Cement firm rolls out all-in-one dry mix concrete solution

Leading cement-maker Holcim Philippines Inc. has developed a new multipurpose mortar product—a dry mix solution that pitches better quality of walls, floors and tile installation in building projects.

Called Holcim Multifix, the product is a combination of sand and cement enhanced with polymer that can be activated just by adding water.

Holcim Multifix is produced in the company’s dry mix plant, removing the need for masons to combine materials on site. This intends to ensure uniform quality and right proportions for the application of the mortar, the company said in a statement.

Being factory-produced also significantly reduces wastage of building materials such as sand, thus making the product more environment-friendly, Holcim noted.

Holcim senior vice president for marketing and innovation Ram Maganti said the new product would help address the common challenges faced by builders in producing mortars such as the quality of raw materials and varying skill levels of workers. Poor quality of mortars is seen as one of the main reasons that gnaw on the quality of walls in construction.

It was pointed out that aside from being an “excellent” wall plaster, Holcim Multifix can also be used for “scree­ding,” a finishing layer of concrete slabs for leveling floors, as well as for tile-laying.

“We developed Holcim Multifix in line with our company’s commitment to continuously produce innovative building solutions that do not just bring value to our customers but are also sustainable for the environment. Holcim Multifix helps make it easier for our partner builders to produce good quality walls. It is factory-mixed using Holcim cement and quality sand for superior performance,” Maganti added.

The product is modified with polymer to intensify adhesion compared to on-site mixed mortars as well as to make it more crack-resistant, he added.

He noted that Holcim Multifix was the only all-in-one dry mix product in the Philippines.

“Holcim Multifix’s five-star advantage means more business for contractors as it helps improve building quality and lessens reworks that can eat up time for additional projects. The simplicity of Holcim Multifix, meanwhile, provides homeowners convenience and value for money,” Maganti added.

The product will be initially available as 25-kilogram bags in select locations in Luzon by December and introduced in Mindanao in the first quarter of 2021. Holcim Multifix is the latest in the company’s line of dry mix products, which includes Holcim Skim Coat and Holcim Tile Adhesive. —DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA