ICC to set up panel manufacturing plant here

NEW PLANT: Durra Building Systems (Private) Limited signed an agreement with the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) recently to manufacture durra building panels and systems. The total project cost is estimated at Rs. 312 million.

International Construction Consortium (ICC) of Sri Lanka and Ortech Industries (Pty) Ltd of Australia signed a technology transfer agreement recently for the setting up of the plant in Sri Lanka. This project is approved under the Nipayum Sri Lanka 300 Enterprises Programme of the government and will be located at Hingurakgoda, Polonnaruwa.

The Durra building systems technology is patented and promoted by Ortech Industries (Pty) Ltd, Australia and is a technology with a proven track record of over 40 years with manufacturing operations currently running in Australia, United States and the Philippines. The panels are also marketed and used in New Zealand and Indonesia.

The manufacturing process involves converting the locally abundantly available rice straw into versatile high quality durable building panels through a continuous dry extrusion process. The manufacturing process is totally chemical free making the end product an environmentally friendly application.

The panels have high acoustic values, high fire resistance, a strong impact resistance and a high thermal rating.

The Durra building systems are currently used in condominium housing, offices, schools, airports, theatres, convention centres, and television sound studios worldwide.

Managing Director of ICC Harsha de Saram said the main raw material, paddy straw, is currently treated as an agricultural waste and is burnt by the farmers on the paddy field after harvesting the paddy.

This in turn has become a serious environmental hazard. "Therefore this project is seen as an effective eco-networking arrangement, which converts an agricultural waste into a useful commercial product. The farmer will earn an additional income by supplying the straw to the project."

In addition to this, the venture is also expected to generate a large number of direct and indirect employment opportunities for the rural farming community in the collection and bailing of rice straw. The factory will be located in close proximity to the paddy growing catchments from where the paddy straw will be sourced.