East Africa: Region Set to Benefit from Affordable, Eco-friendly Roof Truss System
By Zachary Ochieng
NAIROBI---Housing consumers are set to benefit from low-cost roof truss system following the impending launch of ULTRA-SPAN, a product of SAFAL MiTek Limited, a joint venture between Mabati Rolling Mills Limited (MRM) of Kenya and Mitek Industries South Africa, a division of worldwide MiTek Holding Inc., part of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathway, USA.
ULTRA-SPAN is a revolutionary product and the first of its kind in the region. It offers a cost effective (no maintenance cost, no wastage, saves construction time), strong, long lasting (25 years of material warranty), environment friendly, easily available, easy and faster to erect roof truss system.
The launch—slated for Thursday 19th May 2011 at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel-- will be graced by Dr James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Bank. Also in attendance will be Dr Manu Chandaria, Chairman, Mabati Rolling Mills, Mr Stephen Fray, Group MD, Mitek Australia and Mr Kaushik Shah, Regional CEO, Safal Group, Horn of Africa.
In a media briefing ahead of the launch, Mr Shah said as the middle class continues to yearn for decent housing where families can stay together, the demand for better products and solutions is going up. “This is where ULTRA-SPAN comes in handy. It is the most-environment friendly product and a direct replacement for wood. It is also serves the low end market very well”, Mr Shah told reporters at the company’s offices in Nairobi.
It is noteworthy that the company has been at the forefront of designing houses meant for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), besides being involved in the construction of go downs and medical stores. The company has manufacturing facilities in Athi River, Kenya.
Supported by an innovative software design that is not easy to imitate, the product is combustion-free and easy to install, with the ability to erect between 15-20 houses in a day. Other benefits of the product include light weight, high strength, fungus, borer and termite resistant, higher accuracy, longer life due to pre-galvanised sections and lower builder’s risk and insurance costs.
“ULTRA-SPAN has a longer life because it is designed using a state-of-the-art software solution. It satisfies the ever increasing demand for complex roofing market. Since it is a direct replacement of wood, it is going to help conserve our forests”, said Mr Shah.
According to Mr Shah, four different designs are currently available for costs ranging between Sh 80,000-Sh 100,000 ($1000-1250). The company has initially invested $2 million in the project but this is set to rise at a later stage.
The product has been around for over one year but is now set for an official launch after reaching the take-off stage.
“In the next five years, ours will be a product that will be recommended by architects and consultants and which everybody will be yearning to use. We also hope to have expanded throughout the entire region”, says an upbeat Mr Shah.
MiTek Industries South Africa has a network of over 140 licensed prefabricated roof truss manufacturers and provides a competitive and economic solution to even the most complex roofing problems.
MRM is the flagship company of SAFAL Group serving Africa and other parts of the world since 1961.