BUILDING SYSTEMS
Everite spearheads growth in sustainable construction A respected leader since 1941, Everite Building Products (Everite) has evolved through a series of owners, the most recent being its acquisition by majority shareholder and Mauritian investment entity Lonsa Group Limited (Lonsa). Robin Vela, Lonsa’s chairman, expands on the benefits for the South African and international markets. By Alastair Currie
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onsa Everite, the specialpurpose vehicle incorporated to execute the approximately R600 million acquisition, comprises Lonsa (55.49%), Everite Management (Pty) Ltd (14.5%), Legacy Africa Capital Partners (Pty) Ltd (25.01%), and Muvhango Netshitangani (5.0%). The deal, effective 1 May 2021, includes Everite Group’s assets, businesses and companies (including Sky Sands and Sheetrite), as well as the purchase of Everite’s production facility in Kliprivier, Gauteng. Previously part of Group Five, Everite was sold as a going concern. For the local market, it’s a new lease on life for Everite and its more than 500 employees. The company is a leading manufacturer of fibre cement and allied products for the commercial, industrial and residential markets. Within the product mix, Nutec is a household Everite brand for a range of ceilings, internal and external cladding, and roofing systems. As an early adopter of alternative building technologies, Everite also holds an exclusive licence in South Africa from the Xella Group
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in Germany to manufacture Hebel autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) block and panel products. This technology has been commonly used worldwide for more than 80 years, with a growing application footprint, including landmark developments in Dubai and South Africa. This is due to AAC’s exceptional green building qualities, high speed of building, and superior technical properties. “As the only large-scale fibre cement manufacturer in South Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa, Everite is in a unique position to service building and social infrastructure requirements in the region,” says Vela. “This is backed by some 50% excess production capacity on idle plant that is ready to run as demand increases. As we ramp up, this will drive expansion on the continent, which currently only accounts for 10% of Everite’s sales,” he continues. “Lonsa would also like to position Everite more aggressively as an enabler and delivery agent for UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – infrastructure, housing, employment, poverty alleviation – and, in doing so, make it an attractive participant for the capital committed to infrastructure in South Africa and Africa by the G7 and leading economies,” he adds. Alongside fibre cement, key growth is expected in AAC alternative building systems, supporting South African government initiatives that include the roll-out of essential projects in the housing, education, health and sanitation markets.
Industry engagement To facilitate this process, Everite is engaging with government entities, South African built environment professionals and contractors to present the business case. Industry alliances include a partnership agreement with Sanjo Fabtech Sterling Building Technologies, which forms part of Sanjo Construction (Sanjo). The former is a technology holder and custom manufacturer of internationally developed
The conversion of the Absa Tower in Johannesburg’s CBD employed autoclaved aerated concrete during its conversion from office to residential accommodation
modular loadbearing construction systems suitable for use in structures up to six storeys high, servicing all sectors of the market – from low-cost to high-end applications. Within the social housing market, Sanjo has recently constructed numerous multi-storey buildings. These include developments in Tembisa, Tshwane and the West Rand. Everite has also formed a partnership with one of its shareholders, Instratin – a 100% black-owned property development, investment and asset management specialist focusing on turnkey solutions. Instratin is currently investigating the development of several high-rise buildings on behalf of the Social Housing Regulatory Authority within Durban and Johannesburg.
AAC advantages Between two to ten times faster than conventional construction, AAC passes on major savings for a wide range of loadbearing and non-loadbearing applications. Its lightweight properties and superior strength are core
Everite is a direct enabler of infrastructure and affordable housing development, and an indirect contributor to the creation of employment and alleviation of poverty in Africa.”
