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The next
25 years
Certainly it was with great pride and a feeling of
accomplishment that we looked back on those 25
years. And while the celebrations and jubilations can
– and should – be seen as a tremendous milestone for
Hydraform, a period of honest reflection caused us to
realise that it really just marked the beginning of the
next phase of our development.
Indeed, in the time that has passed since, we have
crystallised our vision to be the customer-orientated
leaders in soil-cement technology, distributing and
supporting Hydraform machines and complementary
products in our key markets within the developing world.
We have no doubt that the need for houses, schools,
hospitals and related construction in the developing world
will continue to grow at an escalating pace. However, in
those same markets, the need for marketable skills and
employment opportunities – especially among the youth –
is equally urgent.
Building a future
At Hydraform we believe we have the solution: a single
Hydraform blockmaking machine can provide the material
to build more than 100 houses per year. What is more,
resulting structures are environmentally sound because
they are built using the same material humankind has
been using to construct dwellings for thousands of years:
soil.
And while it would be possible to build these houses
entirely out of soil, research has shown us that stabilising
the soil with a little cement will ensure that they don’t
need to be rebuilt after the next big storm. At the same
time the Hydraform machine used to create the blocks
can create employment opportunities – and valuable skills
development – for as many as 20 or 30 people.
Furthermore, the innate entrepreneurial spirit of
people is coming to the fore in Africa, South America
and the Indian subcontinent as individuals seek to build
Hydraform celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2013, an
event that saw the company take stock and assess the
road travelled thus far and the path lying ahead.
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