First Results of Undercover Cement Quality Testing
The Cement Association of Georgia (GCA), of which GBG is one of the founding members, has presented the first results of undercover testing of bagged cement available on the Georgian market. The initiative is intended to strengthen quality control in the construction sector and to promote the adoption of European standards.
To ensure the process was fully objective, the study was carried out under the supervision of an independent body, LEPL “Sakekspertiza”. Twenty-five bags of cement from various manufacturers were purchased anonymously through the retail chain; the samples were sealed and assigned special codes so that the testers would have no information about the origin of the product.
The coded test cubes were sent for examination to the expert laboratory of the Faculty of Construction at the Georgian Technical University. For parallel testing, identical sets of samples were also examined in the accredited laboratories of GCA member companies, GBG among them.
The results of the laboratory study showed that out of 25 samples, only 8 products met the requirements of the European EN standard. Notably, 6 of these 8 compliant samples turned out to be cement produced by association members. Fourteen local producers and several importers failed the testing, and the highest strength figure recorded among them was only 18.35 MPa.
The association’s primary aim is to protect consumer rights and ensure construction safety. GCA is working actively to prevent the sale on the market of products whose actual characteristics do not match the information printed on the bag.
In response to these findings, GCA is introducing a special quality mark that will serve as a guarantee of reliability and of the European standard. The right to place this mark on the bag will be granted only to those manufacturers who undergo regular, rigorous laboratory testing and confirm the uncompromising quality of their product.
As a founder of the association, GBG’s overarching goal is to build a competitive and economically sustainable cement industry in Georgia. Strengthening local production reduces the country’s dependence on low-quality imports, creates new jobs and retains professional expertise within the country.
