Sri Lanka’s largest steel door manufacturer, Orian Terra Lak Steel (Pvt.) Ltd., would invest around Rs. 100 million for a new factory, new Laser Machine and also to obtain Green and ISO certifications.
Managing Director P. G. Chaminda, while on a factory visit organized by the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI) to introduce this company in Habarana, said that he had already invested Rs. 500 million to for the manufacturing plant.
“I am now building a new factory on a four acre land behind the present factory in Habarana and would invest another Rs. 40 million to purchase a Laser Machine to speed up production.”
He said he left for Korea in late 1990’s for employment at the manufactures division of the ‘DAEDONG’ organization, the world’s No.1 company in producing steel door frames and grills. In in a bid to save the environment, over 70% of the buildings in Korea use steel doors.
“At DEADONG, I studied their technology for 8 years and when left, I obtained their assistance and technology to start Orian Terra Lak Steel in Sri Lanka in Habarana in 2015.”
Due to land title issues he was unable to obtain BOI approval for the project, but he managed to get a Rs. 32 million grant from USAID to obtain machinery for his project proposal to build steel doors. “USAID valued my project proposal to make steel doors and save trees.”
He then began manufacturing steel doors, but was unable to find the market as local companies and people were reluctant to buy this locally manufactured steel doors.
“However when I displayed my products at the ‘Dayata Kirula’ 2015 Exhibition that Engineer M. Dissanyake from Ministry of Education, North Central Province purchased 15 doors”.
He recalled with gratitude that the grant from USAID and the purchase of 15 steel doors from the Ministry of Education, were the turning point in his business.
The NCP Education Ministry then purchased many more doors for Science Labs and later other companies too followed. “However, though I make these doors using 100% imported material from Korea with a five year guarantee my products were rejected by mega development projects until recently.”
“However, today leading companies such as Nestle, Brandix and Banks have purchased my doors and two Indian companies too are placing orders with us which prompted me to open a show room in Wennapuwa.”
In addition to manufacturing Steel doors which is of an equivalent weight of a wooden door, Orian Terra Lak Steel also manufactures bullet proof and fireproof steel doors which have been certified by the Sri Lanka Fire Brigade and the Moratuwa University.
Vice President of the CCI, Dr. Rohan Fernando who was also part of the delegation that the CCI would like to help him to obtain BOI after the clearing of red tape and also assist Orian Terra Lak Steel to obtain the Green and ISO certification which would help him to have better recognition for his products. (SS)
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