As inflation continues to drive up construction costs in Mauritius, particularly in labour and project timelines, Saint-Gobain Océan Indien is repositioning itself as more than just a materials supplier. According to Amaury d’Unienville, General Manager – Commercial & R&D, the company’s focus is firmly on helping construction professionals work faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably, while maintaining high standards of quality.
“At Saint-Gobain Océan Indien, we aim to be a true on-site partner,” he explains. “Our solutions are designed to optimise time, productivity, and performance on construction projects.”
One practical example is MEP Col Pro tile adhesive, which allows tiles to be laid directly over existing tiles, a method locally known as “Karo lor Karo.” This eliminates demolition work, significantly reducing labour time and costs. Similarly, Gyproc® plasterboards enable partitions to be installed within hours, compared to several days for traditional block walls. Beyond products, Saint-Gobain also provides technical support and on-site training to reduce errors, limit material waste, and ensure projects are delivered faster and more efficiently.
Targeting high-value and specialised sectors
Saint-Gobain Océan Indien is increasingly focused on offering complete construction systems rather than standalone materials. Priority sectors include agri-food, data centres, healthcare, and hospitality, each with specific technical demands.
For industrial and food-processing environments, the company’s Technical Finishes range delivers durable flooring solutions compliant with strict sanitary standards such as HACCP. In data centres, where stability is critical, Saint-Gobain provides thermal insulation systems, temperature-control solutions, and antistatic floors to protect sensitive equipment.
In healthcare, the emphasis is on hygiene, safety, and comfort, with specialised partition and ceiling systems designed for hospitals and medical facilities. In hospitality, the focus shifts to acoustic comfort, aesthetics, and high-end finishes to enhance guest experience.
Alongside large projects, Saint-Gobain remains closely connected to small contractors and homeowners. With products available in over 800 hardware stores across the island, the company continues to support everyday construction and renovation needs with accessible solutions and technical guidance.
Helping professionals remain competitive despite inflation
To counter rising costs, Saint-Gobain combines local production with the technological expertise of the global Saint-Gobain Group. This allows the company to offer modern, reliable, and easy-to-use solutions adapted to Mauritian realities.
Gyproc® partition systems, for example, allow office spaces to be reconfigured in half a day. Beyond speed, these lightweight systems offer flexibility, enabling buildings to evolve without heavy demolition. “Deconstructing instead of destroying saves time, labour, and money,” d’Unienville notes, while also supporting more sustainable construction practices.
Designed for tropical conditions
Mauritius’ tropical climate, heavy rainfall, and cyclone season make waterproofing a critical priority. Saint-Gobain addresses this through two complementary ranges.
The abe® range provides robust, easy-to-use waterproofing products suitable for small projects and DIY applications, protecting roofs, walls, and foundations from water infiltration. For more demanding environments, Maris Polymers, a 100 percent polyurethane system, delivers high-performance waterproofing solutions with durability guarantees rarely matched in the market.
Innovation with environmental responsibility
Performance and sustainability go hand in hand at Saint-Gobain Océan Indien. The company has adopted Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which transparently detail the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. Several Saint-Gobain solutions now carry EPDs, enabling construction projects to support green building certifications such as LEED, which are gaining importance in Mauritius.
A strong example of local innovation is MEP Col Flex tile adhesive. Produced in Mauritius, it has been enhanced using chemical boosters to improve performance while reducing certain high CO₂ components. The result is a product that is both more efficient and more environmentally responsible.
“These innovations reflect our commitment to accessible, sustainable construction,” says d’Unienville. “By making better solutions available to professionals and individuals alike, we are supporting the transition towards buildings that meet today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow.”
