Aluworks diversifies product lines

Story: Boahene Asamoah

ALUWORKS Limited, manufacturers and exporters of semi-finished aluminium products, has completed the installation of a 20,000 tonne coil coating plant in a bid to diversify its products and add value to its aluminium products.
The $6.5 million continuous coil coating line, the first of its kind in the country, would offer opportunities for downstream industries in areas such as roofing sheets, ceiling tiles and window blinds.
It will also meet the local demand as well as the export market, especially within the West African sub-region.
Briefing a cross-section of journalists, representatives of financial institutions and institutional investors over progress of work on the new plant, the Managing Director of the company, Mr K. Venkataramana, said the company had to install the new plant because of a growing market for the downstream products as “coloured coils are being imported to the Ghanaian market.”
“The market is demanding various technology which provides long life to the roof and also improves the aesthetic appeal,” the managing director added.
He said the coloured sheets were preferred because of their long life and the visual appeal of various colours.
Taking the delegation through the process of coil coating line, Mr Venkataramana said the technology was in surface preparation and oven baking of the paint, adding that the coil which was fed into the line underwent pre-treatment such as alkaline degreasing, acid, neutralising, demineralised water and steam cleaning and dying.
He said the line had the capacity to coat aluminium alloys, aluzinc and galvanised sheets to cater for the various market segments.
The managing director said currently test runs were being held, and that commercial production would begin by the end of May this year.
Mr Venkataramana indicated that the company in addition to the new plant had also embarked on additional 30,000 metric tonnes per year Cold Rolling Mill in response to the rising demand of the aluminium market.
Last year, the company signed a $12.5 million contract with Fata Hunter, a division of FATA S.p.A of Italy for the supply of a 30,000 metric tonnes per year capacity Cold Rolling Mill.
The new mill is expected to be completed by December this year, which would complete the old mill.