Building a ‘green’ house
SUSTAINABILITY serves as the basis of Hume Cemboard Industries Sdn Bhd’s (HCI) commitment in its efforts to protect the environment for future generations.
As a leading manufacturer of fibre cement, HCI, in working with Global Eco Labeling Network, is the first in Malaysia to be awarded the Singapore Green Label and Sirim EcoLabel.
HCI’s laboratory was accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia in 2010 based on MS ISO/IEL 17025:2005, making it the first fibre cement laboratory to attain this accreditation in Asia.
PRIMAboard is the brand name for a range of HCI’s fibre cement products, namely PRIMAflex, PRIMAPlank and PRIMALiner. They are used in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
According to HCI managing director Koay Chee Seng, “Our company is a home-grown brand. We have been in this industry for many years and is a pioneer in this field. We constantly do R&D work to enhance the current products to suit the needs of customers.”
Koay added, “HCI also constantly works with many organisations such as Construction Industrial Development Board Malaysia, Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia, Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia and many more to create awareness on going green and other developments in providing greener solutions in this industry.”
HCI also wants to make sure it keeps up with the industry and construction trends. It strives to achieve productivity improvements and a shift to a higher technological platform.
In addition, it wants a shift from conventional construction to Industrial Building Systems. This will help solve the shortage of foreign labour, promote minimum wage and realise a high-income economy.
These three key factors will ensure the industry grows and flourishes not only to promote green products, but also efficiency in the industrial sector.
Meanwhile, one of HCI’s products, PRIMAplank, gives the warmth of natural wood design and comes in a variety of textures – smooth, woodgrain, pinewood and cedar. An alternative to wood or timber, PRIMAplank has achieved 50 years of durability tests.
According to independent coating manufacture tests, the dimensional stability of PRIMAplank allows for better paint adhesion and low maintenance.
“With products such as PRIMAplank, it teaches Malaysians to look at going green in a broader perspective. HCI also collaborates with local universities in the field of architecture to encourage students on the use of greener products from our company,” said Koay.
Only the finest raw materials are used to produce PRIMAplank. It consists of premium cement, finely ground sand, natural cellulose fibres and water which are combined and cured through an autoclaving process. This gives PRIMAplank durability and has made it the best cladding material.
Proven in harsh climates worldwide, PRIMAplank clads homes in the rainforests of the South Pacific, snow fields in New Zealand, beach resorts in Europe and beautiful neighbourhoods in Australia.
PRIMAplank is now being used in many aspects of Malaysian architecture.
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