KEF, Elematic in precast technology tie-up

Faizal Kottikollon and Mats Jungar sign the partnership agreement as Shabana Faizal, S. Balagopal, group general manager KEF Holdings; Chander Dutta, director of DDIPL Engineering Solutions; Tarmo Sahala, Elematic export manager; and officials of KEF Group look on. — KT photo by Juidin Bernarrd

KEF Holdings Chairman Faizal Kottikollon and Elematic CEO, Mats Jungar signed the agreement that would see the partnership being rolled out in a phased manner, first in India involving an investment of Dh200 million, and later in the UAE.

KEF Holdings, which has multi-million dollar investments in infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture, is setting up the first integrated factory in India for the fabrication and supply of concrete elements including columns, beams, hollow core slabs, architectural cladding panels, graphic concrete panels, aggregate finished panels and staircases.

In addition, public and trunk infrastructure works such as underground utility structures, railway sleepers, culverts, pipes, and earth retaining systems will also be produced.

The second phase of the partnership will involve KEF and Elematic working together to introduce graphical concrete to the UAE and India. Using this technology, customised patterns and images on concrete surfaces can be produced. The technology allows for modern architectural features to be printed on concrete surfaces, said Kottikollon.

“This long-term partnership with Elematic will usher in a new era for construction projects in India where frequent delays occur due to a number of challenges. With precast, very high quality elements can be produced in a factory quickly, transported and erected at site ensuring completion of construction project timelines before schedule — at a reduced cost with minimum wastage and repair,” said Kottikollon.

We also look forward to introducing architectural and graphical concrete to the UAE market as well because it allows immense design possibilities for architects and developers. With the extremely large number of construction projects being planned for Expo 2020 all over Dubai, this technology which has been perfected in Finland can give a tremendous boost to the architectural landscape of the Emirate,” said Kottikollon. The Indian facility, to be located in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, will include a production facility for modular kitchens and bathrooms as well as a joinery unit that would manufacture high quality, interior fit outs.

A community centre with accommodation and world class sports and leisure facilities for the staff of the factory and for those in the vicinity will be co-located in the complex. Elematic will be the technology and equipment partner on the project which will supply and service all major South Indian cities including Bangalore, Chennai and Kochi. KEF Holdings has implemented precast technology in a major philanthropy initiative where a 120-year-old, Government school for girls in Nadakkavu in Calicut, Kerala has been fully upgraded with new classrooms, labs, dining hall, toilets, indoor gymnasium, astro-turf sports field and landscaping.

More than 132,000 sq. ft. of the campus was created or upgraded using Precast in a record time of 10 months. The project is part of a larger initiative called PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards using Multiple Interventions) whereby government schools in Kerala are being upgraded in many areas.

— issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com