Our Brands
SECTOR PROFILE
In 2018 to better serve the region’s construction needs, the ANSA McAL Group launched the ANSA McAL Construction Sector. Companies that once served the construction industry under the ANSA McAL Manufacturing Sector have now been brought together to create a greater synergy between the companies and to increase the sector’s overall efficiency.
This sector manufactures and represents a full array of products and services, specified to meet all International Standards. This is evident in the products which fall within this Sector; ABEL clay products, Bestcrete concrete products, Penta Paints, Sissons Paints and Berger Paint. By building this portfolio of products and services under one roof, the Sector offers a more efficient level of solutions-based interactions with its customers. These products and services already go hand in hand with one another, so there is great benefit in operating as one unit. By pooling resources, the Sector can now bundle its products and services in a manner that no other supplier can thereby strategically position itself in the market as a true solutions provider. This also allows the Sector the opportunity to bolt on new products and services and continue to expand and build a larger portfolio.
ANSA McAL LIMITED
ABEL Building Solutions (ABS) (trading arm of ANSA McAL Enterprises Limited) is a subsidiary of ANSA McAL. ANSA McAL Limited is a diversified public conglomerate. Listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE: AMCL), it is one of the largest local conglomerates with an asset base of over US$1.5 billion. To date, its business operations span the manufacturing, brewing, insurance, finance, real estate, media, shipping, trading/distribution, automotive and industrial equipment retailing sectors. ANSA McAL’s subsidiaries operate in the region in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, and the USA.
The ANSA McAL Group’s history began in 1881, when George R. Alston established Geo R. Alston and Company as a small agricultural trading company in Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1919, with his entrepreneurial drive, keen business acumen and vision, he founded Alston and Company – a diversified group of successful companies which included Trinidad and Tobago’s first match company, Trinidad Match Company (est. 1887); a shipping company now known as Alstons Shipping (est. 1905); a clay manufacturing company, Trinidad Clay Products (est. 1947 – now Alstons Building Enterprises Ltd.) and an insurance company, Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Co. Ltd. (est. 1963). In 1947, Alstons Ltd. was created, as was the Caribbean Development Co. Ltd., the brewing company of our world-famous Carib beer.
THE BIRTH OF ABEL BUILDING SOLUTION (ABS)
Currently, there are two manufacturing divisions under ABEL Building Solutions, namely – ABEL Clay TK# 4 division, and Bestcrete division have been certified by DQS Inc. to ISO 9001:2015 Standard. Since 2001, ABEL/Bestcrete has maintained certification by DQS Inc.’s to ISO 9001 standard. Whilst there is one Board of Directors and one common Management team overseeing the operations of the various divisions, we have traditionally approached the market as separate entities.
These divisions, however, offer complementary products to the market and provide synergies and services that other companies do not. Driven by the Sector Head and supported by the Executive Board of ANSA McAL, an initiative was undertaken to bring all the various sales, marketing, and technical expertise under one umbrella, hence, the birth of ABEL Building Solutions.
Thus, this organization is, in essence, a “one-stop shop” where customers can source their building needs, of clay and concrete blocks together with various types of paint. This Division will serve as a consultancy firm that will assist the customer through the building process by utilizing the expertise of our trained team of engineers and technicians.
ABEL CLAY
Located in Longdenville, Chaguanas, ABEL is the largest manufacturer of clay building blocks in the English-speaking Caribbean. For over sixty (60) years, ABEL has been at the forefront of the building materials industry and has earned the reputation for quality, variety, and innovation.
In 2013 ABEL Clay division, introduced the new TK# 4 automated Clay Block making Plant with a daily capacity of 162,000 pcs. 90mm x 199mm x 300mm clay blocks. Added to its variety of clay blocks are: the vertical core blocks (Foundation and Massive).
ABEL Clay has outsourced the manufacturing activities for production of clay blocks, produced at TK# 4 to Caribbean Clay Processing Services Limited (CCPSL).
BESTCRETE
Located on 30 acres of land in Arouca, east Trinidad, Bestcrete for over fifty years has been the trusted name in concrete building products. The manufacturing facility consists of three plants, two of which are automated, with a combined daily production capacity of over sixty thousand concrete blocks. Bestcrete also produces a much wider variety of concrete products than its competitors; among these are interlocking paving stones and several designs of decorative blocks.
Production facilities at Bestcrete presently include three (3) fully functional plants, with the most recent upgrade, the Colombia 1600, making it one of the most modern plants in the Caribbean. With the introduction of this plant, Bestcrete is now able to increase its production capacity by 30%.
ABEL- Clay and Bestcrete products are manufactured to internationally accepted standards, with the companies being certified by DQS Inc. to ISO 9001:2015 Standard. The range of Bestcrete products have been used on several prominent projects throughout the Caribbean. Most noteworthy is the interlocking pavers which were used at the Grenada Stadium and the Port of St. George’s (Grenada), the St. Vincent Cruise Ship facility, Sandals Resorts (St. Vincent and Jamaica), and the Piarco International Airport and the Brian Lara Promenade (Trinidad & Tobago).
To efficiently reach the widest cross section of the buying population, ABEL / Bestcrete has segmented the market into that of hardware dealers, contractors, and the retail trade. Each member of our sales team has been assigned to one of these segments and it is their responsibility to ensure that every customer receives the highest level of service.
ABEL / Bestcrete sales and distribution channel for the retail trade, comprises of the two factory outlets and the Tobago Product Centre which are shared with fellow ANSA McAl group member, ANSA Coatings Ltd. Here, the entire range of products are displayed, and customers receive expert advice on their building needs from our staff. Currently, there are the two factory outlets, Bestcrete on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Clay at Deport Road Longdenville and the Product Centre in Scarborough Tobago.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
ABEL-Clay | The Manufacture of Clay Blocks. |
Bestcrete | The Manufacture of Concrete Building Products including: Blocks and Pavers. |
Air Condition and HVAC Systems | Residential and Commercial Air Condition Units – Katashi & Carrier |
Engineered Systems | Curtain Wall, Composite Panels, Shop Front, Commercial Entrance Doors, Elevators and Industrial/ Commercial Fans |
Top Brands
ABEL is the largest manufacturer of clay building blocks and for over 60 years has been at the forefront of the building material industry earning a reputation for quality, variety and innovation. ABEL has commissioned the largest, state of the art, clay factory in the Caribbean. | |
Over the past 50 years, Bestcrete’s name has become synonymous with the concrete block. Bestcrete’s commitment to producing the highest quality concrete products has made its brand the proven standard in the regional building industry. |