Octtober 22nd at FDSI trainining Center
News & Events
Workshop on Foundry Sands and new moulding Methods
Ductile Iron Foundry dimonstration
Ductile iron melting Demonstration will be held on 19th January 2024 for interested foundry industries.
Please register by sending an email to fdsi@sltnet.lk with your name id and company.
The number of participants limited to 15 and on 1st come basis.
FDSI Aluminum Foundry practice for industry technicians upgrading course scheduled for Aug 2023
Registraion
Please send your name and contact no industry name to
fdsi@sltnet
what sup to 0770500404
Foundry Technician course NVQ 4
FDSI intend to start a foundry technician course for persons
who are employed in the industry to qualify them for NVQ level 4 qualifications.
Theory classes will be conducted at Ekala FDSI training center.
Please call 0113109600/0770500404
Mail your application to fdsi@sltnet.lk
Council Report 2021 Rebuilding Foundry Industry for Economic Development
With more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic followed by economic crisis, we’ve learned
to sustain Industry in difficult times. This made the foundry and metal industry stronger, safer and
more adaptable in the domestic market making much wanted products such as firewood cookers
spares, Plantation machinery, and extrusions for local industry. We now need to focus on rebuilding
our systems to restructure the industry in a solid foundation for economic recovery and
uninterrupted growth. FDSI with metal sector advisory committee submitted the Metal industry
development plan to Ministry of Industries to achieve sustainability and growth.
In the council the meetings and communications became virtual in this period more due to fuel
crisis. FDSI had 2 meetings and 2 training programs virtually for nonferrous industries. FDSI also
connected the industry for 6 virtual training programs to develop metallurgical knowledge with the
assistance of IIF India during the year. FDSI webpage became more active than before and were able
to connect industry to the casting requirements of local industries.
The ministry of industries did very little to develop the industry on much wanted policy matters with
long hours of meetings virtually and physically where most of the discussions were originated to
defend the export of Metal scrap used in the foundry and extrusion industry. It was felt that stronger
government participation is required to solve the industry development issues to use local scrap to
bring value addition in the industry. The industry Policy framed with hours of deliberations is now
only another inactive document. The standardizing of locally manufactured Aluminum cook ware,
and bake ware, aluminum extrusions and electric motors for domestic appliances for improvement
and performance are on a snail’s space.
The EDB had 2 meetings with industry to assist on development galvanizing facility and to increase
exports with some of the FDSI members but there was no outcome, but continue to work towards
development of Light Engineering sector. The development of Export market and value addition
formula is yet to be developed. EDB funded some industries for adding new technology into the
industry.
The skills development of foundry industry slowed as the industry participation was insufficient to
run the programs during this period however continuous efforts are underway to popularize the
curriculum developed to train skills of foundry technicians by FDSI together with MESSCO and TVEC.
The reluctance of youth to enter foundry industry is a barrier for future development if
mechanization of industry is not done. Therefore to attract youth for the foundry processes,
hydraulics pneumatics and mechatronics applications will be critical with more productive
remuneration.
Country’s negative GDP growth pegged at -3.6% in FY20221 to22, sky rocketing interest rates of 28
to 30 percent, is not able to control cost of raw material prices, the economy looks not resilient
enough for revere the inflation which is likely to continue in 2022-23.However the devaluation of
rupee is useful for export base industries. But the temporary suspension of raw material imports
turned down exports and import substitution of local metal manufacturing industry. The indirect
exports of some metal products continued with local companies catering to neighboring countries.
A few Industries invested on induction furnaces and on greener foundry concepts to move towards
global industry norms in manufacturing during this difficult period. To sustain in these investments
of industry a very clear government discipline is required in the metal scrap trading policy and base
metal value addition and temporary suspended locally manufactured products should remain for a
few years. Further, China Free Trade Agreement should not allow non-standard products entering
local market if the industry is to sustain.
On the brighter side we see India moving up to a global supply hub of foundry products giving Local
industry opportunity for value addition for metal scrap. If the base metal industry can add 10 IR in Sri
Lanka the foundry industry can get RS 45 per kg of value added products in the cast Iron and steel
products without much strain on the work force. Similarly there are opportunities to add value to
our copper scrap and converting them to copper tubes and pipes for European market which require
a change in our HS classifications to allow export of this commodity now ban for export.
Rising cost of conventional energy sources is a barrier for foundry industry, FDSI advice to reduce
energy cost by improving efficiency and use of Solar Power which is considered as ‘green’ that is
environment friendly and cost competitive especially once the gestation period of capital is over.
The council has agreed to FOCUS on development of the sector industries to increase its productivity
to create markets for its products and today’s session will open the window for this activity.
Council thanks its stakeholder companies and Institutions for their support during the year and look
forward their continued cooperation for development of industry.
Melvin Samarasinghe
Chairman
22 nd Sept 2022
FDSI COUNCIL REPORT
It is right to say 2020 was a year of Change for Foundry industry and a favorable year for higher value added exports, and a display of innovative Foundry skills for Sri Lankan manufacturing industry with the eminent support of Ministry of Industries, Export development Board and Industrial Development Board
FDSI in 2020, the word would be ‘change’ it was a big year of promised transformation to value added exports with the stopping of exports of metal scrap used in foundry industry with different arrangements. In preparation for this transformation FDSI worked to develop a Series 4 online workshops to enhance knowledge on materials used in Aluminum and Brass industry, resulting a growth of local foundry and extrusion industry with the identification of more materials for valued addition
FDSI proposed the development of new value addition formula to measure the value addition of local industries to support the industries doing higher value addition with the ministry of industries. The standards development for water pumps and cook and bake ware are still been developed in a snails speed at the Sri Lanka standards institution due to want of resources and other priorities.
Six months minimum warrantee was proposed FDSI to the Presidential Industry forum through ministry of industry metal sector which was accepted at the 1st meeting is yet to overcome trade barriers for implementation. The ban on copper 3mm wire has curtailed the regulated value added exports but there is no evidence to prove that this copper is now used in the country. However the copper price in the market has doubled indicating that the material is leaking to overseas market in tons per month without any revenue to the country.
FDSI continue to participate in skills development and completed a curriculum for foundry technicians with the industry members with the sponsorship of MESSCO and TVEC. The program of training 100 technicians on line will soon to be realized with its member industries participation and now industries can apply for training of their staff for a valid NVQ Certificate. FDSI continued to transfer knowledge for modernization of the foundry industry and metal industry with Export Development Board. Some of the members made use of this Grant given by the EDB to add value to their products. EDB continued to support in development of Aluminum die cast industry for further value addition.
The impact of Covid-19 and scarcity of FOREX in the country has hit the small and medium foundry operation due to scarcity of foundry coke and other chemicals. The government efforts to sustain the industry are not taken as a priority by the banks.
Throughout, at FDSI the council continued commitment to improve levels of service to Stake holder in small and medium foundries. The noticeable indicators are the results of our achievement of export targets in the Engineering sector and the growth of local raw material usage in foundry and extrusion industry.
Member support will be a key priority in 2021, with the Board focused on assessing future industry wants to ensure a technical workforce to run its machinery for higher value added products. This is built on continued support of Directors, Private members, industries, FDSI customers and funders. Our future sustainability, as always, depends on these strong partnerships. The Successive development of leadership to co-chair for the institute is the need of the day.
I thank from the bottom of my heart for the 10 board Directors and 3 ex-officio Directors consultants for spending their valuable time with FDSI and hope to see a change to a 3G foundry industry soon.
For Council
Melvin Samarasinghe
12th Oct 2021