Lao green block maker eyes international standards

Director of the Green Block Company Chantha Mingboupha told Vientiane Times last Friday that his intention is to produce the highest quality of green block for domestic customers and possibly for export to some Asean countries in the future.

“Today our small family business is now able to produce about 500 blocks per day but once the modern technology is installed it will be able to turn out between 1,000 blocks to 1,500 blocks per day.”

 

“However we are now looking forward to obtaining certificates that certify production quality from Thailand and the relevant Lao government sectors,” he said.

 

In Vientiane, more Lao people acknowledge the importance of using green blocks to build their houses because they are lighter than cement blocks and bricks and can save builders time and money.

 

“Nowadays when one wants to build a house, he or she will spend almost half the value of the house for contractors. If they use green blocks, it will take a shorter period of time to finish a building and therefore they will have to pay less money for workers,” Chantha said.

 

He explained that Lao people have known about the green blocks for a long time but most of them were imported from foreign countries for the construction of houses, hotels and other accommodation.

 

However many people still do not know this kind of product but soon they will as it is now being produced here in Laos, he added.

 

Currently, the company produces two different categories of blocks, including the Green Block and Super Strength Block (SSB). The prices range from 6,000 kip to 12,000 kip per block, depending on the size of the blocks.

 

The price is discountable when customers purchase a large quantity of blocks and the transport fare is inclusive.

 

Chantha is submitting documents to a university in Nakorn Rachasima province of Thailand, which is the original founder of foaming materials for green block production, to approve a quality certificate for the products manufactured by his factory.

 

“Another certificate is needed from the Lao government's relevant sector, especially the Faculty of Architecture under the National University of Laos,” he said, noting that quality is a priority. The Green Block manufacturing company is located in Suanmone village in Sisattanak district, Vientiane.

 

The company also has a plan to open more block companies in several big provinces including Champassak, Savannakhet and Luang Prabang after receiving positive feedback from customers in Vientiane over the past few years.

 

“We still need to have more time working on quality improvements of our products to ensure our customers won't spend much money because the blocks can last from 50 years to 100 years. Most importan tly, they are resistant to heat from outside,” Chantha said.

 

The Green Block production system is manufactured using Cellular Light Weight Concrete (CLC). The four essential components of Green Block are Portland Cement 52.2, sand, water, and a special foam compound.