Alpha hopes to produce about 10,000 tonnes per annum of HPA and related high purity precursor products, using its solvent extraction and HPA refining technology.

The facility is at lock-up stage following the installation of cladding, roofing and a roller door.

The first phase electrical install is nearing completion, with interior and exterior lights installed and wiring of the main switch board to the motor control centres is also underway.

Mechanical installation of the front-end solvent extraction is also close to complete after the final modules were delivered to site.

The site has also hooked up to potable water under a supply contract with the Gladstone area water board.

After marketing its HPA products internationally the company picked up a number of product orders, with 12 test orders shipped from its Brisbane demonstration in the past two weeks to customers in Europe and South Korea.

Alpha is working on three orders in Brisbane, including:

• High volume 300kg+ orders of sintered HPA pellets for sapphire glass growth;
• High purity gamma alumina and high purity boehmite samples for the catalyst sector; and
• High purity nano alumina samples for micro-LED phosphor synthesis.

The company developed a process for manufacturing ultra-fine, high purity nano alumina, which is used for lithium-ion battery electrode particle coatings.

Alpha managing director Rimas Kairaitis said the company was highly encouraged by the continuing degree of engagement with end users.

"The capacity to directly interface with customers, combined with strong government support, near term production and Alpha's market-leading product continues to build our brand," he said.