National Hardware Guyana Limited and a company out of Costa Rica called Productos have embarked on a $100M joint venture that would see improvements to the way tiles are laid in homes and offices.
The joint venture is called Guyana Color Crete Manufacturing Inc and is located at Coverden on the East Bank of Demerara.
The company produces ‘Premium Thin Set’, a compound used in fixing tiles to surfaces. This material has replaced cement as the popular choice of adhesive for laying tiles, both ceramic and porcelain.
Guyana Color Crete Manufacturing Inc also produces ‘Premium Grout’ and ‘Premium Multi-Purpose Mix’ all used in the construction business.
Speaking to Stabroek News on Friday, Director and Company Secretary of National Hardware Guyana Limited Eddie Boyer said that production of the adhesive at the factory commenced after the last half of 2006.
He said that though the production is ongoing at the Coverden plant, full capacity has not yet been achieved. Boyer said that there is a need to increase capacity to meet the export market.
Boyer said that since last year there has been a tremendous demand for the product and because of this demand the company sees the need to increase its production.
According to Boyer, the products that his company produces are of a very high quality and are made to international standards.
Boyer said that thin set is better to use in laying tiles because of the additives and retardants that it has in it. Be said too that because of these, thin set better secures the tiles to the floor or surface better than regular cement. He said too that the product is built with Guyana’s climatic conditions taken into consideration.
Boyer added that the product has become so popular that cement is hardly used on the local scene to lay tiles. And he said, too, that in addition to the product being better in quality of application, the price is significantly lower than cement for the same purpose.
“We have brought the price of thin set lower than a bag of cement,” he said. Checking prices at National Hardware, this newspaper saw that the price per 50 lb bag of the thin set was $1,195.
The company also produces what is called ‘Premium Grout’ which is used to fill the creases of the tiles when they are put in place. This is being retailed for $1,795.
Boyer stated that the business at Coverden spawned by National Hardware and Productos has created 40 jobs. He said that the technology for the manufacture of the product comes from Productos, which is said to be a well-established force in the Latin American construction industry.
Asked about the shareholding between the two companies, Boyer said that on the basis of the relationship, Guyana Color Crete Manufacturing Inc will pay royalties to Productos on the products sold.
