Despite of serious obstacles, BITAC has developed some notable solutions in recent times through R&D. Most recent of these successes is the Salt Iodization Plant (SIP). All of these have made huge national impact, not only by saving vast amount of foreign currency but also strengthening the nation’s technological capacity.
qA separate R&D Department has been setup to carry out the R&D independent of regular production activities.
Prospective Projects at hand
Manufacture of 3” and 4” Flange-T for Titas T&D.
Design, Development & Manufacture of Centrifuge for Salt Processing.
Design, Development & Manufacture of Salt Dryer.
Manufacture of Propeller Hubs for BIWTC
Manufacture of Different Spare Parts for Bangladesh Railway.
Design & Development of Salt Processing Plant.
Indigenous Design, Development & Manufacture of CNG driven 3 wheeler Auto-Rickshaw.
Manufacture of 3” and 4” T-Flange
•Client: Titas T & D
•Prospect:
-Work order for 3” (30 units, @BDT 22,500/-) and 4” (30 units, @BDT 31,500) T-Flanges after test reports are ok.
-Yearly consumption : 100 units of each type (estimated average). Can become regular job similar to Strainer.
•Current Status:
- Samples (02 set 3”, 02 set 4”) along with material test reports from BUET were delivered on 11/11/08 and in the process of being approved by the client.
-Another 02 sets of each are ready for delivery. Machining for more is in progress.
Manufacture of 3” and 4” T-Flange
•Client: Titas T & D
•Prospect:
-Work order for 3” (30 units, @BDT 22,500/-) and 4” (30 units, @BDT 31,500) T-Flanges after test reports are ok.
-Yearly consumption : 100 units of each type (estimated average). Can become regular job similar to Strainer.
•Current Status:
- Samples (02 set 3”, 02 set 4”) along with material test reports from BUET were delivered on 11/11/08 and in the process of being approved by the client.
-Another 02 sets of each are ready for delivery. Machining for more is in progress.
Manufacture of 3” and 4” T-Flange
•Key Issues :
-Material composition specifications nearly all met. Further tests are being carried out following client’s request.
-Quality of Body castings needs development. Presently, numerous leakages have to be routinely welded. This compromises quality and time is wasted.
- Flanges, bolts are being inefficiently machined from large stocks. Castings can be used to drastically reduce machining time but so far casting quality of Flanges has not been satisfactory.
Design, Development & Manufacture of Centrifuge
for Salt Processing
•Client: Salt mills through MI
•Prospect:
- Continuous type centrifuge is in high demand by salt mills.
-Expected sales volume is 50 units over 05 years.
•Current Status:
-Prototype for the Batch type is ready. Tests indicate reasonable results. Nearly ready for manufacturing. Further tests are being carried out. Test results are expected to provide valuable insights for development of the Continuous type Centrifuge.
-Reflecting demand of the client, Continuous Centrifuge is given preference to batch type Centrifuge. A prototype has been made. Tests at ~900 RPM indicate design evaluation and changes are necessary to reach RPM high enough for satisfactory centrifugation.
Design, Development & Manufacture of Centrifuge
for Salt Processing
•Key Issues :
- Technical difficulties in achieving high rotational speeds, especially for the Continuous type. Bearings, support structures design needs evaluation.
Design, Development & Manufacture of Salt Dryer
•Client: Salt mills through MI
•Prospect:
- There is high demand of Salt dryers in salt mills. Practically no alternative solution exists to date so market prospect is high.
-Expected sales volume is 50 units over 05 years.
•Current Status:
- Prototype is being improved. Some problems with the design discovered during testing. Drying performance was not satisfactory and indicates necessity of design modification.
Manufacture of Propeller Hubs
•Client: BIWTC
•Prospect:
-Yearly consumption is 06 sets (average).
•Current Status:
- Final machining can not start until samples of matching parts are available. Client is being routinely contacted for the samples.
-Key Issues :
-Difficulties in achieving specified material composition & properties.
-Client reluctant to supply necessary samples and matching parts.
Manufacture of Different Spare Parts for Railway
•Client: Bangladesh Railway, Dhaka Diesel Workshop
•Prospect:
- Spare parts are high consumption items so persistent demand exists.
•Current Status:
- 07 items were delivered as sample in 2003 and 2004. Reports of trial runs are mostly positive. Most are reported as ok.
•Key Issues:
- Some acceptance letters by Client.
- Market difficult to enter due to strong foothold of competitors.
Design & Development of Salt Processing Plant
•Client: Salt mills through MI
•Prospect:
-High market demand is anticipated.
-Profit margin is high.
•Current Status:
- Design concept is being developed. Some crucial components of the Plant such as Iodization system, centrifuge, dryer are in advanced stage of development. Washing system is being developed.
Indigenous Design, Development & Manufacture of CNG driven 3 wheeler Auto-Rickshaw
Concept Paper has been submitted to the International Trade Center (ITC), EU.
Project Summary has been submitted for inclusion in ADP of fiscal year 2009-2010.
Initial response is positive
Hindrances
qAvailability of Workshop facilities is dependent on shop’s workload and therefore highly unpredictable. R&D jobs usually occupy lowest places in a workshop’s priority list.
qReluctance of workshop personnel due to absence of Over Time.
qTest facilities are not readily available, so much time is lost getting tests done in outside facilities.
Recommendations
qR&D is presently giving Operation Sheets independently for R&D jobs to workshops with deadlines. It is recommended that workshops are instructed to treat these jobs as regular job and be accountable for delays.
qTest facilities should be made available as best as possible. Spectrometer should be repaired.
qA standing fund be created for R&D for use in emergency or ad-hoc cases such as material purchase and to carry out tests from outside organizations on short notice.
Involving Stakeholders
•Collaboration with Engineering Institutions, Government bodies:
▫Testing facilities of BUET is being extensively used. Possibility of involving BUET as well as other institutions to much greater depth is being explored.
▫Ministries and Government bodies that support R&D in different sectors should be contacted and our activities explained.
▫Involvement of such bodies will increase quality of work and acceptability.
•International Sponsors & Donors:
▫International support organizations like UNIDO can be approached for funding/sponsorship of R&D projects.
•Local Companies:
▫Projects with good business prospects can be presented to local companies to see if sponsorship can be obtained.
At a glance
Job |
Client |
Features |
ExpectedQuantity |
Value |
TimelineProjection |
Mfg of Flange-T (3”, 4”,6”,8”) |
Titas T&D |
- Strict adherence to material composition standards |
100 sets of each every year |
- BDT 1.62 million for the trial order. - Estimated BDT 17.4 million each year. |
-Mid February, 09: Samples validated. Ready for full production. |
Centrifuge |
Salt mills through MI |
- Successful development will ensure large quantity order |
50 units per year |
BDT 0.7 million/unit |
- |
Salt Dryer |
Salt mills through MI |
- Successful development will ensure large quantity order |
50 units per year |
BDT 0.3 million/unit |
- |
Propeller Hub |
BIWTC |
- Tricky material composition |
06 sets per year on average |
Estimated BDT 9 million each year |
- |
Spare Parts |
BD Railway |
- High consumption rate |
- |
Estimated BDT 20 million each year |
- |
Salt Processing Plant |
Salt mills through MI |
- |
- |
BDT 5 million/unit (estimated) |
- |
Design & Mfg of CNG Auto-Rickshaw |
- Operation in collaboration with local light engineering sector |
- |
BDT 1.07 billion over 4 years. |
- |
ss
For Jute Mills
•Jute Chipper
For Paper Mills
•Digester Gear Boxes
•High Density Pumps
For Power Generation, Transmission & Distribution
•Assortment of clamps for use in high tension transmission line
•Oil Coolers for Power Plants
For Gas Transmission & Distribution
•Strainers of different types and sizes
•Fittings for transmission line
Thank You