Jamshedpur, November 17: With the support of CSIR Integrated, the Jamshedpur Branch of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) and the National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) of Jamshedpur jointly organized a two-day corporate plan "Branch-level "Best Welder Competition" skill initiative.

The main goal of the two-day exercise is to select five top welders in five different categories, including the best structural welder (GMAW), the best pipe welder (SMAW), the best pipe welder (GMAW) and the best pipe welder (GTAW).

The five welders selected in this competition will participate as representatives in the national competition organized by the National Welding Workshop (NWS) Committee and will represent the IIM Jamshedpur branch. Twelve participants signed up for the best welder competition.

CSIR-NML Director Dr. Indranil Chattoraj delivered a welcome speech at the opening ceremony. He talked about the importance of welding and the current industry requirements for qualified welders. Dr. Chattoraj encouraged all participants to compete in the spirit of a winner.

Pravesh Kumar Dhawan, Chief Scientist and Head of the CSIR-NML Engineering Department, elaborated on the welding facilities available for CSIR-NML, from in-house prototype preparation to facilities for welding training programs and research and maintenance activities. He mentioned the various state-of-the-art facilities provided by CSIR-NML, including robotic integrated MIG welding facilities, high-speed imaging systems, stereo microscopes, and CMM and welding simulators for various activities.

Dr. Anand Prabhakaran, IIW Secretary of Jamshedpur Branch introduced Sanjay Kedia, the chief guest of the inauguration plan, the Director of Mechanical Maintenance of Tata Steel Company, and also served as the chairman of IIM Jamshedpur Branch. Dr. Kedia talked about IIM and its various activities in his inauguration speech. He emphasized the importance of welders' skills in manual and automatic welding processes, and acknowledged that there is a huge skill gap that needs to be addressed. He thanked CSIR-NML for their help and support in organizing this competition, and expressed his expectation for future cooperation with CSIR-NML at a higher level.

Dr. Anand Prabhakaran briefly introduced the upcoming competition and the instructions that participants should follow. He said that according to ISO and ASME standards, there are two rounds of assessment, visual and radiography. IIM Jamshedpur will issue participation certificates and certificates to the winners of each category.

In the interactive session, Dr. Mita Tarafder, CSIR-NML Chief Scientist and Skill Node, mentioned that the Scientific and Industrial Research Council (CSIR) has made significant contributions to the national skills ecosystem. “Since 2016, CSIR-NML has regularly carried out skills development in the welding field for unemployed rural and urban youths, focusing on innovative product development to eliminate skills gaps,” she said.