29

e 9 8 e Good emissions control Finer grinding, better cement 10 Automated loading 12 7 Strong focus on quality 7 Strong focus on quality The heart of our strategy is to offer higherquality products than competitors, but made at lower cost. This relies on us deploying the most modern production techniques, backed by a constant focus on quality control throughout the entire process. We use gamma ray analysers in the quarries to ensure the best mixture of raw materials enters the production line. On the line itself we have automated sample collection that feeds limestone, clinker and cement samples to a modern robotic laboratory for instant analysis so that only an optimum product is ever sold to customers. 10 Automated bagging and loading Packing and loading bags is a critical end stage of the production process. Our rotary bagging systems are becoming increasingly automated, thus avoiding the need for workers to place bags onto the packing system itself. After weighing, bags pass by conveyors to the autoloaders that can load 800 50kg bags in less than 30 minutes, thus ensuring a much more rapid throughput when compared to manual loading by our own staff or by third-party distributors - an obvious benefit that makes our factories more appealing to customers. 8 Good emissions control Our plants are designed to perform at better than European standards of emissions, dust control and noise abatement. As outlined elsewhere in this report, we plan to introduce global standards of sustainability reporting from the beginning of 2017, so that we measure and disclose key variables such as CO2 emissions, dust control and water usage. We believe our focus on environmental care will bring advantages as African countries increasingly impose stronger regulations to protect the environment, thus obliging other operators to invest more in pollution control. 11 Superior distribution capabilities As one of the largest fleet operators in Sub-Saharan Africa, we control much of our own distribution and achieve significant cost savings and a deeper relationship with customers, to whom we can deliver cement directly. We procure large numbers of trucks that competitors simply cannot match, and manage them with GPS-based systems that ensure higher standards of fleet management. This is particularly advantageous when we export by truck from Nigeria to nearby countries such as Ghana, avoiding costly delays at borders. 11 Superior distribution 9 Finer grinding, better cement Our plants use the latest vertical rolling mill (VRM) technology to grind clinker and other additives into cement. Compared with legacy horizontal ball mills that are still common in Africa, VRMs enable us to grind a finer, stronger and more rapidsetting product than is achievable with the older technology. Stronger and more rapid-setting cements are increasingly in demand across Africa as building sizes increase and speed of construction becomes paramount. Rapid-setting products are especially popular with block makers, enabling more turnover of blocks from a single mould. 12 Strong brand appreciation Our cement is recognised as a premium product in the market, thanks to our strong focus on quality control at the factory and our customer service beyond. Our efforts in these crucial, market-facing areas help us to differentiate what could be regarded as a largely commoditised product. We support our products with strong marketing efforts that focus on brand building and raising the visibility of our bagged cement and the retail outlets through which it is sold, providing them with colourfully branded point-of-sale materials to attract customers. Annual Report 2016 29 Strong brands

30 Publizr Home