In a bid to expand manufacturing in the aerospace sector, the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) has established the country’s first ‘cold spray’ lab, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art high-tech machineries from Japan and will develop advanced services technology for aircraft engine components. The laboratory was inaugurated at the IIT Madras campus today.
Chennai:
The project is funded under ‘Uchchatar Avishkar Yojana’ (UAY) of the Government of India, which is intended to boost collaboration between academia and private sector. The Ministry of Human Resources Development was the key investor along with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), IIT-Madras, and GE, IIT officials said.
Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT-Madras said this lab initiative has many applications not just for aviation but many other verticals. Accordingly, the country’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market for civilian aircraft is expected to grow at 7% CAGR from its current value of Rs. 4,800 crores.
Currently, 90% of the MRO needs of Indian carriers are done outside India. This program will enable strengthening the MRO ecosystem in the country, help develop advanced technology expertise in the country and skill development of our engineers in additive technology.
The collaboration is also aligned with GE’s aim to develop and nurture knowledge of newer technologies for aero-engines and other industries. As part of the collaborative efforts, IIT (Madras) would develop latest specifications of aerospace standard.
This is the first of its kind High-Pressure Cold Spray (HPCS) facility being installed in any academic institute in India.
‘Cold spray,’ is an emerging technology and will be utilised to co-develop processes for aero-engine applications. The term ‘cold spray’ refers to the relatively low process temperature involved, that is typically much lower than the melting point of the spray material. The lab is developed in collaboration with General Electric (GE).
The project is funded under ‘Uchchatar Avishkar Yojana’ (UAY) of the Government of India, which is intended to boost collaboration between academia and private sector. The Ministry of Human Resources Development was the key investor along with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), IIT-Madras, and GE, IIT officials said.
Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT-Madras said this lab initiative has many applications not just for aviation but many other verticals. Accordingly, the country’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market for civilian aircraft is expected to grow at 7% CAGR from its current value of Rs. 4,800 crores.
Currently, 90% of the MRO needs of Indian carriers are done outside India. This program will enable strengthening the MRO ecosystem in the country, help develop advanced technology expertise in the country and skill development of our engineers in additive technology.
The collaboration is also aligned with GE’s aim to develop and nurture knowledge of newer technologies for aero-engines and other industries. As part of the collaborative efforts, IIT (Madras) would develop latest specifications of aerospace standard.
This is the first of its kind High-Pressure Cold Spray (HPCS) facility being installed in any academic institute in India.