expanding international profile ALUTECH Group

ExPanDInG InTERnaTIonaL PRofILE

The ALUTECH Group is a leading producer of aluminium profiles, sectional doors and roller shutter systems for the Eastern European market and beyond. Its systems have been installed at millions of sites throughout the world, including the CIS countries, Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Industry Europe talks to General Director Alexey Zhukov to find out about its latest product launches, continuing investment plans and strategies for further international growth.

General Director Alexey Zhukov

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Belarus, the ALUTECH Group includes five manufacturing companies (three in Belarus, two in Russia and one in Ukraine), over 20 sales offices and a manufacturing/logistics office in the Czech Republic (Alutech Systems s.r.o). The latter Mr Zhukov refers to as a “so-called ‘linking bridge’ between Western markets and ALUTECH. Continuous replenishment of the inventory provides the shortest lead times from the Czech Republic to all EU countries.”

The ALUTECH Group’s profiles, sectional doors and roller shutter systems are supplied mainly to the metalworking and construction sectors. For example, one of its arms, AluminTechno JLLC, casts aluminium ingots which are then extruded for use on building interiors and exteriors. Two other platforms, Alutech Incorporated and Alutech Sectional Doors, manufacture a full range of profiles and components for roller shutter systems, sectional garage doors and finished products, as well as handling equipment and automatic control systems.

Continuous product development

When it comes to production, the ALUTECH Holding’s priority remains aluminium constructions and components for the protection and development of private and industrial facilities. As has been touched upon above, this includes roller shutter systems, sectional doors and accessories and aluminium profile systems (such as facades, windows, doors and partitions).

However, the group is also aware of the need to continuously innovate and introduce new products and solutions in order to keep its offer fresh and competitive. Two years ago it launched its own line of reloading equipment, including dock shelters, docking levelers, loading bays and cross-dockings.

Mr Zhukov tells us: “First of all, we aimed to extend the existing assortment of industrial sectional gates with auxiliary equipment for more efficient and smoother operation of the industrial warehouse and logistics centre, while developing this product line at the same time.

“This autumn, we are launching our own line of functional automation systems for sectional doors. Previously, we offered automation systems from other European manufacturers as well as our in-house developed products under the brand name ‘AN-Motors’. Over time, we analysed distinctive features, advantages and disadvantages of the solutions we implemented, tested many of them under actual operating conditions and consequently developed the concept of our own line. The new ALUTECH automation systems reflect our view on functionality, reliability and user-friendliness.”

What makes the company stand out, according to Mr Zhukov, is its ability to offer absolutely everything the customer needs from one source. “When working on the improvement of a private house, you will be able to find a full list of solutions from the same manufacturer: roller shutters, garage doors, entrance gates (sliding and swing gates) as well as automation systems for comfortable operation. When equipping a warehouse complex or a logistics centre with sectional industrial doors, you can add high-quality auxiliary equipment for loading and unloading operations.” Capacity expansion

In addition to product development, in order to keep pace with its increasing output the ALUTECH Group invests regularly into increasing capacity at its various plants. As one example of this, two years ago it launched Alutech Sectional Doors LLC, covering an area of 55,000m2 – the largest production site in Belarus. At the same time it also installed a number of automated units and lines for the production of sandwich panels, lines for the production of a sectional door curtain and an automated warehouse for the sorting and storage of products.

The group has also expanded its capabilities in the production of profile systems: AluminTechno JLLC recently launched a new foundry facility with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes of aluminium per year, as well as a secondary coating unit and an anodising line.

Looking forward, automation is the watchword for further capacity expansion, as Mr Zhukov explains: “In the near future we plan to automate lines for the production of guides, to launch industrial robots for laser cutting on metal and to install automatic lines for the welding of this equipment. To recap, I would like to note that the main aim for the coming years is to automate all production processes and to load them to full capacity. This will allow us to more quickly recoup all investments.”

All facilities are equipped with the most modern equipment from leading suppliers in Germany, Italy, Japan and other regions. Among the many key suppliers of raw materials our interviewee is keen to mention are Akzonobel, DOW, Stublina, Roto and RUSAL. The majority of these, he says, have been working with the group since its establishment in 1996.

Key markets

As a Belarussian company, the main markets for ALUTECH are the CIS countries, where it is the leader in roller shutters and one of the biggest players in sectional doors. Its goal for the future, however, is to expand further afield and Mr Zhukov explains the reasons for this: “Western European markets are more progressive and more capacious in terms of turnover. More than 60 per cent of the entire range of roller shutters is already being sold to the countries of Western and Eastern Europe. In the near future, we plan to reach the same level for sectional doors.”

“The situation for the aluminium profile system is different: we have only recently begun to promote these solutions for export. It turned out the certification process for aluminium profile systems for Europe took us a long time, but now we supply other markets with the products certified in accordance with the standards of Germany, Italy, France, Czech Republic, USA and some other countries of the world.”

Forward-focused

Aside from growing in international markets, the ALUTECH Group’s priority for growth over the next few years is to expand its product range still further. It already operates in several niches, such as Classic roller shutters and Economy roller shutters, and in the near future it will extend this niche offering with Premium roller shutters and garage doors.

Mr Zhukov concludes: “Of course, we will continue keeping our focus on the hi-tech countries of the European Union. Despite the fact that we are a Belarussian company, our plants are built using modern European technical equipment and the quality of our products is recognised at international level by the leading institutes of the USA, Italy, France, Germany and the CIS countries. All of this adds up to our key competitive advantage that sets us apart from small local suppliers: ALUTECH is the optimal combination of price and quality.” n