South Asia’s biggest aluminium factory opens at Ekala

Sri Lankans seeking to build their dream home could create a massive change towards protecting the environment and cutting forests by moving away from traditional, timber-built homes and using aluminium.

A group of media personnel from Colombo were taken to the latest, fully automated – South Asia’s first aluminium extrusion producing factory at Ekala, Ja-Ela, on Tuesday.

After the media was briefed about the facility the group was taken a round the factory, and while on tour of the factory, Pramuk Dediwela, Managing Director, Alumex PLC made the above comment to the Business Times.

He said that if a door is manufactured with traditionally accepted timber such as teak it would cost around Rs. 150,000 while the same if manufactured with aluminium would cost only around Rs. 50,000 and still give the same rich texture and appearance of traditionally accepted timber.

“If aluminium is used there is no corrosion, decaying and no weevils or termites would attack the aluminum and it lasts forever,” he said.

He told the Business Times that aluminium is identified as ‘green metal’ and nature friendly as only 30 per cent of the raw material extracted from the earth is used to manufacture aluminum extrusion and the balance 70 per cent of the manufacture is used from recycled aluminium.

At the media briefing of the country's recently unveiled first fully automated, front-loading aluminium extrusion plan and South Asia’s first vertical power coating facility, Mr. Dediwela said that the facility is a Rs. 2 billion investment and is located at 138/4 Minuwangoda Road, Ekala, Ja Ela. It is the largest aluminium extruder in Sri Lanka in terms of scale and output.

He said that it is a Hayleys Group subsidiary, run with a workforce of 185 and the factory could produce around 2,000 aluminium extrusions per month totaling 24,000 metric tons per annum, indicating that the current requirement is around 15,000 metric tons. Currently, he said that around 2 per cent of their output is exported and said that they expect to increase the export target to at least 10 per cent.

They are currently exporting to countries like India, Nepal, Maldives and Seashells. He said that the Italian made Presezzi 23 mega newton extruder will consume far less energy compared to other extruders currently available in the market. Alumex will also benefit from its automated downstream equipment and long run-out tables with infrared and Bluetooth technology controls.

He said that the highlight of the plant is in its reduction of waste water and purification system which ensures the water discharge has zero impact on the local environment. With eco-friendly non-chrome chemicals in the mix, proprietary systems will help ensure that Alumex products are tested for water penetration, air infiltration, wind pressure (deflection) and sound to facilitate the firm’s 30 year presence.