Rivers State-based Vintage Group has formally opened Cedar Construction Limited to become the first firm in the state to produce bullet-proof blocks. The company is also to produce high-quality vibrated cedar blocks, interlock and kerb stones.
Vintage Group, also owner of several limited liability firms, including Vintage Farm and Products, Vintage Water, Vintage Resorts and Recreations, and Veteran and Vintage Tech, opened the new firm (Cedar Construction Company), which uses QGM.0T6 machine system to produce the unique blocks.
According to inside sources, the system is based on the application of German frequency conversation technology (GFCT) to produce high quality vibrated concrete blocks, solid/hollow/cellular masonry products with or without face mix and landscaping products.
The QGM.0T6 machine uses local raw materials like crushed stones, sand, cement, lime, fly ash, gravel and pellets to produce any type of masonry products needed for any building projects.
Mike Elechi, MD/CEO, Vintage Group, explained in an interview with BusinessDay that the essence of the block industry was to fill the gap which he said had been created in the construction sector of the Nigerian economy.
He said: “You see that builders in the construction companies are complaining. Most of the time you see storey buildings collapse, taking lives and monumental loss along, all as a result of poor quality of materials used. We believe that we can fill the gap in Nigeria’s industrial revolution, especially in the building sub-sector or in any construction outfit in the country. In this company, we have blocks that can serve the needs of any construction company or a building company so that we can have standard buildings.”
He explained how the products have been in hot demand since inception, saying “despite the production capacity of the QGM.0T6 machine in the few months we have opened the order we have received, we may not have enough to meet up with the demand.”
Presently, the company has hammer blocks 6” and 9” inches, bullet-proof blocks 6” and 9” inches, interlock-stones, cedar “I” conventional blocks 6”, interlock- stones “Z”, kerb-stones and interlock-stones “T” carefully packed in the company waiting for evacuation, Elechi said.
Meanwhile, the CEO said the only problem facing the company was its location in a remote town of Elele where the products could not be easily seen by the public, unlike similar companies located in Abuja and Lagos. “Despite the location, the products are affordable, durable and solid, and if you use them, will satisfy your needs,” he said.
Saby Elemba
