Holcim touts new blended cement, sees relevance to construction boom

LEADING building solutions provider Holcim Philippines Inc. has launched a new special blended cement product formulated to perform better and have a lower impact on the environment than Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).

Ram Maganti, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Innovation of Holcim Philippines, said the new product called Solido has clear advantages over OPC that makes it a better choice in building infrastructure in the country. It is thus seen to better support the construction boom in the country.

In terms of performance, Solido-made concrete is more durable as it is less prone to water and chemical seepage that causes deterioration from within, according to Holcim. This is due to Solido’s mineral additives that make concrete less permeable and lower heat that causes thermal cracks in the structure, Maganti said.

Solido also exceeds the construction industry’s compressive strength standards for the 28day mark and continues to grow stronger beyond that compared with OPC. It is also is easier to mix and place, allowing work to be done faster, he added.

Part of the offering to Solido users are technical trainings and tests, and field support to provide packaging format options that are suitable to their projects.

Beyond product performance, Solido is more environmentfriendly than OPC due to its lower clinker content, the intermediate product responsible for a significant amount of carbondioxide emissions during cement production.

“These are the seven-star advantages of Solido that makes it the best in class in blended cement. This new product is further proof of Holcim Philippines’s determination to be a partner for progress of the country anchored on our strengths in innovation and sustainability. As the construction boom in the country continues, Solido will help our customers in building high-quality and sustainable structures,” he said.

Holcim Philippines formally launched Solido to key customers in Davao on March 1, with road shows scheduled nationwide for other important business partners in the first half.