Aluminium major Hindalco, part of the Aditya Birla Group, is sharpening its focus on value-added products such as aluminium-based windows, door systems and building facades, as part of efforts to create new markets for the metal in India.
Hindalco will be unveiling its Eternia brand of windows and doors systems in the Indian market in January 2012, which will be the first of such branded products in the domestic market. Simultaneously, it is gearing up to introduce an all-aluminium façade for large buildings through its global brand Novelis during the same time.
“There is a wide range of colours and textures for the Eternia brand, suitable for both residential and commercial buildings. The product will hit the market in January,” Mr V. Ramaswamy, Assistant Vice-President and Head — Central Market Development Cell of the company, said on the sidelines of the on-going International Conference on Aluminium on Thursday.
Mr Ramaswamy said aluminium façades for building could work out to be an economically better alternative to glass or granite.
Innovative products
In addition to windows and doors systems, Hindalco is assisting various original equipment manufacturers in developing innovative products in the automobiles, consumer durables and other emerging areas. “Recently, we helped a popular bicycle brand to produce an aluminium-intensive mountain bike. The weight of the bike was reduced by 35 per cent,” Mr Ramaswamy said.
The company has also developed various aluminium-based products for passenger vehicles to reduce the weight of the car and increase fuel efficiency. As a result, aluminium-based hoods, fenders, doors, drive trains and chassis are now available.
Studies have estimated that fuel savings per 100 km for a 100 kg weight reduction in vehicles could range from 0.15 to 1 lt.
According to industry majors, India offers significant opportunities for aluminium, as the country's per capita aluminium consumption was about 1.5 kg, while it is 38 kg in Germany, 30 kg in Japan and 12 kg in China.