Minister wants global status for India in Materials Industry

The Dollar Business Bureau The Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Harsh Vardhan, on Sunday, called upon the Indian scientific community to celebrate the spirit of ‘Make in India’, as he expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s call for the initiative has given a boost to the scientific creativity in India. The minister urged the community to conceptualise and develop products that can cover everything ranging from the level of space conquest to the basic building blocks of life. The minister called upon the need to achieve global status and find a niche in the areas of ‘Materials & Processes (M&P)’. He said that the government has got big plans for the Advanced Material and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), while addressing reporters after his visit to the AMPRI, a wing of the Centre of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). “AMPRI is aspired to provide scientific and technological input to societal missions of relevance to rural development,” he added. Stating that AMPRI is one of the major achievements of a new wave in scientific development in India, the minister appreciated the 43-member scientific team of AMPRI for their recent achievements that benefited various sectors. The minister highlighted AMPRI’s achievement in developing a metal-matrix composite- Aluminium Alloy Silicon Carbide that has potential applications in strategic and automobile sectors. Referring to their implications, he said that the composites, thus developed, have been transferred to Exclusive Magnesium, a Hyderabad-based private sector company. Significant achievements in metallic foams, smart and functional materials, graphene and carbon nano tubes base composites are crucial for Make in India, said the minister, adding, “These would also reduce the Indian manufacturing sector’s dependence on imports for material sourcing.” The minister also said that key progress in extrusion, electromagnetic forming and special processing techniques for light-alloy products encouraged industries to develop light-weight and high-performance components. Allied breakthrough customized for sugar mills, development of the welded hydro-generator shaft that lead to a material cost saving up to 80%, were among other achievements listed by the minister. The minister lauded the ongoing scientific research in the fields of M&Ps- nano materials, material modeling and design, graphene and carbon nano tubes based composites.    

May 11,  2015 | 4:40 pm IST.