42,5N cement that provides the effective performance solution for a wide range of concrete and mortar applications. Le Classic is packed in a 25kg bag bringing customers the advantages of:
- No wastage - the smaller bag allows users to make a variety of mix quantities without leaving part-used 50kg bags of cement to go to waste
- Easier handling
- Safer to carry – less risk of back injury
Projects around the home
Le Classic cement can be used for any concrete or mortar work around the home with the confidence that the required strength and good finishes can be achieved. This user-friendly, high quality cement is especially suitable for use by DIY enthusiasts and small building contractors.
Fastcast
An ideal 52,5N cement for applications requiring high ultimate strength concrete mixes, Fastcast’s innovative formulation also has a high rate of early strength development. This is a major benefit to:
- the productivity of precast concrete product manufacturers by allowing quicker turnaround time of moulds
- construction applications where high early strength is can be an important time saving requirement
More economical
Fastcast offers potential cost-savings for general concrete work depending on the ultimate strength requirements of the job, through:
- better utilisation of moulds
- less formwork and labour needed
- availability in a 50kg Kraft paper bag means smaller special jobs can be handled economically
The high strength capability of Fastcast means the product costs marginally more, but less Fastcast is required per cubic metre of concrete than with lower strength class cements to achieve the same final result.
Buildcrete
A product that gives our customers extra value
Buildcrete CEM IV 32,5R is our well-known general purpose bagged cement developed to have a wide range of concrete and mortar applications, from domestic construction to large building projects – PLUS Buildcrete’s innovative formulation gives customers the benefit of an early strength gain, ‘R’ classification. Buildcrete provides excellent value plus:
- a user friendly cement with superior workability
- better productivity from its good early strength gain
- an environmentally-friendly ‘green’ formulation
Powercrete Plus
Powercrete Plus 42,5N is a Premium Technical cement for specialist applications that combines excellent strength performance at all ages with versatility and enhanced durability benefits.
Available from resellers in 50kg bags for users requiring relatively small quantities, Powercrete Plus has the good workability and other benefits of an environmentally-friendly fly ash extended product.
What Our Bags Tell You
Not sure what all the information on our bags mean?
Powercrete Plus
Powercrete Plus is a Premium Technical cement for specialist applications that is in high demand by readymix manufacturers. The product combines excellent strength performance at all ages with versatility and enhanced durability benefits. It is a CEM II/A-M (V-L) 42,5N premium composite cement, complying with the latest SABS and European standards.
The innovative formulation of Powercrete Plus provides end-users with the option of further extension to produce customised concrete mixes.
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Rapidcem
Rapidcem CEM II 52,5N is an innovative new cement: the first of its strength class in South Africa to offer high early and ultimate strength, combined with the benefits from incorporating a quality fly ash in the formulation.
Manufactured at our Lichtenburg Cement Works, Rapidcem is classified as a CEM II/A-V 52,5N Portland-fly ash cement. The product’s high rate of early strength development is a major benefit to the productivity of precast concrete product manufacturers by allowing quicker turnaround time of moulds. Rapidcem is also ideal in applications requiring high strength concrete mixes or where high early strength is critical, such as in concrete road repairs.
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Materials
CLICK here to use our handy builder’s quantity calculator to work out the amount of cement and other materials you will require for your project.
Order Now
CLICK here to complete our online Order Form. The Lafarge Cement Call Centre staff will be pleased to process your requirements and send you a formal acknowledgement of your order.
Pallet System
All Lafarge Cement’s bagged products are delivered on pallets to ensure efficient handling throughout the supply chain and to minimise damage to bags. The cost of the pallet is included in the price of the cement.
Bulk Cement - New Service Solution
Helping customers to handle and store cement
At Lafarge Cement we focus on the needs of our customers and continually develop better products and added-value services. We view bulk cement storage silos as a sophisticated, environmentally friendly, packaging medium and our new silo project aims to:
- Add value to our quality products to benefit our customers’ businesses
- Focus on the needs of our customers in a growing market sector
- Build long-term customer relationships