'EMS 2007 ' INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL MEET

India is on a threshold of a steel revolution. The National Steel Policy envisages production of 110 million ton per annum (Mtpa) of steel in India by the year 2020. This implies that the country, which produces 40 Mtpa of steel currently, will have to add around 70 Mtpa of new steel making capacity in the next 13 to 14 years. This translates into addition of more than 5 Mtpa of steel making capacity every year till 2020. On a national level, a multi-pronged strategy has been formulated for attaining this goal. The demand for steel will increase through rapid infrastructural development and a quantum increase in rural steel consumption. Keeping pace with the demand, domestic steel production will be enhanced through creation of additional capacity. The expansion plans of existing steel producers and entry of new players are all indicative of a very bright future for steel industry. The National Steel Policy has set a long-term goal that India should have a modern and efficient steel industry of world standards, catering to diversified steel demand. The focus of the policy is to achieve global competitiveness not only in terms of cost, quality and product-mix but also in terms of global benchmarks of efficiency and productivity.

In the backdrop of the above scenario, Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Ranchi Chapter, in association with Centre for Engineering & Technology (CET), SAIL, Research & Development Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCIS), SAIL and MECON Ltd organized this “International Technical Meet of Steel Plant Equipment Manufacturers & Suppliers-2007 (EMS 2007)” at Ranchi during January 18-20, 2007. The event was solely dedicated towards in-depth deliberations and discussions between the manufacturers, technology suppliers, EPC companies and the steel companies on the vital issues of the country’s preparedness for the manufacturing of steel plant equipment and plant construction.

The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), Ranchi Chapter is one of the leading and active chapters of the institute having membership strength of more than 325. One of the chapter’s focus areas is to facilitate the development of the steel industry through organization of seminars and technical meets addressing the contemporary challenges before the steel industry.

Shri Rajesh Singh, Chairman of IIM Ranchi Chapter welcomed the delegates, sponsors, co-sponsors, guests and the media to the Meet. The meet was inaugurated at 2:30 PM on 18th January 2007, at Ispat Bhawan Auditorium by the chief guest, Shri D. Rath, CMD MECON Ltd. Addressing the gathering of experts, Shri Rath underscored the requirement of a reliable workforce and dependable infrastructure for realizing the targeted growth in Indian steel sector. Shri S. Biswas, CMD Heavy Engineering Corporation was the guest of honour. CMD HEC in his keynote address set the tone of the meet by charting a bright future of the Indian steel industry. He also highlighted the challenges and opportunities before the steel plant equipment suppliers. One of his key suggestions was to make India technologically self sufficient by adopting a system similar to that in China involving compulsory technology transfer by foreign supplier to domestic equipment manufacturers. Besides CMD MECON and CMD HEC, Executive Director (RDCIS) Shri N. Neogi and Executive Director (CET) Shri A.S Mathur addressed the gathering. Shri D. Mishra, Organising Secretary proposed the vote of thanks. Later, a technical exhibition was inaugurated where the following ten companies put up their stalls to show case their products & services:

• Stopinc, Switzerland

• SSIT, China

• Tecpro Systems Ltd.

• F. Harley & Co.

• BEC, Bhilai

• Fouress Engineering

• IMS MACO

• Lotus Wireless

• Bosch Rexroth

• Shanthi Gears

A dedicated team of personnel worked hard and in perfect harmony for several months to organize this mega event successfully. The team was led by Shri Rajesh Singh, General Manager I/c (Engg. & Projects), CET, SAIL and Shri D. Mishra, General Manager (Iron & Sinter), CET, SAIL.

INTER SCHOOL METALS & MATERIALS QUIZ

As part of its Annual activity, IIM Ranchi Chapter organized “Inter School Metals & Materials Quiz” on June 23^rd , 2007 at Ispat Club, Ranchi. Nine teams representing the following five prestigious Schools of Ranchi took part in the event:

• Delhi Public School - 2 teams

• DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir - 2 teams

• Surendranath Centenary School - 1 team

• St. Xaviers School - 2 teams

• Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School - 2 teams

The event was attended by a large number of quiz enthusiasts comprising IIM members and students. The variety of questions and the confidence with which the youngsters responded to them kept the audience spellbound. The quiz was conducted by Ms Nandita Gupta, Sr. Lecturer, NIFFT and Ms Neeta Chakraborty, Sr. Manager, RDCIS.

The results of the event was as below:

Winner
The team from Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School, comprising

• Sumit Kumar

• Amarpreet Singh

First Runner Up
The team from DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, comprising

• Abhishek Kumar

• Vandana Jahanvi

Second Runner Up
The team from Delhi Public School, comprising

• Anand Prakash Trivedi

• Pravesh Kumar

The winner team is being nominated to participate and represent IIM Ranchi Chapter in the forthcoming National Level Event “Prof. Brahm Prakash Memorial Metals & Materials Quiz” to be held in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.

IIM Ranchi Chapter thanks the School Managements for sponsoring their students to take part in the Inter School Quiz and wishes the team from Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School all success in the National Event.