Araco introduces translucent concrete

Araco Ready Mix Concrete Company will start producing ‘translucent’ concrete, a first-of-a-kind in the local market.

The concrete-like material is mixed with fiber optics in order to allow light to pass through. It can be used as a project’s façade and can help reduce the need for energy.

Rabih Maarouf, Country Plant Manager at Araco, said: “We realize that demand is low for now, but we wanted to distinguish ourselves and hopefully stimulate the market a bit.”

According to Maarouf, the new ingredients do not affect the durability or other characteristics of regular concrete.

The quantities produced will be dictated by market forces. This in turn will determine the investment that Araco is willing to make in the product.

The price of translucent concrete has not yet been set.

Maarouf said: “We are still calculating the costs, but it is going to be at least 25 percent more expensive than regular concrete.” The average selling price of concrete is $75 per cubic meter. “When demand grows in volume, the cost will definitely be reduced,” he said.

Araco is already a producer of regular ready-mix concrete.