With lucrative tax holidays:

Investors throng BOI

By Charmaine FERNANDO

There was an influx of both Sri Lankan and foreign investors queuing up at the BOI, seizing the profitable benefit package on offer. In fact, It was one rush without any ceremony. In its ambitious plan of action BOI has overlooked forecasting enough seating capacity for investors flooding in. Sunday Observer witnessed an investment agreement for the US owned business venture, sited in lot no.28 of Biyagama zone, to manufacture industrial solutions, using fiberglass composite materials, being signed by Dammika Perera, Chairman BOI and Don Ganegoda, Chairman of Edgeng (Private) Limited, at the BOI office, at World Trade Centre, Colombo, recently.

With an initial investment of US $ 1 million sponsored by Fiber-glass Fabricators, Inc USA, the new company will produce cost effective and light weight products made of fiberglass composite material which has strength much superior to steel for 100% export to USA. Latest technology will be applied in a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant to be established in the Biyagama Export Processing Zone, providing employment for an initial work force of 30 qualified engineers and technicians.

The turnover in the first year is targeted at US $ 7 million EDGENG (PVT) LTD takes pride in being an international pioneer in the manufacture of engineered fiberglass-reinforced corrosion-resistant structures, continues to lead the industry with innovative design, fabrication and installation techniques.

Ganegoda pioneered the engineering technique of structuring a 100ft unsupported composite bridge in Ohio. He said he will harness our engineering talents laying a solid foundation through Edgeng, his gift for his motherland.

The scope he says is limitless here in New Sri Lanka with the Government backing global investments offering enticing benefit packages.

He thinks the industrialists overseas should grab this opportunity to access this offer. It will support the ambitious rebuilding efforts of the government while the investor businesses will benefit immensely with lucrative tax holidays, existing intelligent labour force and readily available infrastructure and buildings in the trade zones. It's a matter of selecting your site, signing up, investing, and getting in to business right away he said. Don Ganegoda of Kurunegala went to States twenty years ago to further his studies at the California State University. With years of Structural, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering exposure in the US, pioneering many an engineering system, now he looks to establish his own BOI certified business back home in Sri Lanka. He says he wants to give back to where he learnt his ABC. An engineer by profession, he lives in the USA, working as a Vice President - Engineering, of Fiber-glass Fabricators Inc., a reputed leader in the industry, for over half a century.

We will produce technologically sound and structurally robust composite components using a general-purpose polyester resin, for the water and waste water industries utilizing advanced computer analysis originally developed for the aerospace industry. Edgeng will provide the engineering community, with USA and overseas standards of training, to advance their capability to design and manufacture water treatment components. Using computer aided design, composite laminate theory models, and finite element analysis, we will effectively reduce costs of manufacture, thereby enhancing our profitability, he explained.

EDGENG design approach is simple and straightforward. When necessary, our engineers will visit the customer's plant, study the requirements, and provide a design and cost estimate. Upon receipt of an order, detailed shop drawings are generated in-house for customer approval. Fabrication begins upon receipt of approved drawings and quality control checks are instituted at all phases of fabrication. Upon completion, the finished product is shipped to the job-site. Installation by factory trained personnel is available if required said Ganegoda.

In answer to a query whether the production method will emanate any harmful fumes or substances affecting the health of its employees and the environment, Mr. Ganegoda said the company production system will meet USA standards and therefore any negative outcome will be under scrutiny, if at all, mitigated and eliminated. The venture will utilize an eco friendly production process which does not release toxic waste or any harmful material to the environment he insisted.

A variety of fiberglass products manufactured here can be used in Sri Lanka as decking systems to set up sea side resorts, said Edgeng Chairman. Manufacture of windmill blades using composite material have a higher lifespan than components manufactured in steel and involve no maintenance. Edgeng will open up many possibilities for our industries to profit by its technology savvy product line. Sate and private sector businesses related to Tourism, Energy, Construction, Water resources among many other trades, even NGOs will benefit by accessing our customer-centred manufacturing services and products, he said.

He further outlined that, drawing on years of combined design experience, the engineers at Edgeng are at the forefront of technology, with the development of new material requirements and manufacturing methods. Edgeng takes pride in being an international pioneer in the use of glass-reinforced corrosion-resistant structures, and will continue to lead the industry with innovative design, fabrication and installation technology, he said.

This pioneering venture in Sri Lanka is bound to bring in state-of-the-art technology to manufacture within a short period of time, fiberglass bridges and large utility tanks of greater strength than steel, using composite material. The company will in addition focus on the manufacture of baffle walls used for increase retention time in aeration tanks, centre feed wells used for waste water clarification, high pressure vessels used in swimming pools and also pressure tanks, treatment plants, troughs and various surface covers which are in big demand in the USA. Sri Lankan businesses will see the need to have their specifications designed by us.

Round bottom, square bottom, or specially contoured troughs are used for many applications. Wash water troughs in high rate sand filter beds, Removal of spent carbon in carbon filters, Effluent launders in sedimentation basins, Overflow from paper mill pulp towers, Transportation of chemical slurries. Because of the varied demand for troughs, EDGENG (PVT) Ltd has developed several models to meet the requirements of engineers and contractors, said Ganegoda.

The resin shall be a commercial-grade polyester thermosetting resin which has been determined to be acceptable for the service conditions. The resin shall contain no fillers or additives. Ultraviolet stabilizers are required in all laminates exposed to ultraviolet light whether it be in the form of pigmentation or ultraviolet absorbers. When metal reinforcements are used, they shall be free of rust, oil, and any foreign matter. They shall be completely encapsulated with a minimum of 1/8 inch thick laminate, said Ganegoda.

As the manufacturer we will warrant the Fiberglass Reinforced Wash Trough and Launders to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a minimum of one year after installation with a maximum of eighteen months from the date of shipment, he said. They will be feeding the demand from the US but with foresight, the government's massive restructuring programs in process, may draw in the innovative brilliance and engineering prowess of Edgeng, standing in good stead, in reshaping a new Sri Lanka.