Concrete idea

IMAGINE owning a home that's ready in just days.

- - AMRITHA MARY JOSE

You visit a factory, select a freshly crafted house, and all that's left is to move in. This is the future of construction that Ferrocon Concrete Factory envisions and is actively planning to help set up.

As one of the leading concrete-focused factories in Kochi, the company taps into the strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal offered by glassfibre-reinforced concrete (GFRC) to create a diverse range of products-including tables, basins, bathtubs, natural-textured tiles, and vases.

Now, they want to make the big leap forward: to create readyto-live-in houses. "Innovate as much as possible - that's our philosophy," says Mohammed Sufyan, managing partner of Ferrocon.

The idea for the company took root nearly two decades ago when his father Mohammed Sunil, a contractor passionate about innovation, tinkered with various designs and mixes. As a young architect, Sufyan joined forces with him to develop the idea further, and in 2021, the company began operations.

As their product line expanded, the team grew significantly and now includes artists, designers, engineers and skilled workers. Sufyan handles Ferrocon's marketing and design, while his father Sunil oversees production and development.

The legacy of innovation continues. "Since GFRC complements virtually any design, we've conducted endless experiments. Our latest involves mixing it with polystyrene (thermocol), and we are experimenting with precast toilets and apartment blocks that can be fully cast in the factory and assembled onsite," Sufyan says.

THE PRODUCT