With a view to encourage increasing use of aluminium metal in growing buildings / architecture, construction industry and to make sincere efforts in creating awareness amongst public the need to use more aluminium in Buildings, Aluminium Association of India (AAI), an apex body of all aluminium industries in the country, organized the Seminar on Aluminium in Building and Construction.
Addressing the gathering Chief Guest Mr. T M Thomas, Principal Architect, Thomas Associates, the country’s leading architecture firm, pointed out that Aluminium had emerged as the best alternative to timber in the 80s, but became unpopular thereafter because of affordability and high taxes. “Availability, affordability and heavy taxes are affecting the growth of the Aluminium sector in India and this has to be addressed from a long-term perspective,” he said.
Guest of Honor –Mr. V. Gopal, Executive Director (Projects and Planning) of Prestige Group in his address during the inauguration informed that Prestige Group, will be consuming aluminium in large quantity. This is a huge leap from the existing consumption level in building and construction sector.
However, he added that the absence of standard quotes for aluminium extrusions; the delay in casting dyes and the lack of interest among global investors in the Indian aluminium market are hampering its growth.
Mr. K. Anand, Hon. Treasurer of AAI & Managing Director of Drawcans Pvt. Ltd. concluded the Inaugural ceremony by extending his heartfelt thanks to everyone participated, on behalf of Aluminium Association of India.
There were total 13 presentations split in two Technical Sessions covering all aspects of Aluminium in Building and Construction focusing on the latest developments on market trends /applications, process technologies, R&D and environment, techno-economic issues to help the Building and Construction industry in India effectively meet the global challenges and competition.
Mr. A. Jaya gopal, Chairman Seminar, Exhibition and Publicity Committee AAI in his concluding address mentioned that no construction material is perfect. Timber is affected by moisture, requires maintenance, has limited structural capabilities and cannot be machined into complex shapes. Steel has a relatively poor strength to weight ratio, cannot be thermally broken, rusts in an untreated state and, under stress, is prone to brittle fractures. PVC is available in a limited range of colours, can suffer from polymer migration, does not have the inherent stiffness of metals, and has been attacked on environmental grounds by leading environmental NGOs.
Prof KSS Murthy, Hon. Gen. Secretary informed the participants that the Union government has agreed to clear all the roadblocks, such as delay in allocation of captive coal blocks, declaring aluminium clusters in a systematic manner to enable the growth for the metal and added that the issues hampering the growth will be addressed in in a phased manner. He asserted that all such issues will be resolved in the coming years as the Government has taken several positive steps in this direction.
The Seminar was attended by more than 100 members –Primary Producers of Aluminium, Downstream Sectors – Extruders, Fabricator, Builders, Architects, Interior Designers, Government Agencies, National Institute of Design, Architects students, etc.
