When you think of any male-dominated industry, construction is probably the first job that comes to mind. The gender gap is enormous and having a female presence on a construction site is nearly unheard of. Yet, this did not deter Maria Brincat, Managing Director of GMF Precast, who heads one of Malta’s leading roofing solutions companies in the industry.
Here is what she had to say to Design & Build.
Maria Brincat is a charming yet no nonsense woman – qualities which are necessary seeing the industry she has put her heart and soul into. A pharmacist by profession, entering the business was not on her agenda having also worked as a project manager in the Information Technology sector. The untimely demise of her brother Dennis Gatt, one of the founding members of GMF Precast, saw her step into the company and continue the work he had started back in 1990 with Tonio Mercieca and perit Anthony Fenech Vella.
Maria is quick to point out that joining a male dominated workforce was not something she was afraid of, having worked in another male dominated industry – Information Technology. Instead she embraced the challenge and put into good use the project management experience and her background in the sciences obtained through her pharmacist training.
Since its inception, GMF Precast established itself as a company with a reputation for high quality, certified precast and prestressed slabs ranging from 200mm up to 525mm in height. GMF Precast has invested heavily in the latest machinery and the design process. This is reflected in the products that have raised the bar in the market. GMF has focused on designs which are lower in depth, by maximising the potential of its hollowcore sections. Its 350(N 14) section, in fact, implemented in 2016, has managed to replace 400mm-thick slabs in many cases. This aids clients in making optimal use of building height limitations. Having said this, GMF also has a niche product in its thickest section – the 525mm slab, which is the thickest prestressed hollowcore section in the local market.
I truly believe that there is no difference between females and males in terms of skills and added values they bring to a projector
Depending on the loading requirements indicated by the client architect, loading tables are used to determine the size of slab to be installed. These tables are designed by GMF’s consultant architects, according to Eurocode standards, and are periodically updated in conformance with updates in industry standards.
In the course of the manufacturing process, cube test samples are taken and tested daily in an in-house laboratory before the slabs are cut. Weather conditions, the quality of material being used and the use of additives all contribute to the speed at which the required strength is attained.
Though standard sizes are kept in stock, GMF’s operational setup is very much formatted to cater for high levels of customisation. The smooth running of the operation is largely based on a just in time principle, where the administration and the production team need to work together to ensure that slabs are produced, loaded and delivered to free up capacity for the next orders. It is a chain that is constantly being improved on – production, delivery, crane availability, permits and site preparation need to be coordinated together to ensure minimal waste of time and additional expense both internally and on-site. Maria explains that their drive to continuously improve has seen the company recently invest in a fleet of trucks which enables them to be more competitive, more cost effective and have better control over their operations.
photo: Maria Brincat checking products’ stress capacities at the company laboratory
So, how will a customer know that the products which GMF Precast manufacture meet the necessary standards?
GMF issues a certificate of manufacture for each job, certifying the load capacities of the slabs supplied to a particular site. Daily internal and periodic external testing, ensures that the specifications are being met. While the current setup is the result of over thirty years of consistently sound practice, we are implementing a system of full traceability of each slab that is produced and issued from our plant. In light of this, Maria also points out that builders are also legally responsible for what they do and must ensure that they adhere to the original building plans. Only by doing so will they ensure that the product delivers what is has been designed to.
Predalles
Between 2017 and 2018, GMF expanded its product portfolio by adding Predalles to its product line. Predalles are solid, reinforced concrete slabs cast on a vibrating table and are also used for roofing, flooring and retaining walls. Shuttering is the term given to a temporary or permanent mould into which concrete or similar materials are poured. At thicknesses of 70 and 100mm, GMF’s standard prestressed predalles are a permanent shutter that contribute to the total loading of the roof.
In our industry we tend to use the term labourer, but in reality, after a few years these employees develop some very important skills and labourer becomes an obsolete term of reference
There are savings in terms of labour time to set up and dismantle traditional wooden shuttering, and on the cost of the shuttering itself. Especially on larger sites, the client will benefit from savings due to the speed of construction.
In today’s deadline-driven reality, this can be a valuable asset. Maria explains that they make it a point to get to know their clients, who form part of the wide industry spectrum and by getting to know them they can provide the correct solution for them. When clients are uncertain of their requirements, the sales team can assist by presenting available options. No one job is identical to another and the challenge is to respond to each one in a viable and cost-effective manner.
photo: GMF Precast processing a hollow core slab installation project on behalf of their customer
Sharing the knowledge
Maria notes that since getting into the industry the level of education on the production area has reached a higher level of standard. GMF prides itself in being an equal opportunity company – if a candidate is intelligent and shows promise then they are given the opportunity to learn and grow and look for the longer-term duration of employment. “In our industry we tend to use the term labourer, but in reality, after a few years these employees develop some very important skills and ‘labourer’ becomes an obsolete term of reference.” Maria was also quite impressed by a German female student who was recently interned with them and who was studying construction in Germany. She was the only female in the production area, but this young lady took everything in her stride.
As we wrap up our conversation, I ask whether GMF Precast is looking at diversifying their operations in the near future.
Although the company is always on the lookout for novel products that it can add to its portfolio, “the focus remains on the improvement of its productivity and efficiency. It is imperative that quality products are delivered to industry quality standards, in a timely manner, and at a competitive price, so that GMF can give a level of service that meets and exceeds its clients’ expectations”.
It is imperative that quality products are delivered to industry quality standards, in a timely manner, and at a competitive price, so that GMF can give a level of service that meets and exceeds its clients’ expectations
photo: GMF Precast’s prestressed predalles provide an assured quality level of finish and stress testing, and save time during project development.
Dennis Gatt’s vision, when GMF was established back in 1990, was to provide quality products at a competitive price. Nearly three decades later, the company, under the guidance of Maria Brincat, keeps on flourishing, ensuring that his vision remains as strong as ever.
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