Water infrastructure maintenance is important not only to safeguard against the wastage of water through old and leaking pipes, but also against the loss of water and associated products and equipment through tampering. Rocla’s pre-cast concrete manhole cover slabs, lids and rings have recently been installed in the Mokopane District to protect a freshwater pipeline that services the local community and runs past the Mogalakwena Mine.

Sarel Pretorius, Rocla’s Sales Consultant based in Polokwane said, “Steel valves had been removed from the freshwater pipeline valve chambers and we were approached by engineers from C2 Civils as they believed our pre-cast concrete manholes would offer a more secure option for the pipeline, which they do.”

The challenge for Rocla was in the delivery of the product. The soil levels at site were at a very steep angle due to excavations and the soil is particularly soft, resulting in traditional lifting equipment not being able to lift the complete manhole off the vehicle. Rocla circumvented this by delivering in half-loads, which enabled them to meet the delivery schedule set by the client.

For the project, which commenced in March 2014, Phase One used 44 manholes; Phase Two and Phase Three 12 manholes and Phase Four 13 manholes of which the four phases stretch over 40 kms. Rocla also used 106 1950 diameter manhole rings, cover slabs and lids and 68 1500 diameter manhole rings, cover slabs and lids.

Rocla recently supplied inverted culverts to a power station in Mozambique, as well as pre-cast bridge deck planks, permeable paving, Alfabloc powder seperators for the chemical industry and pipes and associated products for storm water projects throughout South Africa.

Rocla is one of South Africa’s leading manufacturers of pre-cast concrete products for infrastructure projects. The company will manufacture to customer requirements in addition to offering standard pre-cast sizes.

Rocla is part of the IS Group of companies which also comprises Technicrete ISG and Ocon Brick.