Jindal Aluminium Limited | Cost-effective and light weight to enhance the demand of aluminium extrusion in India

Cost-effective and light weight to enhance the demand of aluminium extrusion in India

“India’s downstream Aluminium sector is very fierce, especially in the international market. But, to make things better and put us on a solid footing, a dedicated policy for the downstream aluminium industry is much needed” Deepak Mathur, Sr. Vice-president – Global Marketing and Sales, Jindal Aluminium Deepak Mathur is an Engineering Graduate from IIT, Varanasi and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from IIM, Lucknow. In his career spanning over 33 years, he has worked with some of the leading names in Non-ferrous Metals (Flat and Long products), Capital goods and White Goods component industries. He has rich commercial experience in Industrial Marketing, Exports, Global Sourcing, Contracts and International Logistics.

India’s flourishing automotive industry, especially stimulated by heightening EV production and rural segment demand is widening the prospects for aluminium extrusion. Besides, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are also enhancing thealuminium extrusion demand for residential construction as well.This is indirectly assisting in the growth of aluminium extrusion products to manufacture robust construction material.

Overall, the aerospace & defence, automotive, and construction industries are playing a crucial part in increasing the sales of aluminium extrusion. Moreover, construction activities are leading to the opening of material inflow for construction purposes. While global aluminium extrusion market demand is likely to flourish nearly 2x from 2022 to 2032. As per global regulations, stringency for carbon dioxide standards and fuel economy has increased by 1.5% from model years 2021 to 2026.

This is expected to boost the demand for various aluminium components in automobiles over the coming years. Furthermore, low costs and weight of extrusion products are contributing to the rising demand of aluminium extrusion in various industrial applications. D A Chandekar, Editor & CEO, Metalworld Magazine had an exclusive interaction with Mr. Deepak Mathur, Sr. Vicepresident – Global Marketing and Sales at Jindal Aluminium to get more details about the present status of the extrusion industry in India.

Excerpts :

1. What is the present status of the extrusion industry in the country? How would you compare it with the western world industry?

Over the last 8 years, the extrusion sector has been growing at around 8% year on year. But the next five years are set to witness consolidation, as well as extensive up-gradation in technology. There is a push for growth, and we can expect to see the sector make headway rapidly as the demand for lightweight and durable extruded products climbs. This is expected to steer the market growth of aluminium extrusion during the forecast period up to 2027. It is pertinent to note that the extrusion sector has been one area that has not received the necessary protection in terms of import duty. Also, in comparison to the western world, the Indian extrusion market is highly fragmented. As a result of this fragmentation, there have been some disadvantages like high operational, and manpower costs that the extrusion industry in our country has envisaged in recent years.

2. Most of the extrusion units in the country are small and are using outdated technology. How can we compete in the international market? What needs to be done?

The use of extrusions is growing multifariously. Its use can be seen in a range of applications in areas such as construction, transportation systems, automobiles, electric transmission lines, automation, solar, and medical equipment. The latest processes and technologies are available in India, and the next five years will witness more extensive adoption of technological apparatus. At Jindal Aluminium, we established India’s first extrusion facility, and are today the largest manufacturer of aluminium extruded products in the country. We have a futuristic state-of-the-art facility, with an installed capacity of 1,25,000 mtpa of extrusions, commanding a 25-30 percent share in the domestic market. In addition, we are expanding our capacity with the acquisition of the Indo Alusys manufacturing plant in Bhiwadi. We also export to over 42 countries including the US, UK, UAE, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. Our export operation has been registering a healthy and persistent growth continually. It has been our demand that a specific policy by the government be brought out so that it can help establish the sector much more competitively in the international market.

3. Jindal Aluminium is the biggest independent extrusion producer in the country. Please take us through the company’s growth journey so far?

Jindal Aluminium has been spearheading when it comes to manufacturing aluminium products. The merit for corroborating the authoritative and exemplary foundation of Jindal Aluminium goes to our founder and CMD, Padma Bhushan Dr. Sitaram Jindal, who set up the company’s extrusion facility way back in 1968. Jindal Aluminium in a legacy stretching over 50 years has maintained its core business of being a leader in aluminium extrusions. We got into aluminium flat-rolled products manufacturing only in 2012 and are currently the second-largest manufacturer of Aluminium flat-rolled products in India. In 2020, we installed one of India’s largest powder coating facilities at our Dabaspet Manufacturing facility. This one of its kind facility in India is not only environmentally friendly but also equipped with one of the fastest production lines. Jindal Aluminium has the most modern tool shops, capable of producing highquality and intricate dies, buttressed by an international quality billet casting facility. Our die library boasts the capacity of over 17000 dies, a foot unparalleled in Aluminium downstream industry. We have also led the industry in installing several technological and modern pieces of equipment in order to derive superior grade aluminium profiles. Underpinning this is a log casting foundry, capable of producing 1,40,000 MT per annum. We are meeting even the most detailed aluminium profiles possible in the shortest possible time with a capacity and capability that is unparallel in India.

4. What is the role of extrusions and flat-rolled products in our day-to-day lives?

Today, there are countless applications of Aluminium that benefit us by not just simplifying, but also enhancing the quality of our lives. Most products we use  in our day-to-day lives  consist of some percentage of aluminium. The fact that it is lightweight, recyclable and a highly-versatile material along with other properties make it relevant to use. It has resulted in Aluminium products application almost everywhere. Aluminium extrusion and flat-rolled products play a big role in our everyday life. Building facades, aircraft, household appliances, beverage cans, and packaging are where flat-rolled aluminium products are widely used. Other products such as computers and electronics, automotive, and mass transit make use of aluminium extrusions in a big way too. However, both in the form of extrusion and flat-rolled products, aluminium’s superior properties are what ensure that it fares well when it comes to design and sustainability. Electric vehicles, Automation, Defence, and Aviation are also areas where aluminium finds extensive application in modern India.

– Mr. Deepak Mathur, Senior Vice- President, Global Marketing and Sales, Jindal Aluminium Limited