Mabati Mills launches Sh160 million 'green roofing'

By Fredrick Obura

Roofing materials manufacturer, Safal MiTek a joint venture between Mabati Rolling Mills Limited (MRM) Kenya and Mitek Industries South Africa has announced a Sh160 million investment into environment-friendly steel roofing system.

The company said the eco-friendly product would help eliminate use of timber in roofing. This. it claims, will enable Kenya conserve its depleting forest cover.

"Over the recent years we have seen a surge in housing demand, increased income among the middle-class has contributed to this," said Mr Kaushik Shah, Safal Group Horn of Africa Chief Executive Officer.

"More financial institutions are providing better arrangements to this segment to own homes, there is a need to provide an alternative building material to timber to help check our environment."

The roof carrying structure, an alternative to timber, uses engineering computer software to design optimal truss plan.

The firm has been importing the green roofing product also known as ultra-span from South Africa. "With the capital injection, we have set a production line in Athi River," he said.

Roofing problems

Mitek Industries is a network of over 140 licensed prefabricated timber roof truss manufacturers, across Southern Africa, provides a competitive and economic solution to even the most complex of roofing problems.

Two years ago, Mabati Rolling Mills ina 50-50 joint venture with South Africa’s Mitek Industries formed a new company to spear head the manufacturer of the green roofing material Ultra-Span, a light gauge steel truss system.

Mr Shah said Ultra-span, which is to be officially launched Thursday is cheaper compared to timber and provides a much stronger roofing structure that is resistant to fire, termite and other boring insects that affect timber roofing structures.