FROM humble beginnings in 1902, Corobrik’s new Kwastina (‘Home of the Brick’) factory has begun delivering product and both kilns will be in full production by November. An official launch of the R800 million facilities is planned for the end of the year.
Honouring commitments made by Corobrik at the South African Investment Conference at Sandton in 2019, this is the first new investment made by the proudly South African company since 1984. “Our new factory in Driefontein is creating exciting possibilities for sustainability, efficiency and productivity,” comments CEO Nick Booth.
Kwastina represents a significant change in the level of technology being introduced by Corobrik. It is fully automated, from mixing the raw materials to the end product. A major advantage is that it will easily be able to meet larger-volume orders, especially for the major construction and infrastructure projects anticipated in the government’s R100 billion Infrastructure Fund.
Believed to be the most technologically-advanced and environmentally-friendly brick-manufacturing plant in Africa, it will slash brick-manufacturing costs by 50%, making the product more cost-effective for end users. New design technology reduces gas consumption by 70% which combined with automation, will enable Kwastina to produce 100 million bricks a year.