About US
Benefiting from a unique experience in the specific raw materials as well as their usage in fibre-cement stretching back more than 50 years, Ramatex SA is the leading trading house into the industry today, and the only company able to supply the full range of pulps, synthetic fibres, minerals and additives used in fibre-cement. We develop markets, and assist factories with the substitution of asbestos fibres to producing environment-friendly and safe fibre-cement products, all while optimizing the production mix and / or to improving the properties of the final products. In recent times we have begun trading in fibre-cement products for housing projects, primarily in Africa, thus further developing this dynamic industry.
Fibre-Cement
The concept of modern fibre-cement products dates back to 1894, when Ludwig Hatschek began mixing 90% cement and 10% asbestos with water, and in a simple filtration process put it through an old cardboard machine, producing asbestos-cement composite flat sheets. This became to be known as the “Hatschek Process”, which is still applied by manufacturers around the world today, but where the asbestos being replaced by a number of substitute fibres and additives.
Due to its low cost, its high strength, its fire resistance, water tightness, light weight, and its resistance to parasites and erosion, fibre-cement composite products today find more applications than ever before, with the technical properties far exceeding what was once thought possible, such as to enable cheap, fast, and durable housing, all while leaving architects the full array of design possibilities.
Products
Minerals
Minerals make an important impact when used in concrete or fibre-cement. Whether minerals are used to improve the production process, to increase the quality of the final product, or whether minerals are used as main ingredients, they always provide optimum results. Our minerals are selected for their high quality and strength properties and are used in fibre-cement and in concrete. We trade in Chrysotile, Sepiolite, Vermiculite, and Wollastonite.
Synthetic Fibres
Synthetic fibres increase the durability and tensile strength of fibre-cement and of concrete products.Selected for their high strength and optimal mixability with cement, our synthetic fibres are manufactured for specifically for fibre-cement and concrete usage, as well as for specific products such as gaskets, brake lining, or speciality papers. We trade in three kinds of synthetic fibres – High Tenacity High modulus Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) fibres, Polypropylene (PP) fibres, and glass fibres (type E).
Steel
Steel is widely used in construction and other applications because of its high tensile strength and low cost. We supply steel from selected manufacturers of the highest quality only, and in view of long durability during its usage.
Pulp
A renewable resource, wood pulp has become one of the main ingredients of modern fibre cement composite mixes, with aim of improving the water filtration during the production, as well as to increasing the tensile strength of the final product. Our pulps are carefully selected to suit the high requirements of the fibre-cement industry. We trade in Unbleached Softwood Kraft Pulp, Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp, Bleached Hardwood Kraft Pulp, and waste papers, mainly for usage in fibre-cement.
Additives
Additives are used to improve the overall fibre and cement or concrete mix, to improve the production process, and to increase the strength properties of the final products. We focus throughout the selection on stable quality in view of optimum results. We trade in silica fume, aluminium hydroxide, antifoaming, and flocculants.
Polymers
Unrelated to fibre-cement, polymers are not any less important since we find them in almost everything that surrounds us. We trade in a number of polymers, which find a large number of application, amongst which are PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (High-density polyethylene), PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), LDPE (Low-density polyethylene), PP (Polypropylene), and PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol).
Locations
