Business Times

Metal cutting gas safer for Sri Lankan industrial use

By Chanaka de Silva

Sri Lankan conglomerate, Laugfs Gas PLC together with energy giant Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is introducing a new ‘metal cutting gas’ which will generate large savings for the industry whilst increasing the safety factor by several notches. This is the first time that Bharat Petroleum has agreed to market their product showing both brands of the local partner Laugfs Gas, alongside theirs. The product will be marketed here as Laugfs Bharat Metal Cutting Gas or LBMCG, Laugfs Gas Chairman W.K.Wegapitiya said at the product launch held in Colombo recently.

Metal Cutting Gas which will replace the traditional Acetylene is more cost effective and safer to use as hydrocarbon-based metal cutting gas compared to the presently used dissolved Acetylene which has a 2.5-80 level of flammability against 2.3 -9.5 flammability of LBMCG. The pressures inside the cylinder for LBMCG is 4-6kg/cm2 as against 18=20kg/cm2 for Acetylene. The tare weight of the cylinders in comparison is 8.5kg, 13kg and 30kg respectively for LBMCG and 65-70kg for Acetylene. Further the backfire tendency is in the low range for LBMCG whilst Acetylene, is high, noted Mr Wegapitiya.

Further he added “We will start three eco emission centres in the East and mobile operation will commence by May this year. The value addition and expansion of the company will mean a Rs 150 million investment during this year. Altogether there will be 100 centres and 17 mobile centres and they will be linked to make the service more convenient. We have planned to avail our service to foreign countries such as Qatar which has shown interest in establishing eco emission systems in those countries,”.

He said the company plans using its existing as well as new infrastructure to make available the new product across the country including the North and East. The introduction of LBMCG is expected to revolutionize the country’s industrial sector by reducing the cutting gas cost by a significant amount giving considerable cost savings to industrial users.

Mr. Wegapitiya noted that LBMCG is a hydrocarbon based industrial gas with a high flame temperature which produces an unparalleled fine cut finish and at a very low cost compared to Acetylene. LBMCG is also priced much lower than Acetylene which will be a definite cost advantage to the users. The fine cutting capable with LBMCG also reduces the surface grinding costs. LBMCG is used in the applications of cutting, brazing, heating, soldering, coating, gas surfacing, flame spraying, flame straightening and hardening.

According to him, the existing cutting gas that is available in the country is Acetylene, which is mixed with oxygen.“This is a very exciting year for Laugfs as we continue to get closer to our growing number of customers and the heart of the market in Sri Lanka by providing them with more cost effective products,” he said.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other Business Times Articles
Sri Lanka mulls oil price surge
Mihin Air sees huge success in Jakarta, Dhaka flights
Global apparel, footwear brands to hit Colombo
Shake-up at Economic/Finance ministries
CB fines Stanchart Bank in delayed action
Pereras’ dream to get Hayleys’ 51% still far
Saudi Prince eyes BPO in SL
Comment - Interference in the banking sector
Feature - Picking waste and transforming it to use or proper disposal
Feature - Off the radar: Sri Lanka in Indian strategic thinking
Two strong horses better than one for Pelwatte Sugar: Wicky
SEC setting up Commodities Exchange, calls for international bids
Pathirage leases out Horton premises to army
Hemantha Perera leaves Kelani Cables PLC
CCC launches blog dedicated to enterprise development
Letter - Despair of Golden Key depositors
TU’s Point of View - Bring our law in line with the National Workers’ Charter and ILO Conventions
NTB's after tax profits up 58% Year-on-year
Smart Media annual report partners US-based CarbonFree
Raising cash through bonds economical than loans / private equity: RAM says
Global talent and career management group in alliance with Michel Nugawela Designs
Polypackaging gets vital ISO certification
Lankan engineers stay in Colombo, reluctant to work in the provinces
Metal cutting gas safer for Sri Lankan industrial use
Global financial crisis shows any country, even an island, could be affected
Browns concludes 4.2 bn private placement; IPO plans for Rs. 350 mn
Stock Market Review - March 31 credit squeeze for brokers passes without an issue
Colombo gets a guide
Ranasoma, MD at Dipped Product,director - Hayleys Board

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2011 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution