At the Mirsarai Economic Zone, a giant technological leap is in the making on the banks of the Bay of Bengal. Safeway Technologies Limited, a leading manufacturer of concrete block production plants has delivered a state of the art concrete block manufacturing unit to Afra Corporation, a well known government contractor. This milestone is an important step toward sustainable and big scale infrastructure development in Bangladesh.
The heart of the project is the T-1000 block-making machine, imported from SL Machinery in China. It’s not just a piece of equipment, but a massive, automated factory. The core unit alone costs over 45 million BDT . The configuration involves heavy duty JS1000 mixers, European grade precise components, modern PLC control systems and sturdy molds weighing up to three tons. Afra Corporation has built an 1850mm deep reinforced stone basement to hold its huge operations. The plant, when fully operational, will have a production capacity of 100,000 solid bricks a day.
The facility will mainly serve high-demand government projects. Its immediate concentration is on manufacturing of heavy-duty CC blocks and uni-paver for canal lining, river bank protection and internal roadways of the economic zone.
But the project’s real importance is environmental. For decades, Bangladesh has depended heavily on traditional clay bricks, which aggressively destroy essential agricultural topsoil and endanger national food security. The move to modern concrete blocks is a good match for the government’s objective for sustainable growth. With this innovative technology, the country can protect its fertile farmlands and speed up its infrastructural growth.
Experts in the industry at Safeway Technologies urge budding entrepreneurs against taking corners in this nascent field. In the words of one firm representative: “Many investors suffer heavy losses because they go for cheap, low-capacity setups that simply cannot meet the stringent quality standards required by government mega-projects. To get significant building projects, it takes some considerable investment and strategic planning.
“Safeway Technologies is advising would-be investors to put quality before quick savings. Entrepreneurs can visit their huge projects in Mirsarai and Gazipur or their corporate office in Banani, Dhaka to see the future of sustainable construction.
