Philippe Arbones, Head of Production at Tecno Firms: "EBOMAF is a well structured and highly efficient company"

Philippe Arbones, a public works engineer, is leading a delegation of eleven (11) specialists in the application of the Tandjouaré-Cinkanssé project in Togo. Head of Production at'Tecno firmsbased in Barcelona, he reveals some parts of the partnership between his company and EBOMAF. The Spanish team leader also appreciates the company created in 1989 by the Burkinabe businessman Mahamadou Bonkoungou.

• How did the collaboration between "Tecno Firms" and EBOMAF come about?

'Tecno firms'is a Spanish company. It includes five delegations across Spain: Barcelona, Madrid, Saragona, Segovia, Toledo. She was contacted by the EBOMAF group via Armand Guerra to apply the coating on the Tandjouaré-Cinkanssé road in Togo. This is the first time that it has been deployed on the African continent. It is a group of eleven (11) Spanish technicians who are currently involved in this project. This is a collaboration that promises to be very beautiful with regard to several aspects.

• What exactly is your task at the current stage of the project?

We are currently working on the application of the serious bitumen (GB) of a thickness of ten (10) centimetres by a width of ten (10) meters. This task is carried out by finishers and graders. For now, everything has been going well since we arrived.

• How do you like EBOMAF on the one hand and the working environment on the other?

To tell the truth, we have discovered a well-structured company with a very sophisticated material that allows us to perform the bitumen application as if we were in Europe. Whether it is at the level of finishers or compactors, the observation is that EBOMAF is a well-equipped company on several levels. All devices including levelling are the same as in Europe, i.e. of the latest generation. The coating plant is also of extraordinary technology and performance. These are certain advantages for carrying out a specific task on a roadworks. To this is added a good complicity between the local team and the Spanish delegation. At the supervisory level, there is a very good understanding.

• Given that you are at your first stay in Africa, what are your feelings of discovering an African-specific company excelling in the so delicate area of the BTP?

In my view, EBOMAF is a society that does not lose sight of the dimensionGlobalisationin its activities. It is part of a permanent quest to enrich the experiences of other continents. Hence this partnership with'Tecno firms'. EBOMAF appears a company that has its peculiarities with conscious officials at all levels and there is no problem. The workers are determined and they feel a willingness to express know-how. It is a guarantee of performance, quality and competitiveness in the construction sector.

• How do you experience this first experience in Africa?

It is enriching in many ways. It's a great experience. She's positive. As much as EBOMAF employees learn Spanish, so much we discover interesting things with them. It is a mutually fruitful collaboration.

Comment by JE