Internal Newsletter

HELLO #ISSUE 1

MY NAME IS.....? CONTENTS : PAGE :

INDIVIDUALLY Norman Seymore Welcome Letter 2
WE ARE ONE DROP Brett Larsen Welcome Letter 2
a.b.e.® Exco 2017 3
BUT TOGETHER, abe.® cote WD 337 & CHRYSO®Cim 3
WE ARE AN a.b.e.® Rescues Tippler 4-5
OCEAN Moderne Méthode 5
Retail Growth 6
New cement laboratory for a.b.e.® and
CHRYSO 6-7
Dynamic floor for new CHRYSO laboratory 7
Safety Day 8
Skills Development 8
CHRYSO's new fibre range 9 - 10
New Staff 11
Long Service Awards 11
Fun in Finance 11
Credit Controller of the Month Award 11
PWC Tower 12

COMPETITION All a.b.e.® and CHRYSO® employees are eligible to submit as
many times as they like. The winning name will be selected by
NAME-THE-NEWS- the newsletter committee. The person who submits the winning
LETTER CONTEST name will receive a Woolworths Gift Voucher.
Deadline is 7 April 2017 and entries can be emailed to
The new a.b.e.®/CHRYSO ® [email protected].
combined newsletter needs a In the event that more than one person submits the name
name. selected by the committee, the gift voucher will be shared.

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER

January / February 2017

Norman Seymore -

Welcome to the first edition of the New Combined internal newsletter for both CHRYSO Southern
Africa and a.b.e.®

This follows along with the inte- our top line sales figures. • a.b.e.® retail sales have
gration project “Project Blended” • The reverse of this is the had a fantastic start to the year
that was shared with you last level of market activity in the and this trend looks set to con-
year. I hope that you find this first Western Cape which is con- tinue in the months ahead.
edition informative and useful. I tinuing to “boom” and showing So in summary March is looking
will endeavour with the commu- growth over the already positive stronger from a top line perspec-
nications team to highlight new results in 2016. tive for both businesses but we
products and business initiatives • The currency has are going to need the extra effort
that will assist and facilitate our strengthened in 2017 and re- to catch up from the slow start.
ambitions with regards to gained the majority of the Remember our safety objectives
Project Blended. losses experienced last year and never compromise on these
The New Year has started with which should have a positive – I look forward to your feedback
many mixed signals: impact on our input costs with on this new internal newsletter
• On the negative side our regards to imported raw and sharing more with you re-
sales both at a.b.e.® and materials and finished products. garding our developments and
CHRYSO have been impacted by • On the CHRYSO side we progress in the next editions.
the high levels of rainfall in the are also seeing positive develop- Best Regards
Inland and KZN markets, which ment in our mining and concrete Norman.
combined with a slow start and export activities which both had
have had a negative impact on a difficult time last year.

Brett Larsen -

Welcome back and my best wishes to all and their families for 2017.

2016 Sales result was one of An improvement in our safety of our competitors.
the best outcomes in a.b.e.®'s culture and investment by each Remember that sales is not the
history however over shadowed and every one of us is pivotal in whole company, the whole
as we did not achieve the best securing improvement in 2017. company working together
profitable outcome as we should Expected focus areas for 2017 becomes sales.
have for 2016. The profitabili- include foremostly, everyone’s Please be further reminded of
ty being somewhat affected by safety, company sales growth our company values being,
exchange rates and the non-re- and the reality in achieving safety for all, entrepreneurship
trieval in price increase gains company profitability. and innovation, customer and
from the market. I am very confident in achieving results driven, empowerment
I would like to thank each and our targets this year with every- and decentralization, sense
every staff member for their con- one’s support throughout our of human responsibilities and
tribution in 2016 and further business. The market is chal- equal opportunities.
wish to see the same for 2017. lenging however we have very Again I wish everyone the very
A huge concern though for 2016 good people and structures, not- best for 2017!
was our safety outcome which withstanding a much improved
was way below reasonable supply chain to be a step ahead
standards and our target.

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 2

a.b.e® EXCO 2017

From left to right: Brian Matthee (GM: H.R. & Organisation), Mr. Norman Stuart Seymore (CEO CHRYSO Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. /
a.b.e.® Construction Chemicals (Pty) Ltd.), Brett Larsen (Chief Operating Officer), Phillip Nottingham (Chief Financial Officer), Luis
Ferreira (Business Development Manager (Export), Mario Marais (General Operations and SHEQ Manager), Steven Montgommery
(GM Supply Chain & Projects), Radesh Sooklal (Finance Manager), Ivor Boddinghton (GM Technical).

abe.®cote WD 337 & CHRYSO®Cim -

A job worth doing is worth doing together

BLOEMSPRUIT - LEBONE VILLAGE PROJECT is a Start Living Green project run in collaboration with
the University of the Free State and local Non-Profit Organisations throughout the country. Lebone
Village, established in May 2000, provides a safe haven for vulnerable children affected or infected by
AIDS and HIV. Lebone Village, is capacitated to endeavour in green social entrepreneurship through
appropriate green building technologies utilizing tyres, grass, ground and flintkote as a binder. This
site is used as the formal training site for unemployed adults, disabled individuals, disadvantaged youth
and volunteers from all over the world. The building will be utilized as an arts, crafts and cultural hub.
a.b.e.® and CHRYSO donated abe.®cote WD 337 burnt red and CHRYSO®Cim, whilst flintkote was
purchased by the organisation.

- By Cynthia Nel

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 3

a.b.e.® Rescues Tippler

Products and teamwork

For the last year, Darryl Laycock, technical sales civils work at Richards Bay Harbour, made it even
consultant Richards Bay, had invested in building harder.
the relationship with some key local and regional Then on Thursday 19th of January 2017 at the
decision makers in Transnet Capital Projects (of Harbour, one of their tipplers ceased to function. (A
which Portnet is a division). But with them having tippler is a heavy machine that is utilised in off-
Sika as their preferred supplier on construction loading coal from a railway truck/carriage by lift-
material for all their infrastructural repairs and ing it and turning it upside down and thereafter the
coal is deposited onto a conveyor belt system which
then runs straight onto the relevant ship, waiting
to transport it overseas.) The tippler had collapsed
under load as the concrete columns supporting it
failed, the concrete bases and starter columns sup-
porting the tippler had disintegrated. This resulted
in the whole logistical operation out of the Richards
Bay Coal Terminal being compromised, as 50% of
their capacity was now not functioning (they had a

second tippler which was already running at full capacity) causing trains and ships to back up at the
port, which meant huge knock-on costs as well as a logistical nightmare for Portnet. Darryl was con-
tacted the next day to do an urgent site inspection and offer a fast and sustainable solution involving
our concrete repair products. He specified durarep FMC as the primary product to allow quicker curing
of the repairs to the support columns as well as delivering the required tensile strength of 30 MPa in 3
days. Added to this was the need for epidermix 344 wet to dry epoxy, and CHRYSO®Cure WB curing
compound.
By close of business on the Friday the order was placed for the first delivery of product for that night by
Mango our Distribution partners from Mount Edgecombe branch. Darryl remained on site from 11h00
on the Friday morning until 04h00 the next morning working alongside the emergency maintenance
crew of Transnet RME (Rail Maintenance Engineering) until the first base repair was complete. The next
day, Saturday, Darryl returned to site in the early afternoon and assisted with the inspection of the
second column which he recommended should also be done and again repairs were considered urgently
necessary.
By now we had run out of FMC stock, 150 bags later, as this emergency repair project was not planned
or forecasted for. With enough FMC available at Gauteng DC to finish the second column’s critical repairs
and to get the tippler operational again as soon as possible, a.b.e. teamwork had to quickly get to the
next level. Jasper and Brett in facilitating the support with Steven, Angie, and the Supply Chain team
at Gau DC getting a truck ready to deliver 200 bags of FMC straight to Richards Bay on the Sunday
and Darryl ensuring port access with the vital assistance of Transnet RME, was not an easy task under
the urgent conditions. Mount Edgecome also had to make one last delivery on the Sunday, with all the

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 4

additional epidermix 344 and CHRYSO®Cure WB requirements. Gareth, - By Jasper Allardice
MTE Warehouse Manager and Tommy and his team from Mango, were also
working on Saturday and Sunday, picking and loading stock onto vehicles
and delivering to Richards Bay. Finally, the tippler was operational again,
but more importantly this will hopefully open the door for us to assist
Portnet and Transnet at Richards Bay Harbour with their planned R1 Billion
infrastructural upgrade of the port in the near future.
One can agree that “this achievement is a reflection of a.b.e.’s commitment
to service excellence and it has highlighted the effect of outstanding team-
work to attain what was almost considered to be impossible”, as Darryl
commented. Notwithstanding our high quality products.
Well done to all mentioned and not mentioned!

Moderne Méthode

The CHRYSO Group makes two
important acquisitions

Towards the end of last year, the CHRYSO Norman Seymore says: “Moderne Méthode will
Group acquired Moderne Méthode and Béton enhance CHRYSO’s existing product range and as
Academy – which will expand its aesthetic con- well as add certain technologies to a.b.e.®’s DIY
crete product range. Moderne Méthode is a 13 and consumer market channels. There will also be
year old company that is a leader is the deco- a.b.e.® products that will fit in the Moderne Méthode
rative concrete product market in France and range. In addition to this, the Béton Academy will
has a global reach. The company has built its address industry specific needs with regard to pro-
success on two pillars: ducing decorative concrete and give concrete appli-
• It manufactures and distributes a unique cators the confidence to use our products.”

and comprehensive range of products, - By Kirsten Kelly
innovative tools and systems to assist in
producing decorative concrete.
• Training: Moderne Méthode uses the Béton
Academy to train and instruct decorative
concrete applicators on how to use these
products.
With a focus on stamped, polished and
micro-topping concrete (milimetric concrete
coatings that can create a stabilised sand,
granite, marble and metal effect) as well
as resins and stampable overlays, Moderne
Méthode offers a broad range of decorative
concrete products to applicators.
Commenting in this exciting acquisition,

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 5

Retail Growth

Be the game changer

a.b.e. retail division had an excellent 2016 with in crease profitability and sustaining market
growth of the Key Accounts at 11% and total share.
Resellers at 12%. Biggest growth contributors were •Maintain launching innovative new products to
Massbuild (BWH, BTD & BEX) with 21%; Cashbuild
being down 20% in 2015 and regaining momentum boost sales growth and opportunities to launch
in 2016 showing 22% growth; and Essential with house brands with specific key accounts.
22% increase in sales. •Increase in-store visibility to maintain store
Main strategies for growth were tight relations space and promote to end user.
with Head Offices and in-store product mix focus. •Increasing the amount of Key Accounts for
Regular product range reviews were conducted a.b.e. as route to market.
during the year getting store support and com- Anzel says, it’s an honor to represent a.b.e. and
mitment. Another role player for growth was new the teams’ support and commit are invaluable.
products launched which were listed at store level She is most excited for the year ahead and
contributing 9% of the 12% Resellers growth. believes “you can never have too many tabs
2017 plans for this successful division include: open”.
•Expanding our footprint in the market place using
- By Anzel Botha
numerical distribution signing new stores
and increasing fill rate on the product mix.
•Focus selling on quality and not just price to

New cement laboratory Centre of Excellence - Eddie's Kitchen
for a.b.e.® and CHRYSO

“Innovation is our Chemistry”

In a unique move to combine cement, concrete machine that can test cement according to the
and construction systems technology, the CHRYSO South African National Standard EN 196-1:
Southern Africa Group has extended it laboratory 2011. A new setting time apparatus has also
testing facilities and opened a new cement been purchased. Speaking at the internal launch
laboratory at its head office in Jet Park, Gauteng. of the laboratory, Thierry Bernard explained that
Furnished with ultra-modern equipment, the this will help CHRYSO Southern Africa to better
laboratory will be able to independently test manage the testing side of their selling process.
cement samples locally. This will assist in creating ”CHRYSO Southern Africa will no longer have to
new product formulations as well as tailor made
solutions to match specific applications or
customer requirements. The laboratory is set up
with a cement homogeniser, a mortar mixer, ISO
prism moulds, a jolting table, curing bath,
humidity cabinet and a compressive testing

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 6

send cement samples to the CHRYSO Group’s This cement laboratory will bring value to our
laboratory in Sermaises or to laboratories in South cement customers and will help us become
Africa. We will now be able to test a range of our efficient in giving customers timely and valuable
products at various dosages on various types of technical information.”
cement and recommend the right cement additive The cement laboratory will assist both the Sub
at the right dosage in terms of performance and Saharan Africa region and the Middle East Region.
cost”. In addition to this, CHRYSO has budgeted
for a laboratory ball mill, where CHRYSO®Cement Benefits for a.b.e.
Additives are combined with clinker and other raw
materials used in the manufacture of cement. This Warren Delaney (Chief Chemist) and France
takes the cement testing process one step further Nkadimeng (R & D Lab Manager) will move from
by fully understanding the impact of CHRYSO® a.b.e.®Boksburg to the cement laboratory. This will
Cement Additives in the cement milling process bring both a.b.e. and CHRYSO technical teams
relevant to each individual cement manufacturing under one roof where their experience, concepts
plant. Bernard added that by using a concrete and and ideas can be shared between the two teams
a cement laboratory together, CHRYSO Southern as opposed to working in isolation. For a.b.e., the
Africa will be able to greater assist its customers cement laboratory will give more detailed informa-
in optimising concrete mix designs. "Our slogan is tion on any changes in cement performances. This
‘Innovation is our chemistry’ and when one talks will assist a.b.e. in making batch adjustments or
about innovation, we look at research and deve- modifying products (if required) to incorporate pos-
lopment, skills and developing technical people.” sible benefits from changes in cement. With the
“The CHRYSO Southern Africa Group holds a two technical teams under one roof, there will be
leadership position in the construction chemicals the potential to incorporate CHRYSO technologies
market in South Africa; however we are not into a.b.e. products and vice versa.
complacent and will continue to invest in order to
ensure that we maintain our position. - By Kirsten Kelly

Dynamic floor for new
CHRYSO laboratory

Coat it with gloss

CHRYSO required a product for the new lab- that is ultra durable. abe.®cote PUD clear gloss
is UV resistant with good mechanical properties
oratory floors of 250m2 that are easy to clean and and good chemical resistance against water, alco-
maintain. Ryan Nel from a.b.e.® recommended hols, salt solution and petrol.
a selflevelling epoxy abe.®flo and a topcoat of
abe.®cote PUD clear gloss a two component - By Ryan Nel

solvent free, water borne, polyurethane coating

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 7

Safety Day

Wednesday 22 March 2016

Skills Development

Further commitment by CHRYSO S.A. to transformation and skills development

The Group has awarded university study bursaries for 2017 to two previously disadvantaged students.
The award of the bursaries to the BSc students at the University of Pretoria, was made by the CHRYSO
Group’s BBBEE Trust, which annually identifies and financially assists historically disadvantaged black
students complete their construction and engineering-related tertiary education at Gauteng universities.
This year’s bursaries were awarded to Koketso Masemola and Benjamin Kumalo at a special function
held at a.b.e.® Boksburg.

Koketso Masemola, whose studies were also
sponsored by the Chryso BBBEE Trust last year,
told the meeting that she was planning a career
in analytical chemistry; and Benjamin Kumalo
said he hoped that his degree would enable him
to make a meaningful contribution to improving
concrete performance and durability.

United for progress: (From left to right) Brian Matthee, CHRYSO SA Brian is constantly seeking ways to boost staff
Human Resources and Organisation GM and BBBEE Trust member; welfare and development. The Group supports
Wanda Moraka, also of the CHRYSO BBBEE Trust; bursars Benjamin the training of both young people starting
Kumalo and Koketso Masemola; and Maj-Gen Keith Mokoape, of the careers in construction, as well as the upliftment
CHRYSO BBBEE Trust. and advancement of skills of older previously
disadvantaged black people who are currently
struggling financially.

- By Brian Matthee

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 8

CHRYSO's new fibre range

Fibre solutions for every application

CHRYSO Southern Africa has partnered with Adfil (a UK based company that manufactures polypropy-
lene fibres) and will now sell a new range of Adfil fibres under the CHRYSO name.
In addition to this, Adfil will be doing a lot of work with Oxyfibre (who has treated and supplied
fibres to CHRYSO Southern Africa for many years). This is because Oxyfibre has developed patented
surface technologies and nano technologies for polypropylene fibres and can offer the construction and
mining markets bespoke fibre solutions for every application.
Furthermore, Adfil and Oxyfibre will supply a design service to our customers who wish to use macro
fibres in concrete slabs and precast items. This design program will look at certain parameters specified
by engineers and then specify fibre dosages for cost effective and optimum performances.
This is very exciting as it means that CHRYSO will have a fibre solution that no other admixture
company can offer. We now have the technical backing and resources to support our customers will all
of their fibre related requirements.

- By Kirsten Kelly

The new range

Micro Fibres

CHRYSO®Fibrin Fibre – used mostly in plaster/mortar
CHRYSO®Ignis Fibre – developed for fire protection
(mostly used in the mining and tunnelling market)
CHRYSO®Fibrin XT- plastic shrinkage control

Macro Fibres

CHRYSO®Durus S400 – flooring
CHRYSO®Durus S500 – mining
CHRYSO®Crackstop F18 – precast

Glass Fibre

CHRYSO®Cem Fil 61 – Reimer Trucks

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 9

Visit our new website:

http://za.chryso.com/

Why put fibres in Don’t forget about other CHRYSO products
concrete? for fibre reinforced concrete:

For those of you who do not know, A good mix design is a key factor for the optimum
fibre performance. The mix design must be
CHRYSO®Macro Fibres provide effective post crack adjusted to ensure adequate workability and an
control CHRYSO®Micro Fibres provide effective optimum bond between the cement matrix and the
crack control in concrete during the prehardening CHRYSO®Fibre.
phase • CHRYSO®Superplasticers (Optima Range) The
CHRYSO®Fibres improve the durability of concrete;
making it corrosion resistant, impact resistant, addition of fibres may reduce the workability of
abrasion resistant and freeze/thaw resistant concrete; therefore a superplasticiser may as-
CHRYSO®Micro Fibres can be used for passive sist in increasing the slump or flow of concrete.
fire protection where they melt at temperatures • CHRYSO®Cure Range The addition of fibres
greater than 160ºC. This creates millions of voids may increase the concrete bleed within the
and channels through which the vapour/ steam can concrete mix; therefore it is essential to use
escape. Therefore, the internal stresses never reach curing agents from the CHRYSO®Cure Range
a critical point and no concrete is spalled from the to prevent the rapid evaporation of water.
structure.
- By Kirsten Kelly

CHRYSO®Macro Fibres provide a better alter-
native to mesh reinforcement. Concrete with
CHRYSO®Macro Fibres needs significantly less re-
inforcing steel. CHRYSO®Macro Fibres are not a
replacement to structural reinforcement, but are a
very good alternative to mesh reinforcement. They
give a reduction in construction time due to a
saving on steel fixing.

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 10

New Staff # I love my job

Ahoy! Welcome Aboard Fun in Finance

Antoinette Pienaar - Happiness comes in waves!

Sales Representative: Retail (George) Opposites Day

Leon De Meyer -

Sales Representative: Retail (Nelspruit)

Ilze Niewenhuizen -

Sales Representative: Retail (North West Region)

Marchant Wolfaardt -

Technical Sales Consultant: Waterproofing (Boksburg)

Rudi Jordaan -

Technical Sales Consultant:
Gauteng Readymix and Precast

Lunga Mnguni -

Financial Accountant

Long Service Awards Blue Monday
Winners are not people who never
Credit Controller of
fail, but people who never quit! Years of the Month Award

Brett Larsen Boksburg service
Elvis Ramotlou Boksburg
Veronica Matsoyiyan Boksburg 5
Vuyani Gcoco Mt. Edgecombe 5
Rafique Goolam Hoosen Mt. Edgecombe 5
Elzaan Gallant Cape Town 20
Martin Petersen Cape Town 20
10
35

Thembi Nhlapho Jet Park 10 JANUARY FEBRUARY
Eric Ndaba Durban 10 Bronya Thomas Yolandi Coetzee
Tshepiso Mokone Jet Park 5
Luis Ferreira Jet Park 5
Hannes Engelbrecht Jet Park 10
Bev Torr Durban 10

INTERNAL COMPANY NEWSLETTER January / February 2017 11

PWC Tower

Concrete does the twist

In Gauteng, if you drive along the M1 towards Midrand,
you will notice a strange structure near the Mall of
Africa – the PWC Tower. This is the only twisted building
in Africa; where each floor incrementally rotates 1.2°
relative to the floor below. The core wall was constructed
by the slip forming method where a total of 6057 m³
was pumped vertically up to a height of 118 metres.

Slip forming:
With a height of 118 m and a thickness of 450 mm, the
core wall had over 400 tons of reinforcing. It was con-
structed in 65 days, with the sliding teams working in
12 hour shifts, 24 hours a day. 6057 m³ of concrete was
used to construct the core wall. The concrete mix designs
had to be both pumpable and suitable for slip forming.
A total of 12 complex concrete mix designs were made.
Retarded mix designs were used as the height increased.
This was because the volume of concrete in the pipeline
increased as the height of the building increased. When
concrete was pumped to the top of the building, a total
of three and a half cubes were in the pipeline.

CHRYSO solutions:
CHRYSO®Optima 100 - for slump retention. The pump
would start and stop for extended periods when shut-
tering had to be installed for boxing in and out to form
the multiple openings. This meant that the pump and
pipeline would remain full of concrete - highlighting the
importance of making sure that the concrete remained
workable for up to six hours (long enough for it to pass
through the pipeline and be placed into the structure).
CHRYSO®Omega 140 AFR - it was important to achieve
the correct slump. The sliding process may be delayed if
the slump is too high and it may be difficult to slide if the
slump is too low. Since the CHRYSO®Omega 140 AFR -
is a multi-dose admixture, it could create concrete with
the best suited slump for the project. CHRYSO®Tard CE
– provided enough time for concrete to be placed into the
form (around the entire circumference of the core wall),
vibrated and for the sliding process to proceed without
interruptions.

CHRYSO®Tard CE allowed one to delay the setting time of the concrete. With this slide, the concrete
would exit the bottom of the slide within 10 to 12 hours after casting, concrete could not harden during
this time as it would not have a sufficient ‘slip effect’ and then the slide would not be smooth, and there
will be difficulty in incrementally lifting the sliding system.

- By Kirsten Kelly

scoopGet more in the next May issue