Diamond Building Products Public Company Limited, or DRT, has announced a new investment plan to expand its lightweight brick production capacity by 2.9 million square meters with an investment budget of approximately 648 million baht. This expansion aims to address the insufficient production capacity to meet market demand. The project is expected to take 14 months to complete, with commercial operations anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2025, enhancing competitive capabilities and fostering long-term growth.

Mr. Sathit Sudbanthad, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Building Products Public Company Limited (DRT), a manufacturer and distributor of roofing systems, synthetic wood, fiber cement boards, decorative wall boards, lightweight bricks, SPC-FC stair wood, ready-made coffee shops (DIAMOND CAFE), and installation services for roofing structures and tiles under the 'Diamond' trademark, revealed that the company's board of directors approved the investment plan for the installation of lightweight brick production machinery (AAC-2) during a meeting on December 18, 2023. This marks a significant investment for the product line, as the two existing lightweight brick production facilities in Saraburi and Chiang Mai have a combined production capacity of approximately 5,800,000 square meters per year, operating at nearly full capacity. Therefore, this investment will enhance DRT's competitive capabilities to effectively meet the increasing demand for lightweight bricks in construction.

The AAC-2 lightweight brick production machinery project will have a production capacity of approximately 2,900,000 square meters, or about 163,200 tons per year, with an investment value of approximately 648 million baht. It is expected to take about 14 months for machinery procurement and installation, with commercial production set to commence in the second quarter of 2025. This will allow the company to better address the issue of producing goods that meet customer demand in retail construction material outlets and improve sales volume for property project clients.

“Lightweight bricks represent a product line with strong growth potential due to increasing market demand, as they are increasingly favored for wall construction, replacing traditional clay bricks. Their properties help reduce heat and construction time. We are confident that once the new machinery is installed and operational, it will provide flexibility in lightweight brick production and effectively drive DRT's growth in the future,” said Mr. Sathit.