Machinery Is The Key To Rubber Processing - Dr. Chakravarty

©2015 - Published by Rubber Machinery World. http://rubbermachineryworld.com

Interview With

Dr. Dr. S.N.ChakravartyS.N.Chakravarty Consultant & Author, R&D Leader,

Past Chairman of IRI, Hon. Prof. of IIT-Delhi and IIT-Kharagpur,

Various Life-Time Achievement Award Winner

11


Hello Dr. Chakravarty. First of all thank you for accepting an interview with

Rubber Machinery World and sharing your thoughts. Your journey over 40

years in rubber industry has been mixed one. Was a career in Rubber Industry

a conscious choice? Is there a story for the younger generation that you would

like to share?

This is my 50th year in Rubber industry, working in

different countries and India. You may say that

career in Rubber industry was more accidental

than choice. Few lines given below will give the

picture of that time.

“What do you know about Rubber?” was the

question asked at the interview for CSIR Fellowship

at Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science,

Jadavpur, Calcutta by my would-be research guide.

After my Master’s in Chemistry from Banaras

Hindu University in 1960 and a short stint of

lecturer-ship at Kharagpur, I applied for this

research scholarship and was called for the

interview.

I replied “nothing” and thought that the case is

closed. Surprisingly my would-be research guide

told “don’t worry, I also had no knowledge of

rubber when I started to work with it. If you are

serious and hard working then you should be able

to also do it”. At that time a research scholarship

was not easy to get, that even CSIR fellowship.

Obviously I was delighted when I was selected for

this fellowship.

“This is my

50th year in

Rubber

industry,

working in

different

countries and

India.”

Dr. S. N. Chakravarty, President, Elastomer Technology Development Society,

accepting the “TRiLA Life Time Achievement Award, 2015” from Dr. Arup K

Chandra, Head, Research & Development, Apollo Tyres Ltd at the Award

Ceremony in Tyre Expo, Chennai.

22


From a student of rubber technology to an author of books for students of rubber

technology, along the way serving as an employee (with Bayer, Modi Rubber Ltd), a

faculty, and later your own Consultancy has been a long and varied one. Which is

the position that you enjoyed the most? Why?

Yes, it was a long journey, obviously not

smooth all the way.

Lack of qualified personnel and modern

technology were the main problem of

rubber industry at early stages of our life

in the industry. Little encouragement to

the qualified young entrants was

extended. That is the reason I tried to

contribute in rubber technology education

through different forums like Indian

Rubber Institute (IRI), Universities, IIT’s

and at certain receptive industries at their

premises. When I meet my ex-students,

who have made a successful career, it

gives me immense pleasure. Many openly

acknowledge my contribution in their life.

Other great love was R & D in rubber field,

which I pursued throughout my carrier

along with other jobs. Results are available

to see in publications, international

activity, writing of books, conferences etc.

over last 50 years.

“When I meet my ex-

students, who have

made a successful

career, it gives me

immense pleasure.

Many openly

acknowledge my

contribution in their

life. ”

33


Would you say that rubber processing has undergone change in the last 4.5

decades that you have been with rubber industry? What were the drivers for this

change?

Surely, rubber processing has undergone

substantial changes over the last 5 decades, This

is mainly due to availability of developed

machinery – Mixer, Extruder, Calender, Presses

etc. along with electronic / microprocessor

controls, as well as development of rubber

technology & ingredients used in compounding.

Machinery is the key to rubber processing.

“Machinery is

the key to

rubber

processing.”

44 What role has machinery played in this change?

Machinery played many fold role in rubber

industry. These developments of machinery have

made it possible to -

Improve production output (impact on cost)

Superior dispersion & homogeneity –

improvement in property level.

Lowering of wastage – impact on cost

Dimensional accuracy of components

Accuracy in working – improvement in quality

Effective Quality Control (QC)

Energy saving – very important factor

Pollution Control, better housekeeping, health

factor for the working people in this industry.

55


What are the key changes and trends happening in tire industry? How much of

these changes has been influence by new machinery? (Or is it the vice-versa?)

Machinery brought Key Changes in rubber industry.

First & foremost mixing technology brought major change

with the help of developed Internal Mixer along with

controls & feeding System. This is widely accepted & being

introduced by the industry of appropriate size. Cold Feed

Extruder coupled with C.V. line is an important introduction

in the industry in not so distant past. IR & Electron Beam

radiation for CV line are also coming in usage. Important

factor for the industry is saving in energy cost and

machinery manufacturer are putting efforts in this

direction.

“Cold Feed

Extruder

coupled with

C.V. line is an

important

introduction in

the industry.”

66 How is rubber moulding different today as compared to past?

Manufacturing of rubber components has gone

sea change. Earlier it was compression moulding,

poorly designed mould & hydraulic press of

inadequate pressure & its non-uniform

distribution on the platen, in turn on mould,

leading to poor dimensional uniformity all over

the product.

Modern Presses have been developed, scientific

mould design & mould making adopted, wastage

drastically reduced. Major step was the

introduction and now widely used Injection

Moulding process for wide variety of moulded

product.

77


What is ETDS (Elastomer Technology Development Society? How is this

society contributing to the industry?

A Technical Society namely "Elastomer

Technology Development Society" was

registered few years back as a non profit

organisation devoted to the promotion and

introduction of modern technology in rubber

filed and industry. Highly experienced and

qualified rubber technologists are member of

this organisation. One of our major aim is to

promote young entrepreneur in rubber area.

We organise Seminars / Workshop / Training

Course in Rubber Technology field at

different locations in the country as well as

abroad. These are organised with the help of

promoters from the rubber industry.

Attached is a sample News Bulletin published

by ETDS which will inform you about our

recent activities. Last seminar was held at

Delhi in end November 2014 on "Tyre

Technology" jointly with Automotive Tyre

Manufacturers Association who also

sponsored the event.

We propose to hold a seminar on

"Instrumental Analysis in the field of

Polymer / Rubber“ in near future.

“One of our

major aim is to

promote young

entrepreneur in

rubber area. ”

88


You have recently authored books? Could you share some insights on them?

Authored two books on rubber.

First one “Introduction to Tyre Technology” came

from series of lecture delivered at Rubber

Technology Centre, IIT, Kharagpur. These were

edited and published in book form. You will notice

there are very few, can be counted on fingers, book

on Tyre Technology in the world. Hence, I thought

publishing this book will help students & young

people from the rubber industry.

Second book “Rubber Technology and Manufacture

of Rubber Products” resulted from the classes &

lectures conducted for students at IRI, University,

NIT & IIT’s over at least two decades. There was not

easily available cheap book for the students. Hence, I

thought why not make these lectures in book form.

After suitable editing this book was published.

“There was

not easily

available

cheap book

for the

students.

Hence, I

thought why

not make

these

lectures in

book form”

99


You are a renowned well-travelled technologist and have interacted with

outstanding research professionals’ world-over. Where do you think India

stands in this list of professionals? What could have been better or different?

I have interacted with Research institutes &

researchers in rubber field in different countries,

Germany, UK, USA, Russia, Japan, Korea, China etc.

over this period. Unfortunately I cannot speak high of

Indian R & D activity in rubber field. Few exceptions

are RCT, IIT Kharagpur and lately set-up R&D Centres

of major tyre companies.

The research and development effort in the Indian

rubber industry does not match in any respect with

what prevails in industrially advanced countries,

though drastic development has taken place in this

direction with the establishment of modern R&D at

bigger units, primarily tyre companies. For quite

sometime research has been confined to universities

and national laboratories. The industry has suffered

heavily because of old machinery and technology

prevailing in it. Modern machinery and developed

technology was not adopted as heavy expenses were

involved.

“The industry

has suffered

heavily

because of old

machinery and

technology

prevailing in

it.”

1010 Great! And one last question, what would you advice on machinery selection to

buyers and users of rubber and tire equipment?

Machinery selection must be guide by the process employed for the

manufacture of particular product. Its efficiency – Quality output & energy

requirement would play important role. Obviously, often certain

compromise is made due to cost factor.

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Machinery Is The Key To Rubber Processing - Dr. Chakravarty

Technology

Transcript of Machinery Is The Key To Rubber Processing - Dr. Chakravarty