Q: Can you provide an overview of your company and its role in the aluminium extrusion sector?

A: Swisstek Aluminium is a subsidiary of Lanka Walltiles, which comes under the reputed Vallibel One. We are a leading environmentally-friendly manufacturer of anodised, powder coated and mill finished aluminium extrusions, and a local market leader in the aluminium sector. We take this role very seriously and are committed to our responsibility – ensuring that customers get the best quality solution at the best price.

The sector in Sri Lanka is still in its infancy with installed capacity at nearly 2.5 times the demand. Demand at its peak was between 1,500 and 1,600 metric tons a month while installed capacity is around more than 4,000 metric tons a month.

At present, average aluminium consumption per capita in Sri Lanka is around 500 grammes a year. Comparatively, usage is at 2,500 grammes in India, 8,710 grammes in the US and an average of 7,700 grammes globally. At the moment therefore, Sri Lankan manufacturers have to focus on building awareness to increase market demand. This is why we too have taken a special interest in growing this sector.

Q: How is Swisstek Aluminium differentiated from its competitors as a responsible manufacturer?

A: As a market leader, we’re developing many ideologies in the digital space to advance the aluminium fabricator fraternity. To this end, we launched Alupenters.lk, an online platform that lists high quality aluminium fabricators in Sri Lanka to meet any requirement. This website was the overall winner of the BestWeb.lk 2022 competition organised by the LK Domain Registry for its novelty and positive impact on society.

We want to highlight the emotional component of buying aluminium – for example, how it can make customers’ day-to-day lives easier, more convenient and elegant. This is the solution we offer with our products.

These initiatives have gained us recognition locally and globally. We received ISO 9001 quality certification in 2015 and ISO 14001 environmental management certification. Most recently, the company was the first in the fraternity to be awarded ISO 50001 energy management and QUALICOAT Seaside certification.

We were also ranked among the best managed companies in a list compiled by the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM Sri Lanka) in 2022 and 2023, as well as the most engaged brand on Daraz last year.

Furthermore, Swisstek Aluminium joined hands with the Ministry of Industries and Industrial Development Board (IDB) to develop and launch www.metals.lk – an online portal to facilitate and regulate the scrap metal market in the country, to support local scrap metal collectors and manufacturers.

Q: What innovations and developments in aluminium has the company introduced recently?

A: Adapting to changing market demand and technological advancements, we’ve introduced many new products to the market.

In our quest for perfection, we launched the Swisstek Superior class product series, which is positioned as being certifiably superior to anything available in the market in terms of structural stability, corner precision and drain performance.

We also offer the Swisstek Classic class range and Swisstek Premier class, a proprietary system designed purposefully and carefully to meet Sri Lankan requirements. Swisstek takes pride in being the only local company to have its own proprietary aluminium system.

Q: And what are Swisstek’s export markets – and does it engage in any collaborations?

A: Many of the countries that we export to have also invested in us. We supply to India, Australia, the US, the UK and the Maldives among others. Moreover, we have a few foreign affiliations, mainly in Greece and Italy, and manufacture and supply aluminium profiles under their brand names in this part of the world.

We were recently selected by a Japanese company to partner with it on a Sri Lankan airport project due to the Swisstek Manufacturing System (SMS). The organisation selected us as the best manufacturer to do justice to their requirements.

Similarly, a UK importer who recently visited our plant commented that it was the best he has ever visited, which is a testimony to our uncompromised operational excellence.

Q: How do the company’s CSR initiatives impact local communities and the environment?

A: On one hand, we’re educating the market. What we always say is ‘don’t cut a tree to see a tree’ – aluminium is the solution. It’s versatile, stylish, durable and recyclable, as even the waste can be melted and reused. Unlike timber, aluminium doesn’t have a lifespan; it is the only material with infinite recyclability.

We also want to develop and support the entire aluminium value chain as we believe this will benefit the country as well. So we launched Alupenters.lk to increase jobs and enable customers to receive the best service. We also contribute to the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) and Vocational Training Authority (VTA) to develop this sector.

As we don’t want customers to pay for our inefficiencies, we’re eagerly working on numerous continuous efficiency improvement projects in addition to having a rooftop solar power system on our entire factory roof. With this, we meet about 30 percent of our energy requirement.

Our purpose statement is ‘in everything we do, we believe in conserving nature while challenging the status quo.’ The way we conserve nature is by articulating the most reliable replacement for our everyday requirements. Our solution is exceptionally durable, architecturally marvellous and futuristic.

We provide aluminium solutions for our mother planet. Through this purpose, our vision is to be the most innovative, reliable and sustainable aluminium-based premium solutions provider in the region.

– Compiled by Avanti Samarasekera

 

CONTACT DETAILS

 Telephone – 7807000 | Email – info@swisstekaluminium.com | Website – www.swisstekaluminium.com