Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Hindalco Industries Limited, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has commissioned a greenfield plant for manufacturing Superfine PPT ATH (Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate) at Belagavi in Karnataka, marking the beginning of domestic production of the high-value specialty alumina product in India.
The facility has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes and is aimed at reducing India’s dependence on imports of the critical flame-retardant material. Hindalco said the plant would strengthen its Specialty Alumina portfolio while supporting the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in critical fire-safety applications.
Superfine PPT ATH is a halogen-free flame-retardant material used in HFFR (Halogen-Free Flame Retardant) cables, polymer insulators, thermal insulation, composites and paints. In cable applications, it helps suppress flame propagation and smoke generation without releasing halogen acid gases, thereby contributing to safer electrical and infrastructure systems.
Demand for the material is expected to rise with stricter fire-safety standards, increasing adoption of electric vehicles and infrastructure, and the growing preference for sustainable, high-performance materials. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has also introduced IS 17048:2018 for HFFR cables, aligning Indian standards with global safety benchmarks.
Hindalco said the Phase-I capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum is designed to meet almost the entire current domestic demand for the material from the wire and cable industry. The facility can subsequently be expanded to 60,000 tonnes a year to cater to future market growth.
Hindalco Managing Director Satish Pai said the commissioning of the Belagavi plant would strengthen the company’s leadership in specialty alumina and help it move further up the value chain.
“This investment reflects Hindalco’s focus on creating value, moving up the value chain and delivering advanced solutions that meet the emerging needs of customers in India and global markets,” Pai said.
Saurabh Khedekar, CEO, Alumina Business, Hindalco Industries, said the new product would strengthen the company’s specialty alumina portfolio and promote innovation-led growth.
“As India’s first manufacturer of Superfine Precipitated Hydrate, we are proud to offer an indigenous, world-class solution that strengthens self-reliance, reduces import dependence and supports the evolving needs of the wire and cable industry,” Khedekar said.
Hindalco has one of the world’s largest integrated Specialty Alumina businesses, with production capacity of around 800 kilotonnes per annum and more than 120 grades of Specialty Alumina and Alumina Hydrates.
The Belagavi facility was developed through in-house technology and R&D, from initial research to commercial-scale production. Automated controls and an integrated manufacturing system have been incorporated to ensure consistency in feedstock quality and product standards.
Sustainability is another key feature of the plant. The facility is powered entirely by renewable energy sourced from biomass, solar and wind, enabling production of specialty materials with a lower environmental footprint.
