CHATTOGRAM, Dec 03: After the country gained independence, only a few items, including tea, leather, and frozen fish, were in the export basket, but with the passage of time the basket has expanded, earning lots of foreign exchange and making a substantial contribution to the economic growth.
One such item which has been added to the export basket is billet, a semi-finished metal product that is typically rectangular, square, or cylindrical in shape. GPH Ispat Limited, one of the leading steel manufacturing companies based in Chittagong, created a milestone in the country's export history by exporting billets to China in 2020.
They made it possible by using 'Quantum Electric Arc Furnace and Winlink', a cutting-edge technology, in the manufacturing process.
To date, GPH Ispat has exported a total of 120,000 tonnes of billets to China and earned a total of US$71 million, which has created direct and indirect employment for around 10,000 people.
It also promotes import substitution, conserves foreign exchange, reduces gas and electricity consumption, and offers environmentally-friendly production. Moreover, local customers benefit from access to high-quality steel products at competitive prices.
The exceptional quality of products is the key to its success in international markets. The company implements a strict quality control process, utilizing highly skilled professionals and advanced machinery at every stage of production. From inspecting raw materials like scrap and alloys to monitoring chemical composition and mechanical properties throughout production, GPH ensures world-class standards.
Additional Managing Director of GPH Almas Shimul said, "GPH is using the German technology which is the first of its kind in Asia and second in the world. The power consumption of GPH is more than 50 per cent lower than induction furnace and 30 per cent lower than traditional EAF.
"GPH has no gas-based reheating furnace used in the rolling process. Ensuring the highest quality, the mill is able to produce up to class 3-grade products which ensures up to 790 MPA strength and class 4-grade products which ensures maximum 980 MPA through micro-alloying."
"Besides, this plant is able to produce a wide range of products apart from MS billet and Rod/ Re-bars of various sizes. It is equipped with facilities to manufacture structural sections like MS channels, angles, I-beams, H-beams, IPE, IPN, flat bars and more -- all within the same production unit. We are producing high quality iron rods using our EAF system, meeting international standards," he said.
Highlighting the industry's local impact, he said, "GPH is a capital-intensive industry. We use 50 per cent to 70 per cent imported raw materials while 30 to 50 per cent is sourced domestically. Other manufacturers could also enter the export market if they maintain world-class standards like GPH."
He urged cooperation from the government to encourage high quality iron-rod production and export to international markets.
[email protected]
