Given the expected long boom in construction and PPC's own history as a well-managed and energetic operation - it came first in the FM's Best Companies to Work For survey in 2005 - this cement company looks set to emulate the likes of Edcon and MTN by winning an extended stay in the top 20. And that will be off a very high base. CEO John Gomersall says he did not predict how strong demand would be last year. Domestic demand was double what the market had expected. PPC's market capitalisation was just under R12bn at the end of March last year and has nearly doubled to more than R22bn. In just eight years the share price went from R30 to R419 in March this year.