Key focus - Innovation

Carien Botha, group executive responsible for innovation

Innovation is embedded within a number of our operations. It enhances our value offering to the market. The key driver of our innovation is to improve our service to society and to access new markets, improve our competitive position in established markets and fulfil our aspiration for zero harm.

We have invested significantly in the development of an integrated design and build solution for high quality and sustainable affordable living environments. We see this manifesting itself through medium to high density affordable housing projects in urban environments, using products and services of high quality and relative affordability.

All of our construction products businesses have new product development programs in various stages of commercialisation. During the year, Much Asphalt installed and commissioned its first warm mix asphalt plant for improved environmental impact. Murray & Roberts Steel introduced improved proprietary reinforcement products for mining which exceed global industry standards.

A Concrete Centre of Excellence has been established to improve the level of construction technology in the Group through the introduction of new technology to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Advanced research into the refinement of concrete technology is undertaken in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The Cementation Group is committed to raising industry standards across various spheres of its mining operations. New era shaft sinking methodology has been introduced into our South African operations, including changes to the design of activities, ergonomics, mining technology and organisational dynamics. 3D visualisation and animation is used to refine planning, engineering, training and knowledge capture.

Cementation in Canada and Australia continue to develop improvements in specialised shaft sinking methodologies and raise boring equipment. Our bespoke Strata 950 raise bore technology supports the only raise drill in the world for underground raise drilling of up to six metre diameter and 1 000 metre depth. New technologies have been applied to the deep sewerage shafts in Hong Kong, addressing the challenges of working in confined spaces and high density urban environments.

Innovation is embedded in the Group’s aspiration for zero harm to our business, employees, partners and the societies within which we operate. We have embarked on a coordinated drive to reduce our energy footprint across all operations. This includes ongoing initiatives to upgrade equipment with more energy efficient technologies and we are investigating the feasibility of alternative and renewable sources of energy.