A focus on sustainability and a commitment to offer top-quality concrete backed by a high-level of service to its clients has helped Cemex clinch several high-profile projects in the UAE.

One such client is Al Jaber LEGT Engineering and Contracting (ALEC), with whom the company shares a notable portfolio of major UAE projects on which they have worked together, including the Mirdif City Centre.

Cemex, which has just completed its order last month, supplied 168,000 cu m of concrete to the Mirdif City Centre project since it started work on the development in March 2008.

“Well aware of the importance of this project and in order to give ALEC our usual full support, we prioritised their needs and were able to supply an average of 500 cu m concrete a day in 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, a period during which the construction market was experiencing an unprecedented demand for concrete,” says a spokesman for the company.

“This high level of service and our top-quality concrete – which our clients have come to expect – were well appreciated by the management of ALEC,” he adds.

While serving this project and others in the UAE, Cemex has maintained focused on its local sustainability strategy. “As part of our local sustainability strategy, we are always looking for ways to reduce the impact our operations and products have on the environment,” he points out.

He continues: “We are obtaining and maintaining ISO 14001 environmental management standards. This entails monthly measurement and tracking of water conservation, energy conservation, limiting emissions and managing and recycling waste, all in accordance with guidelines set by our Global Sustainability Function. We are also a member of EGBC (Emirates Green Building Council) where we can contribute our expertise to ensure a green future for buildings in the UAE.

Quality focus ... Cemex aims to supply products of consistently high quality.

“We have global experience in supplying projects that have surpassed requirements under multiple green building certification programmes. This is facilitated through the technical know-how and support of our nine worldwide research and development laboratories, led by our Global Centre for Technology and Innovation in Biel, Switzerland.”

At a global level, Cemex actively partners with many government and non-government organisations and scientific institutions concerned with conservation and sustainable development. These include Bird Life International, the United Nations Global Compact, The World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Conservation International and a host of other organisations at both local and global levels.

“As we have grown, so have our responsibilities and efforts to protect the environment. By using alternative fuels and raw materials, implementing innovative practices and technologies, and minimising waste, we are not only protecting the environment, but also benefiting our company and our stakeholders. Internally and externally, we actively promote environmental awareness and the benefits of eco-efficiency.”

Cemex, which commemorated its 100th anniversary in 2006, has come a long way, having grown from a local cement manufacturer to one of the top global companies in its industry. Today, it produces, distributes, and markets cement, readymix concrete, aggregates, and related building materials to customers in four continents.

“As a global industry leader, we work to provide products of consistently high quality and a reliable service to customers and communities around the world. We maintain an unwavering focus on continuous improvement and on promoting a sustainable future,” the spokesman says.

The company, whose products and services are used for all kinds of architectural applications, has set itself the goal of becoming the world’s most efficient and innovative building-solutions company.

“Our aim is to help our customers solve their building challenges. We offer them an integrated mix of products and services designed to help them complete their projects more effectively,” says the spokesman. “We provide our customers with a broad array of building materials ranging from quality cement, readymix concrete and aggregates to concrete blocks, paving stones, and roof tiles. Our products form the foundation for construction projects of every type, housing people and connecting communities around the world.”

Beyond supplying the necessary materials, Cemex says it also provides services to assist customers in finishing their projects on time and on budget. Among such facilities is its comprehensive readymix program, which helps determine the right mix of concrete to meet specifications, ensuring consistent product quality, less waste, and greater savings.

“To meet the growing demand for sustainable construction, we provide a suite of products that can help reduce the carbon footprint and the overall impact on the environment. In addition, we can advise clients on the application of these products to gain credits under green building certification programmes such as Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method),” he adds.

The company is also developing new solutions such as eco self-compacting concrete and readymix plaster and is working towards improving its production and service standards by investing in new production systems to ensure total quality control, new concrete mixer trucks and mobile pumps, obtaining and maintaining ISO900I:2000 certification standards and ISO14001 environmental management standard.

Cemex UAE, formed in 2005 following the global acquisition of RMC, covers the entire UAE with three companies located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

It has a laboratory, supported by the Dubai Municipality, to test the strength of concrete.

For readymix concrete, it operates in Abu Dhabi under the name of Cemex Supermix, whilst in Dubai and Sharjah under Cemex Topmix. Its dozen plants across the three cities have an annual production capacity exceeding 2 million cu m.

For cement and slag, it operates under the name of Cemex Falcon and has its own grinding mill in Jebel Ali Industrial Area with an annual production capacity of 1.6 million tonnes of cement. The company says it introduced slag into the UAE market.

Some of the landmark projects executed by Cemex UAE include the expansion of Dubai International Airport (2.4 million cu m of readymix concrete), the Dubai Mall (pouring of 0.7 million cu m of readymix concrete), Madinat Jumeirah, Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi (coloured plasters and slag) and Burj Al Arab (all the foundation concrete).

Its clients include Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Aviation, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), the military and an array of the top contractors and private companies in UAE.