Moladi is a South African construction company specialising in a reusable plastic formwork

Formwork

Formwork is the term given to either temporary or permanent molds into which concrete or similar materials are poured. In the context of concrete construction, the falsework supports the shuttering moulds.-Formwork and concrete form types:...

 for use in affordable housing

Affordable housing

Affordable housing is a term used to describe dwelling units whose total housing costs are deemed "affordable" to those that have a median income. Although the term is often applied to rental housing that is within the financial means of those in the lower income ranges of a geographical area, the...

 and low cost housing projects, mainly in third world

Third World

The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...

 countries. The process involves creating a mould the form of the complete house. This wall mould is then filled with an aerated

Aeration

Aeration is the process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance.-Aeration of liquids:-Methods:Aeration of liquids is achieved by:...

 form of mortar

Mortar (masonry)

Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...

. The process is also claimed to be faster than traditional methods of construction.

The process has won the Design for Development award of the South African Bureau of Standards

South African Bureau of Standards

The South African Bureau of Standards is a South African statutory body that was established in terms of the Standards Act, 1945 and continues to operate in terms of the latest edition of the Standards Act, 2008 The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is a South African statutory body that...

 Design Institute in 1997, with the institute praising Moladi as:

...an interlocking and modular shutter

Formwork

Formwork is the term given to either temporary or permanent molds into which concrete or similar materials are poured. In the context of concrete construction, the falsework supports the shuttering moulds.-Formwork and concrete form types:...

 system for moulding complex concrete structures. The panels are lightweight and very robust. The system is especially suited for affordable low-cost, mass housing schemes.

In addition to being a part of the drive by the South African government to replace shantytowns with proper houses, Moladi also exports to third world countries like Panama

Panama

Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...

, where the company also plans to set up a factory. The company also opened a new factory in Port Elizabeth in 2008.

External links

• moladi (official company homepage)
• New technology cuts building costs (moladi Botswana)
• New house construction technology successfully tested (moladi Tanzania )

• Cheaper plan to beat classrooms shortage (locals are employed to build schools)
• Design with the Other 90% CITIES (Exhibit at the United Nations - Smithsonian Institute - Plastic Formwork System)