The National Welding Seminar (NWS 2006) was held at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, Chennai, during 24th - 26th November, 2006. An International Welding Technology Exhibition, WELD INDIA 2006, was held concurrently at the same venue. This was the first official Exhibition organized by the Indian Institute of Welding. Both these events were organized by the Chennai Branch of the Indian Institute of welding. Preceding NWS 2006 and WELD INDIA 2006, a pre - conference tutorial on ‘Welding Metallurgy, Technology And Quality Assurance’ was organized from November 21st to 23rd, 2006, at Hotel Radha Park Inn, Chennai, under the auspices of the Chennai Branch and the Technical Committee of the Indian Institute of Welding.
The National Welding Seminar got off to a flying start with an impressive inaugural function. Mr. A. K. Mukherjee, President of the Indian Institute of Welding presided over the inaugural function. Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Director, BHAVINI, Kalpakkam, was the Chief Guest for the Inaugural Function and inaugurated the National Welding Seminar. Mr. V. C. Bedi, Executive Vice-President, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Hazira, Gujarat, inaugurated the Exhibition. Dr. Damian Kotecki, President, American Welding Society and Vice President, International Institute of Welding, was the Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries on the dais included Dr. H. S. Khatak, Chairman, IIW Chennai Branch, Mr. R. Ravi, Vice President (South), IIW, Mr. Parimal Biswas, Honorary Secretary General, IIW, Mr. P. Ravikumar, Honorary Secretary, IIW Chennai Branch, and Mr. Hasan Shaikh, Convener, NWS 2006. Dr. Khatak welcomed the delegates and dignitaries. Addressing the delegates, Mr. Prabhat Kumar focused on the booming industrial growth in India and the challenges that the welding community has to meet with respect to production costs and product quality besides meeting the market needs of consumables and machines. He also specified the need for the welding industry to adopt newer and better welding processes, robotics and intelligent welding systems to meet the requirements of costs and quality. Mr. Bedi, in his address to the delegates, stressed on the need for India to showcase its prowess in welding technology by organizing welding exhibitions under the banner of the Indian Institute of Welding. He was particular that the welding exhibition should be organized in Chennai considering that it was the industrial hub of the country. He also focused on the fact that very few engineers took up welding as a profession though the demand for welding engineers was very high. He highlighted
the fact that Larsen and Toubro had started a Master’s degree programme in welding in collaboration with MS University, Baroda, to encourage young engineers to take up a career in welding. Dr. Damian Kotecki highlighted the need for close collaboration between the Indian Institute of Welding and International Institute of Welding, particularly in the field of welding education and exchange of Technical Info & Awards. He released the first announcement of the International Congress 2008, to be held at Chennai during 8th - 10th January, 2008. Mr. A. K. Mukherjee distributed the various annual awards of the Institute. Life time achievement awards were presented to two distinguished welding engineers and Past Presidents of the Institute, Dr. Placid Rodriguez and Mr. A. K. Basu. Mr. Ravikumar proposed the vote of thanks.
NWS 2006 was attended by nearly 300 delegates from across the length and breadth of our country. The technical sessions were well organized by Dr. A. K. Bhaduri and his team from the Technical Committee. The technical sessions went as per time schedules planned. Mr. G. Hariharan, Managing Director, ESAB India, delivered the Sir L. P. Mishra Memorial Lecture. Dr. Damian Kotecki delivered the IIW Chennai Medal Lecture. 72 technical papers were presented in 14 structured sessions in two halls. The highlight of the technical sessions in NWS 2006 was a session devouted to Research Scholars to encourage them to take up welding as a career. A total of 19 high quality research papers were presented by research scholars. M/S A. R. Weld Tech, Chennai, sponsored prizes for the top three presentations in the Research Scholars Category. Ms. S. Selvi from IIRT, Salem, got the first prize in the Research Scholars Category.
WELD INDIA 2006 attracted 55 exhibitors from India and abroad on nearly 1000 sq.m of space. All the top notch companies displayed and demonstrated their latest state-of-the art technologies to nearly 2500 visitors to the exhibition. Four companies from China, two from Germany, one from UK, one from USA, one from Italy, one from Singapore and one from Japan, participated in the exhibition alongwith Indian exhibitors. The Indian Institute of Welding also put up a stall and attracted a good number of visitors.
The Indian Institute of Welding held its Annual Member’s Assembly on 24th November, 2006, and its 3 Convocation Function of the AMIIW Examination on 25th November, 2006. Prof. S. Renganathan, Vice Chancellor, Bharath University, Chennai, was the Chief Guest for the convocation function.
The Pre - conference tutorial (PCT) was a stupendous show attracting as many as 73 delegates. Dr. Shaju Albert from IGCAR was the course Director. Nineteen topics were covered in 3 days of intense lecturing and interactive sessions by experts drawn from industries and research and educational institutions. Dr. M. Vijayalakshmi, Head, Physical Metallurgy Section, IGCAR, Kalpakkam, delivered an evening lecture to the participants of the PCT on 21st November, 2006. Dr. Damian Kotecki addressed the participants of the PCT in an evening lecture on 23rd November, 2006.The PCT was inaugurated by Dr. Khatak, Chairman, Chennai Branch. Mr. G. Muthukrishnan, Member of the Managing Committee of the Chennai Branch, was the Chief Guest at the Valedictory Function.
An event of this magnitude could not have been possible without the support of industries. We had the fortune of having M / S MAILAM India Ltd., Pondicherry, as our Golden Sponsors. M / S Larsen and Toubro Ltd, D & H Sécheron Electrodes Private Limited, Indore, M / s Vacuum Techniques (P) Ltd., Bangalore, M / S Arc-Tec Systems Limited, Mumbai, Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, Mumbai, and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, Mumbai, have contributed significantly in terms of sponsorships for the National Welding Seminar.
Overall, the National Welding Seminar 2006 and WELD INDIA 2006 were a stupendous success. Special words of appreciation to our organising team of Dr. Khatak, Mr. R. Ravi, Prof. S. Sundaresan, Mr. P. Ravikumar, Mr. D. Hariharan, Mr. Winslow Fernando, Mr. G. Muthukrishnan, Mr. Kumaravel, Mr. S. D. M. Rao, Mr. T. V. Prabhu, Mrs. Vaidehi, Mr. V. Muralidharan and Mr. Chidambaram, and to the team from M / S Unitech Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, comprising of Mr. Biju Thomas, Mr. Unni, Mr. Sudeep, Mr. Joby and Mrs. Kamakshi. |
