Dangote Cement fights building collapse with 42.5 cement grade

In a strategic move to strengthen the construction sector, Dangote Cement has assured it would enrich the content of cement products for customers.
The company at the media launch of the brand recently stated that owing to the role of cement in nation building, it will not hesitate to give Nigerian families, contractors, builders and block makers the commodity that will serve their purpose.
In his opening remarks, Devakumar V. G. Edwin, Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, said end users of the product have testified that the Dangote Cement’s 42.5 grade is the choice brand.
His statement was corroborated by Mr. Onipade Adoye, a representative of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) who said the organisation has certified the 42.5 grade and affirmed its quality before endorsing it.
In the same vein, bricklayers and builders also admitted the ingenuity of the brand. While explaining the Dangote 3X Cement, the Group Chief Marketing Officer, Oare Ojeikere, said that Dangote 3X is the brand name for its 42.5R grade cement now sold in 50kg bags. He said the number 32.5 refers to the strength measured in Megapascals (MPA), which the cement achieves in 28 days of setting time. The 42.5 cement from Dangote achieves 42.5 MPA strength in 28 days setting time. He said the Xtra Life 42.5 is ground finer than 32.5, which gives a finer finish to the concrete work. Additionally, the mixed cement has fewer air pockets and therefore adheres better and has a longer life.

It has Xtra yield because of its higher strength characteristics. The 42.5 grade cement gives higher yield than 32.5 and to users in situations where strength is not a crucial factor. For ordinary application, cement users can mix more sand into the same quantity of 42.5 cement, thus increasing the volume and thus be able to make more blocks.
Another characteristic, he noted, is the N and R, which he said refers to Normal and Rapid setting characteristics. He said that 42.5R cement sets more rapidly than 42.5N cement, adding that if ‘N’ reaches a strength level of 10 MPA in two days’ time, R would reach 20 MPA in the same time period.
“This is because the initial strength development of ‘R’ is faster for users to achieve higher level of productivity. Block makers and builders can de-mould earlier moulded blocks and therefore build more blocks or pillars because tofu around time is faster with improved productivity,” he said.
In his contribution, Joseph Makoju, Honorary Adviser to the CE/President, Dangote Group, said the company has come a long way in cement manufacturing. He stated that the company started as an importer of cement and now exporting to other countries.