IIM and CSIR-NML Jamshedpur organize branch level Best welder competition

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Nov 17: A two-day corporate program “Branch Level Best Welder Competition” was organized by Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Jamshedpur Branch in association with CSIR- National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur under the aegis of CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative.

The main objective of the two day exercise was to select five top welders in five different categories that included Best Structural Welder (GMAW), Best Pipe Welder (SMAW), Best Pipe Welder (GMAW) and Best Pipe Welder (GTAW).

Five welders selected at this competition will be representatives at the national level competition which will be organized by the committee of National Welding Seminar (NWS) and will represent IIM, Jamshedpur Branch. Twelve competitors enrolled for the Best Welder competition.

The welcome address at the inaugural programme was delivered by Dr Indranil Chattoraj, Director, CSIR-NML during which he spoke of the importance of welding and the present requirement of qualified welders in industries. Dr Chattoraj encouraged all participants to compete in the spirit of winners.

Chief Scientist and Head, Engineering Division, CSIR-NML Pravesh Kumar Dhawan elaborated on the welding facilities available at CSIR-NML that ranged from in-house prototype preparation to facilities being used for welding training programs and research and maintenance activities. He mentioned about various state-of-the-art facilities available at CSIR-NML including Robot Integrated MIG welding facility, High Speed Imaging System, Stereo Microscope along with CMM and welding simulators used for various activities.

Secretary of IIW, Jamshedpur Branch, Dr Anand Prabhakaran introduced the Chief Guest of the inauguration program Sanjay Kedia, the Chief of Mechanical Maintenance at Tata Steel and also holds the position of Chairman, IIM, Jamshedpur Branch. In his inaugural address Dr Kedia talked about IIM and its various activities. He emphasized on the importance of the skill of a welder in manual as well as automatic welding processes and admitted that there was a huge skill gap that existed and needed to be addressed. He appreciated the help and support provided by CSIR-NML in organizing this contest and said that he would look forward to future collaborations with CSIR-NML at a higher level.

Dr Anand Prabhakaran provided a brief insight into the upcoming contest and the instructions to be followed by the participants. He said that there were two rounds of assessment, Visual and Radiographic, according to ISO and ASME standards respectively. Certificates of participation and certificates to the winners of the contest in each category would be provided by IIM, Jamshedpur Branch.

During the interaction session, Dr Mita Tarafder, Chief Scientist and Skill Nodal of CSIR-NML mentioned that the contribution of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in the national skill ecosystem was significant. “Since 2016, CSIR-NML is regularly conducting skill development in the area of welding for rural as well as urban unemployed youth focusing on innovative product development to eliminate the skill gap,” she said.