Trailblazing cement product producer BluBlok is redefining value in the construction sector in the Western Cape with its range of impressively high-qu
Trailblazing cement product producer BluBlok is redefining value in the construction sector in the Western Cape with its range of impressively high-quality bricks, blocks, kerbs and pavers that are being made available at value prices.
Ther company has concentrated on modernising existing equipment and procuring precision automated plants to streamline its operations and produce quality focussed products at highly competitive pricing.
Under the leadership of managing director Jess Brews (33), leading an energetic young team, the company has set out to be different and find new ways of competing in a highly competitive market. “The market is already saturated, it’s not easy to remain competitive with raw material, cement and diesel prices constantly increasing. Not to mention more and more manufacturers incorporating larger volumes of recycled material into their production at a fraction of the cost. We pride ourselves in the quality of our products and have embarked on a strategy that focuses on technology and efficient production to maintain this quality while remaining competitive.” says Jess.
Blublok started with an old 1975 German-made Schlosser plant that was recommissioned after being stripped and vandalised over a period of time before the current shareholders bought the site in 2010.
“On further investigation we began to find some key individuals who were involved in the original commissioning of the plant many years earlier. We decided to tenant out the majority of the site, invest in the recommissioning of the plant and manufacture the bricks we needed to pave and complete the building work required on the 40 000m2 site. The bones were there and we needed bricks”, says Jess.
The original plant was, for the most part, completely rebuilt and is still today one of Blublok’s fully automated plants. Over the years, the machine has undergone extensive upgrades and modifications and now predominantly produces Blublok’s bricks and blocks.
The next plant brought online was a sophisticated wet-cast plant focusing on the production of high-quality concrete units, mainly kerbs for the civils market. By 2015 Blublok was supplying their wet cast products to the construction and civils markets alongside their bricks and blocks.
“Wet cast production is labour intensive and slow compared to other types of manufacture, so we have tried to incorporate as much available automation and technology to reduce the factors which traditionally make wet cast operations inefficient. The sophistication of our plant and batching components allows us to maintain a uniform and consistent mix ensuring our quality is maintained and that rejects are limited.”
In 2023, after substantial re-investment from the shareholders, Blublok decided to establish another plant, focussing on the manufacture of paving products to complement Blublok’s existing product offering. After researching the machinery available locally and overseas, Jess settled on another German-made plant which landed in December 2023 and was commissioned by March 2024.
“I am very lucky to have the team I have. We did all the civils works, installed and commissioned the plant ourselves. The new plant has all the bells and whistles and makes what I believe to be the best quality paver from a structural and aesthetic point of view, in the Western Cape.” Says Jess.
“For us quality is not negotiable, and the process begins with procurement of aggregates and cement with carefully created mix designs, machine settings constant production monitoring. We also constantly refine these processes to ensure the reliability and performance of our units, both in the field and according to specifications of our clients. We don’t cut corners,” says Jess. “People are building homes, schools, roads and walls with our products. That means we have a duty to make them right every time.”
This type of thinking is what underscores the company’s rapid rise which is powered by a diverse and motivated team. Jess is quick to credit his colleagues for the company’s success including team members who have business experience outside the manufacturing industry combined with individuals who have decades of experience in the industry. “We are still young and have no plans of slowing down. We have the infrastructure in place to continue to grow and expand our product range. That being said, we work for our share of the market. This job is hard and requires massive capital, commitment and efficiency to produce enough volumes to survive. When I’m not in the factory, I’m on the phone fighting for prices!” says Jess.
On the distribution side, BluBlok distributes directly from its factory and predominantly uses its own fleet to deliver products and collect raw materials. This gives Blublok the ability to attend to customers as quickly as possible. Blublok products are available to see and feel at the sales office and they are in the process of establishing a “show garden” on a beautiful farm nearby the factory for architects and customers alike to come and see their products in an environment more similar to where they will ultimately end up. This direct-to-customer approach allows clients to see, touch and compare the products before making a purchase. It also helps the team better understand market demand and customer preferences.
The company serves a diverse market mix from infrastructure developers and large-scale contractors, to retailers, homeowners and developers where different products appeal to different projects like landscaping and luxury homes, as well as civil contractors and affordable housing developers.
BluBlok’s reputation is already well established in the Cape Town region and is steadily growing across the greater Western Cape. Customers return not just for the quality but for the reliability of service. “We make it easy to do business with us,” Jess says. “We quote fast, we deliver on time and if there’s a problem, we fix it.”
For more information, visit www.BluBlok.co.za or call +27 (0) 21 204 6079.
