nov-2017c

74 75 THE CARIBBEAN CEMENT COMPANY Jamaica was not seen to be able to support such a large and prosperous manufacturing industry like cement,” says Sophia Lowe, Carib Cement’s Commu- nications and Business Development Manager.“So, it took all the way until 1947before the company was incorporated, and 1952 before the factory was officially opened and the first cement was produced. But when cement manufacturing began,we were the only ones who had a facility, and over time, as Jamaica grew,we remain the main supplier of cement.We grew from one kiln to two,we upgrad- ed the plant multiple times, and we moved from 100,000 tons of capacity a year to 2,000,000.We are one of the biggest companies in Jamaica as it relates to capital, profits, and reach; we’re actually one of the companies they use to determine if there is growth in the country, based on our performance.” Today, Carib Cement’s operations take place at six Jamaican locations: Rockfort, Kingston,where lime- stone is mined, rawmeal manufactured, and clinker and cement are produced; three quarries - Jamaica Gypsum and Quarries,where gypsum and shale are mined and transported to the plant via trucks, and Cambridge Hill,where shale is also mined for transport; and two depot facilities located at Mon- tego Bay and Mandeville,where cement is stored, dispatched, and sold. The company has about 250 full-time employees and another 200 contractors.The majority of its products are packaged with about 70 percent of its product going to the retail market. It also exports its surplus gypsum and cement.“We do export from time to time,” says Lowe.“Some years our expor- tation is a lot more robust than others.This year, it’s not as high because we’ve been focusing on a booming local economy.We have a lot of projects going on during the overall economic upturn.And with more disposable income,we have seen more persons adding on their homes.” Not content with simply dominating the local market, Lowe says that Carib Cement is now focus- ing intensely on becoming a more customer-centric company.“We want to ensure that, as we grow, our customers get the biggest bang for their buck, as well as quality products.We want to offer them cement solutions, not just the cement, itself,” she states.“For example, in Jamaica,we have a problem with blocks not meeting all the various specifi-