A one day workshop on “Advances in Non-Destructive Evaluation of Steel Wire Rope in Mining and Aerial Installations: Theory and Practice†organised jointly at CSIR-CIMFR and ASNT India NDT Network concluded on Friday late evening here. The event was attended by representatives from various ropeway construction and operation industries of the country including DGMS, BCCL, BIS, wire rope manufacturing industries, American Society of Non-Destructive Testing, experts from the field of non-destructive evaluation and students from various research institutes.
Deputy Director General (Mechanical), Directorate General of Mines Safety D.B. Naik inauguated opening session and Shri Prakash Gokulnandam, Director and General Manager, American Society for Non Destructive Testing India was the special guest. Director of CIMFR Prof. Arvind Kumar Mishra welcomed the dignitaries on the dais and all the distinguished guests and members of the Institute present in the auditorium Prof. Mishra said - 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. Currently, ropeways are being constructed in various areas across the country, which provide access to remote areas and also facilitate the transportation of materials to mining sites. This development underlines the need for robust non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methodologies to ensure the integrity and longevity of steel wire ropes. Advanced NDE technology will not only improve operational safety, but will also prove to be helpful in the maintenance and inspection of essential infrastructure. Establishing indigenous standards and best practices in wire rope NDE is an important step towards achieving self-reliance in this sector.
He drew attention to the growing innovation and increasing use of ropeways in mining and aerial installations. Prof. Mishra explained the critical role of ropes in underground mining, ropeways and bridges, highlighting the importance of safety, integrity and cutting-edge research. He also emphasized the need for smart, AI-driven and machine learning-based solutions in NDT and encouraged sharing of interdisciplinary knowledge. He urged the participants to carry out research that will not only benefit the industry but also contribute to the global future.
Dr. Debashish Basak, Advisor and Chief Scientist of the workshop, explained the objective of the workshop and said, " 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, complimented CIMFR for organising this successful workshop and noted the significant advances being made in NDT technologies, particularly their application to steel wire ropes. Shri Gokulanandam also spoke about the important role of ASNT India in promoting NDT and its importance in various industrial sectors. Established as a professional society dedicated to the development of NDT technologies and methodologies, ASNT India provides a platform for industry professionals to collaborate, exchange knowledge and contribute to the development of NDT in various industries.
The souvenir of the workshop was also released by the scholars present on the stage.
