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“Singha Cement is now available in new packaging designed according to the global standards of its parent company, Italcementi Group,” stated Singha Cement Managing Director, Colin Nelson. Nelson stressed the fact that the complete change of design was in order to bring it in line with the corporate branding guidelines of the Italcementi Group.
Explaining the new corporate identity, Nelson said that the spiral symbolised the idea of movement, acceptance of change and commitment to growth. “The spiral is the common bond in the logo used throughout the group and its component entities and represents the dynamic strength of the group’s growth. The centre of the spiral symbolises the roots of our business, its growth and the vigour of the group as whole.
“Its geometric form respects mathematical laws, thus evoking the close link between our business and its technological aspect. It is also a form that is found in fossilised limestone, the raw material used in the production of cement which also evokes the movement of our main tools: kilns, crushers, cement mixers etc.,” he stated.
Another new development for the company is that it will start construction of a multimillion dollar, state-of-the-art cement terminal to be completed by next year. “We will start construction in June of this year and hope to complete construction by early next year. As a result of this expansion, we will more than double our existing capacity. The reason for this investment is that demand for Singha has increased and to meet that demand we need to invest in a new terminal,” Nelson added.
Italcementi Group first commenced operations in Sri Lanka in 1998 and currently markets its own brands of cement, available both in bulk as well as in 50 kilogram bags which conform to international and national standards.
“We have been steadily gaining ground over the last few years and our market share has consistently improved,” said Nelson.
In the recent past, Rs. 60 million was invested in a new packing plant with an automatic bag applicator, as well as a weighbridge, while over Rs. 40 million has been invested in an improved loading system.
The company is ISO 9001 certified and its cement is in compliance with the SLS 107 standard, meeting all required regulatory standards of Sri Lanka, while Italcementi Group is a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and has signed the Cement Sustainability Initiative’s Agenda for Action.
“We are the world’s 5th largest producer of cement in addition to being one of Italy’s 10 largest industries, with operations in 22 countries and 53 cement plants worldwide,” said Nelson, who added that the group has 10 grinding centres, 449 concrete units, 115 raw material quarries and an annual production capacity of 68 million metric tons. Italcementi Group, a family-owned company based in Bergamo, Italy, has operations in Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Thailand, India and North America. “The company’s main focus is to bind the cement industry leaders to an action plan aiming to satisfy present day-to-day needs, whilst safeguarding the requirements of future generations.” Singha Cement currently operates and maintains a land-based terminal at Peliyagoda equipped with the necessary technology to receive and handle both bulk as well as bagged cement in the most efficient manner.
A total of 109 employees and a strong dealer network complement the company’s local operations.
“At Singha Cement we aim to maximize customer satisfaction, with continuous improvement in all spheres of activity,” said Nelson, who adopts a hands-on approach. Singha Cement imports its cement from ISO 9001 certified SLSI registered international cement manufacturers.
“We are here to stay, hence our investment in a new terminal and we are pleased to say that Singha Cement is now a household brand,” concluded Nelson.