Low cost houses using straw introduced to Lanka
by Irangika Range
The actual Ortech pre-fabricated house after construction within 6
days. Inset - The ceremonial opening of the house by the Australian
High Commissioner Dr. Greg French. From left: Ranjith Pandithage
(CEO-DIMO), Derek Layfield (Managing Director - Ortech Industries,
Australia), Greg French.
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Ortech Industries (Pvt) Limited, sole manufacturers for Durra panel
and prefabricated building systems from Australia has introduced a low
cost housing solution to Lanka in collaboration with the Diesel and
Motor Engineering Company Ltd (DIMO).
The two companies signed a MoU last Saturday to utilise this Durra
technology for processing paddy straw fibre into versatile construction
panels in Sri Lanka.
Chairman and CEO of DIMO, Ranjith Pandithage said that Durra panels
produced by using straw, are available throughout Sri Lanka. "These
panels will be used for reconstruction and residential, commercial and
industrial building purposes. A house of this nature can be built within
three days with a lesser number of workers.
It is also more hassle-free and an affordable solution which helps
overcome the issues such as shortage of river sand, cement and timber,"
he said. Ortech Industries Managing Director, Derek Layfield said that
these houses are fully anti-corrosive, fire resistant, friction proof
and water resistant.
"We have estimated the cost of one square foot at as Rs. 300. Durra
is tough. A single panel is 11 times more impact resistant than
conventional drywall and twice as impact resistant as cement sheet
products.
It can also be designed to meet the specific acoustic needs including
noise reduction, sound transmission and reverberation control. This
makes Durra systems ideal choices for airports, hotels and theatres," he
said.
He said that the company which has a proven track record in low cost
housing structures in Philippines, East Timor and Indonesia has a big
demand in USA as well.
DIMO in collaboration with Ortech Industries are exploring
possibilities to set up a factory in Sri Lanka to manufacture Durra
panels by using straw. Business Development Manager of DIMO Yohan
Thilakaratne said that this factory would be set up in Hambantota. |