PHP Float Glass Industries Limited, a prominent glass manufacturing firm in the nation, is poised to allocate Tk500 crore to launch three innovative products – bending glass, fiberglass net, and aluminum ladders.
PHP Float Glass Industries is expanding its operations, with plans to establish three additional plants within its Barabkunda, Chattogram factory premises.
Before finalizing this investment decision, the company undertook extensive market studies and located 10,000 furniture manufacturers nationwide who needed their three products. One of the proposed plants will be dedicated to producing bending glass – a material commonly used in items like tea tables – and aims to cater specifically to smaller furniture manufacturers.
The plant’s monthly production capacity is projected to be between 30,000 and 50,000 square feet, significantly surpassing the current demand of 5,000-10,000 sq. ft. This initiative is designed to decrease reliance on imports and cut costs by approximately six or seven times.
Despite exceeding demand levels, PHP will adjust its production volume according to market needs. Mohammed Amir Hossain, PHP Float Glass Industries’ managing director, confirmed that commercial production of bending glass should commence within four-six months from now.
To facilitate this plan, PHP has already begun procuring the necessary machinery by opening a credit letter. In addition, the company intends to establish another plant for fiberglass net production with an initial capacity of 100 tonnes, which may be increased based on future demand.
Amir Hossain has announced plans to incorporate Chinese technology in producing fiberglass nets, citing its cost-effectiveness and sustainability over traditional materials such as Mild Steel (MS) or Stainless Steel (SS). He also noted that the product is rust-resistant and affordable.
The fiberglass nets are intended to serve as barriers against mosquitoes for windows and as mosquito nets. Company representatives pointed out that there has been a surge in mosquito net prices due to the rise in dengue fever cases this year. They believe that local production could lead to a tenfold decrease in price.
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Furthermore, PHP Float Glass Industries plans to build a manufacturing unit for aluminum ladders. Local ladder manufacturers already procure their raw materials from PHP, which Amir Hossain noted gives them a strategic edge in establishing this new unit due to readily available supplies. In 2005, it was challenging to introduce commercially produced glass.
However, he stated that we successfully established a market for it and expect similar acceptance of our new product as the economy continues its growth. PHP Float Glass Industries was founded in Chattogram in 2004 with an investment of approximately Tk1,500 crore on 24.27 acres of land and can currently satisfy 40% of the country’s float glass needs.
PHP, a Bangladesh-based company, made its first international glass export in 2005. Three years later, in 2008, PHP constructed a silver mirror plant that could produce up to 700,000 square meters of silver-coated mirror per shift. The company continued to expand its operations by setting up an aluminum factory in 2010 with the ability to manufacture 800 tonnes per month.
PHP is unique in Bangladesh as it offers both glass and aluminum products from the same facility. They utilize state-of-the-art sputtering coating technology on fourth-generation machinery for glass production.
In 2012, PHP further diversified its product range by installing a glass processing plant to produce tempered glass. By 2021, they had begun manufacturing ten different types of reflective glass, meeting half of the country’s total market demand – a significant increase from only two previously available options (dark blue and dark green).
In addition to this expansion in variety, PHP introduced insulating or soundproof glass in 2021. In February 2023, they launched an additional product – a range of at least 51 uniquely designed glass doors.
The daily consumption of glass in Bangladesh stands at around 800-1,000 tonnes but is projected to surge to between 2,000-2,500 tonnes within the next four or five years. To keep pace with increasing demand and ensure supply sufficiency, PHP Float Glass Industries enhanced its clear-glass production capacity from an initial output of 150 tonnes per day to an impressive 300 tonnes per day back in 2019.
Furthermore, apart from meeting domestic demand successfully, the company also exports approximately 800 tonnes monthly to several countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Philippines.
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Moreover, an aluminum factory with a production capacity of 500 tons, featuring over 350 different designs, is being run by PHP. The nation’s monthly aluminum demand ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 tons. Mohammed Amir Hossain said that the glass usage rate is directly linked to economic progression.
With an optimistic outlook on the advancement of Bangladesh, PHP introduced four new products after the Covid-19 pandemic. Collectively, we are committed to contributing to our country’s development.
