A one-day workshop titled “Advances in Non-Destructive Evaluation of Steel Wire Rope in Mining and Aerial Installations: Theory and Practice” concluded successfully at CSIR-CIMFR, organized in collaboration with ASNT India NDT Network. The event, held on Friday, brought together industry experts, policymakers, and researchers from across the country, emphasizing the growing importance of robust evaluation techniques for steel wire ropes in mining and ropeway construction.
The workshop witnessed participation from notable organizations, including the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), wire rope manufacturing industries, and the American Society of Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT). Representatives from the ropeway construction and operation sectors, as well as students from various research institutes, also attended the event.
The inaugural session was graced by D.B. Naik, Deputy Director General (Mechanical), DGMS, and Prakash Gokulnandam, Director and General Manager, ASNT India, as the special guest. The session began with a welcome address by Prof. Arvind Kumar Mishra, Director of CSIR-CIMFR, who highlighted the increasing importance of steel wire ropes in mining and aerial transport, particularly under the Government of India’s Parvatmala Yojana. Prof. Mishra remarked, “With the expansion of mining operations and the rapid construction of ropeways under the Government's Parvatmala Yojana across India, the role of steel wire ropes has become extremely important for safe, efficient operations in the field of mining and air transport.”
Prof. Mishra further emphasized the role of advanced non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technologies in improving safety, ensuring infrastructure integrity, and contributing to self-reliance in this sector. He urged participants to adopt smart, AI-driven, and machine learning-based solutions in NDE and encouraged interdisciplinary research that could advance safety and innovation in steel wire rope applications. Prof. Mishra reiterated the critical role of steel wire ropes in underground mining, ropeways, and bridges, emphasizing the need for robust methodologies to ensure safety and operational excellence.
Dr. Debashish Basak, Advisor and Chief Scientist of the workshop, explained the objectives of the event, stating, “We all have gathered here to discuss a very important topic for safety, reliability, and innovation in our respective industries.”
Guest of Honour Prakash Gokulanandam lauded CIMFR for organizing the workshop and highlighted the progress in non-destructive testing (NDT) technologies. He remarked on their significant application to steel wire ropes and the critical role of ASNT India in promoting NDT methodologies across various industrial sectors. “ASNT India provides a platform for industry professionals to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and contribute to the development of NDT in various industries,” Shri Gokulanandam said.
The workshop also marked the release of a souvenir by scholars present on the stage, symbolizing the collaborative effort towards advancing NDT technologies. The discussions underscored the importance of establishing indigenous standards and best practices for NDE of steel wire ropes, aligning with the national vision of self-reliance.
The event concluded with experts reiterating the need for continued research and innovation in NDT to ensure the safety, reliability, and growth of the mining and aerial installation sectors. The workshop successfully provided a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration among key stakeholders in the industry.
Reference: https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/evaluation-of-steel-wire-rope-need-of-hour-experts/ar-BB1ri0E5
