An interview with Simeon Ivanov (right side of photo); Managing Director, SMA Building Supplies;
and Michalis Nisanakis; Director of Development, Marmodom.
SMA is not a new name in construction and development.
SMA Finishings have successfully undertaken a myriad of projects in Malta now; both small as well as some involving Malta’s largest and most prestigious, and complex projects; such as The Quad Towers in Mriehel’s Central Business District.
They are equally well known in Malta because they are the exclusive partners of the world-famous Marmodom brand.
Simeon Ivanov, the Managing Director of SMA, is of the undivided opinion that the Maltese construction industry is developing towards more high-end and high-tech products; that require “a better finish”.
Michalis Nisanakis Development Director of Marmodom has been supplying
SMA Building Supplies and Finishings for some years and sees a great future ahead.
In speaking with these gentlemen , Design and Build has gained a deeper understanding on the importance of the collaboration between Marmodom and SMA Building Supplies & Finishings,
and how this is beneficial to our country at large.
It is always wise, not to mention refreshing, to look at oneself through fresh eyes. Michalis Nisanakis is one such observer of the construction scene in Malta. “Malta is a dynamic country, a small island with not a huge population…there are many possibilities and a lot of potential to create something very interesting,” observed Michalis. He said that every year there is a ‘step ahead’, improvement, adding that he is very optimistic about Malta for Marmodom. “The large projects which are being constructed are middle to high end in quality, so the building materials need to be good. This is promising,”
“SMA Building Supplies has everything which any modern construction company needs, be it tile adhesives, insulation system, waterproofing system, repairing products and so much else”
Ever mindful of the impact of construction, he warned of the need to keep an eye on the sustainability of development, so that the character of the country is retained “…and of course, we are one planet, we must live here!” he added. For him, the future lies in apartments and high-rise buildings which are modern and innovative and lead to more shared space. His colleague, Simeon Ivanov listed some of the projects which SMA Building Finishes is currently involved in: a list that reads like the Who’s Who of prestigious developments in Malta ranging from Portomaso to The Quad. “Our work is always based on Marmodom,” he enthusiastically added.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE: HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
Simeon said that SMA Building Supplies has everything which any modern construction company needs, be it waterproofing, insulation or covering materials such as tiles. He said that the company can supply the whole range of needs for the construction finishes industry. “Plaster, paints, glues, finishes… we have everything,” said Michalis.
However, besides these materials which make SMA building supplies a one-stop shop, Marmodom has also invested in providing hi-tech recycled materials
“As a company, we avoid using products that are harmful to the environment. Maybe so – this is more expensive, but this is also far safer – not only for the very users of the premises benefiting from these materials, but also to the … workers”
These are products aimed at sustainability and are of very high calibre. Marmodom always strives to use chemical products and additives that are of a new generation and which present the most environmentally friendly options. “As a company, we avoid using products that are harmful to the environment. Maybe so – this is more expensive, but this is also far safer – not only for the very users of the premises benefiting from these materials, but also to the manufacture workers, to the installers, and to the eventual dismantlers of such projects in the distant future.” These people, said Michalis, “touch these products and work with them on a daily basis. “They contribute their lives and devote their livelihoods to working with us and so we need to have the utmost of respect to them and their families,” he argued.
He emphasises that these environmental specifications are beyond what is normally required in an area covered by EU standards. “Under EU regulations, it is still possible to manufacture products which require a mask or protective gloves. Not so in our products,” Michalis insisted. He continued to explain that, for example, the majority of the waterproofing products on the international markets are carcinogenic, and contact with them over time is harmful. “Not our products. We do not use such materials. All our products are certified for VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) so we know that they will not affect the health of the people. This is very important to us.”
Another aspect in which Marmodom goes the extra mile environmentally is that it strives to keep the manufacture of its products as carbon neutral as possible. “We are certified as having a low carbon footprint especially considering the raw materials we are using.”
“All our products are certified for VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) so we know that they will not affect the health of the people”
Finally, the final and all-important link, he continued, is the safety of the final user. “These materials do not release any dangerous compounds inside the house. This is very important to us, that the products, for example, have no problems for children,” added Michalis. Marmodom products are certified to not affect the health of the people inside the homes they are used in, he emphatically continued. Simeon then added that this is yet more important in Malta than in other countries because
“Malta suffers from very high temperatures which may otherwise release harmful compounds, which compounds are not found in the products imported by SMA Building Supplies.” Simeon continued to assure that “even in case of fire, quite a rarity in Malta but possible nevertheless, there should not be any release of toxic chemicals if their products are used exclusively. “All this comes within a package of products that are front runners in a sector that is very dynamic: every day brings new technologies, new styles, new methodologies. All of this information is factored into solutions that make the life of the constructors simpler. We turn what can be a problem into a solution by giving them products that guarantee quality and duration and safety,” Simeon pointed out.
SMA Building Supplies hence operate under Marmodom’s umbrella of the Eagle SA group that mines granite and marble. Marmodom, a production factory of ready-mixed plasters, was founded in 2002 and belongs to the group AETOS Société Anonyme Commercial and transport company EAGLE S.A., which operates in the extraction, processing and trading of marble and granite, timber processing, as well as in the provision of transportation services and crew for machinery and vehicles in the area of Drama, Greece.
Marmodom thus has the unique advantage of being able to exploit the raw materials of its mother companies – such as white marble dust, which results from the crushing of smaller volumes of marble from the milky white quarries in northern Greece; and hence incorporate such materials into the Marmodom product ranges – and this whilst converting construction residue into prime raw material.
“Marmodom thus has the unique advantage of being able to exploit the raw materials of its mother companies (AETOS Société Anonyme Commercial and transport company EAGLE S.A.)”
“These are the products that SMA Building Supplies brings to the Maltese market. “We have a vast range of product streams here in Malta – all of high quality, attention to the environment and to health & Safety issues, and of great value,” Simeon proudly explains. “We have construction materials, we have the production of paints in collaboration with PPG Industries, we have waterproofing materials,” added Michalis. He said that the marble element in the products makes them very compatible with natural stone. All production is done in Drama, Greece and then brought over to Malta.
QUALITY FINISHINGS IN PRIME DEVELOPMENTS
Simeon Ivanov said that the finishings provided by Marmodom are of a very high standard and the company provides a quality and complete compilation of building supplies and finishing supplies. He explained that SMA retains a healthy amount of stock in Malta; stored in two large and well-stocked warehouses.
“Our range of products includes tile adhesives, insulation systems, waterproofing systems, repairing products and so much else,” listed Simeon. He said that the local market is increasingly utilising hi-tech screeds, “and this too is one of our areas of product specialisation.”
With most of the products made in Greece, their adaptability to the often ferociously hot Mediterranean climate is well-tested. Simeon said that with Marmodom being well established also in the Middle East as well as Asia and the Far East, its products are tried and tested in diverse ambiances: from Abu Dhabi to China.
“the local market is increasingly utilising hi-tech screeds and this too is one of our areas of product specialisation”
Simeon added that the product must be good, but on its own it does not tell the whole story: “it must be installed properly,” chimed in Michalis, “since if it is not installed properly it may even destroy the whole product.” Simeon said that they invest in their human resources and their installers have been with their company for the past ten years. He added that the company provides theoretical training as well as on-site, on-the-job training.
LOOKING FORWARD, OPTIMISTICALLY
“We are looking forward to the future, confident that our product range can take us to where Malta wants to evolve,” Simeon said. “Malta needs to be more eco-friendly in its buildings and give more space to life – and SMA Building Supplies can certainly help there,” added Michalis with a genial smile.
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