The Indian Institute of Welding : Voice for industry
Q. Please tell us more about International Congress 2020 (IC2020) being organized by The Indian Institute of Welding in association with The International Institute of Welding from 6th to 8th February 2020. What will be the key focus areas of this Congress?
The Indian Institute of Welding is organizing this International Welding Congress in India for the 5th time. The first congress was organized in Mumbai in the year 2005. Since then with the change in the Indian Industry’s outlook to meet the challenges of the International Market in Welding the country needs to update with the latest trends in material Joining technique. Newer materials are in use in various segment of Metal Joining which is posing a challenge to the welding Engineers. Regular Interaction with the Researchers of welding science all over the world has given a great help to the Indian Industry. In order to make this more effective IIW India organized first time an exclusive Welding Research Colloquium in the year 2016 In India which has opened new avenues for welding research and a close working relations with the Global research Fraternity and Indian Industries. The key focus area of this congress IC 2020 is to deliberate on the topics of today’s needs i.e Industry 4.0, Additive manufacturing, Joining of Composites with metals, Automation and use of Artificial intelligence , different Joining techniques and 3D Printing. We are expecting close to 150 technical presentations from India and abroad. We will be having approximately 25 plenary lectures by Eminent experts from the field during the 3 day Event. This conference will be attended by over 750 welding professionals across the Globe. Besides this year there will be an exclusive Young Professional International Congress YPIC to focus the attention and give opportunity to the young professionals. We expect a good and positive response to the same.
Q. Indian Institute of Welding, Mumbai Branch is also organizing WELD INDIA 2020. What can we expect from the exhibition?
The WELD INDIA the only exclusive welding exhibition is the 13th in the series. This exhibition will have the opportunity for both the welding Products manufacturers and the users to meet and understand the latest techniques of Welding technology. In This exhibition there will be approximately over 150 manufacturers will be showcasing their new developed products. Besides the welding consumables and the standards welding Equipment there will be display of advance welding products like Cold Metal welding, Synergic welding systems, AE controlled welding systems, Welding automation products, Robotics and also the latest Plasma and gas cutting machines. We are also focussing on other sectors like welding accessories, and the latest welding consumables.
There will be an opportunity for the Metals and also Non destructive Testing booths will be displayed. Additional services for welding Industry such as testing houses, training organizations and other consultants will also take part in this three day event. We are expecting overseas participation to the tune of over 40 % space. This event will attract over 7500 persons who are actively involved in the welding fabrication to attend and see the latest in their fields.
Q. Please elaborate on the activities of the Indian Institute of Welding and the role it is playing to impact the growth of the welding industry.
The IIW India is the only Welding Institute of the country which is a member of the International Institute of welding. This institute is established in the year 1966 and is now over 50 years in existence. The Institute has walked along with the industry to meet the industries demand at all times. Today IIW is the only place in India to get the International welding qualifications. Our Institute is conducting courses for the International welding qualification through our Authorized Bodies by Standard, Alternate and Transition route. The professionals who undertake these courses and obtain their Diplomas are valued as equivalent in Post graduate in Welding. Till now India has certified over 1300 welding Professionals to the International levels. All the Welding Training course developed by IIW under its NWTCS program has been granted the approval of ISO 17024 by the QCI. This gives a great opportunity for the candidates who undertake the our courses and get the certificate duly under ISO 17024 which has global recognition. Besides the International professional qualifications IIW India also certifies Industries with the manufacturers Certification for welding as ISO 3834, ISO 1090, ISO 15085 as per the requirements of EN ISO which has opened the avenues for the Indian Manufacturers to export their products to The European Union and also compete globally. The IIW Foundation section regularly invites experts from the Overseas countries on specific topics as needed by the manufacturing segment and create an opportunity to deliberate and interact. IIW also encourages and supports partially fees for the young engineers who is willing to participate in the International Welding assembly.
Q. What are the steps being taken to promote skills development in the industry?
Presently IIW India is in close association with the Ministry of Skill development has prepared detailed plans to increase the skill levels of our country to meet the demands. Today IIW has been appointed as an assessing body by The Capitol Goods sector, The Automobile sector, The Steel sector and other major segments where periodical welding is being conducted and certified.
In order to upgrade the Skill levels in welding and cutting different training Modules are prepared and put in use according to the requirements of each segment. IIW also organize the Training for the Trainers called TOT so that it will be easy to percolate the knowledge to the length and breadth of this vast country.
Today IIW is being made as knowledge partner to Number of organization both in the Private and in the Public sector. IIW in association with Indian Railways has qualified no of Practicing Engineers from Various Railway workshops to the level of the International welding personal level. This has given an opportunity for the Indian railways to improve the quality of welding to the international standards.
Q. Comment on the present status of the Indian Welding sector vis- à-vis global peers. What are the challenges and opportunities?
Though today Indian Industry has moved leaps and bounds but still a large amount of welding in the country is still being carried out manually. Barring the Automobile sector and few other industries have made substantial progress in Welding automation. This needs to improved and the dependent of Manual welding should be brought down to 45% from the present 70% in the next 5 years. This is one area which I can say that we are lagging when compared the developed Countries . If this has to happen in the next few years large scale investment by the manufacturers is needed and also we need to develop and use more amount of Digitalization in our working culture. With the Indian Economy fully opened up and the Govt move to open up private sector to various GOVT controlled activities to has given large opportunities to manufacture large scale investments and also gives more room to acquire the knowledge from the developed countries.
India has already achieved the third position in steel manufacturing in the year 2018 and is concentrating on the Renewable and Green Energy. This will make The Power sector to grow and will give an opportunity to be at par with the global leaders on Green Energy.
Q. What are the latest trends that you are witnessing in welding? How are technology trends like robotics and automation influencing the welding industry?
Today the latest trends are the need of the hour is to upgrade the welding systems and meet the Global challenges. Though predominantly Robotics and Automation are generally limited to Automobile sector but lot of other sectors are also exploring the possibilities of Automation not only in welding but also in materials handling. The use of Artificial Intelligence based applications will be made available to the areas where skilled manpower can be replaced by automation. I would say that the latest trends in welding is to reach the Goal of achieving the requirements of Industry 4.0 and also to explore more of automation in whatever areas possible. I feel this will give raise to large scale soft wares to be developed and training to be introduced at all levels to meet the challenges that the new opportunities are likely to throw.
Q. What are the future growth prospects and opportunities in welding?
Welding is the core of Metal Joining Process and I am confident that this Industry will be growing along with the Industrial growth.. As long as steel is the basic material for Metal Joining the carrier in welding is bound to exist and grow. Today the Per capital consumption of steel will determine the growth of welding as in Industry we approximately 3% is the quantum of welding materials in a tonne of steel consumption. With this logic the country is poised to reach around 220 Mln MT of steel by 2022 which will give rise to almost double the quantum of welding work. We are sure and confident that this Industry is looking for Engineers to take up the new opportunities and be a member of the main stream together we can say “We Make thinks that make India Proud” the slogan coined by the largest Manufacturer L& T Ltd .
