Zimtile upgrade its Bulawayo plant

ZIMTILE has replaced its 30-year-old concrete roof tile extrusion machine at its Bulawayo plant with a state-of-the-art P45HD roof tile extruder, which is expected to boost the firm's production capacity in the outlook period.

This new plant has a capacity of 26 000 tiles per shift, representing over 100 percent increase in capacity and it can run two shifts per day.

However, the current capacity is limited to 17 000 tiles per day as the company is still awaiting to acquire additional pallets.
 
Zimtile Bulawayo operational manager Mr Gordon Kent said due to the quick extrusion head changeover of the new machine, the Bulawayo plant is now able to produce two tile profiles a day - the Double Roman and the Tuscan.

"The P45HD runs a through colour tile and has a wide range of colours. We will soon introduce the farmhouse designs on the same machine, which are very popular in most countries.
 
"The plant has automatic aggregate feeding systems with electronic weighing of materials as well as moisture control, which effectively means that we produce a consistent product of high quality."

According to Zimtile, the new plant will enhance the company's product offering.

"High production efficiencies are expected to be achieved as this plant is fully automated with integrated programmable logic controller facilitating easy plant operation and parameter changes," said Mr Kent.

"To ensure that the Zimtile tile remains the best on offer, the plant is operated by a highly trained, skilled and experienced team while vigorous quality inspections begin from the sourcing of raw materials, their transportation, storage and processing."

He added that the machine has in-process quality checks that include mix analysis, dimensions and water channel formation.

"Prior to dispatch, a quality assurance certificate is issued certifying that the product being collected has gone through strength tests, porosity tests and dimensions correct as per SAZ standards," he said.

The factory's location in Bulawayo allows the company to conveniently service its customers in the western region of Zimbabwe as well as conducting exports to neighbouring countries. Zimtile has sales offices in Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo.

This network is complemented by the other PG Group subsidiaries operating from the major cities and towns throughout Zimbabwe.