The Indian Institution of Plant Engineers (IIPE), a leading professional body based in Chennai, organized Engineers’ Day in memory of Bharat Ratna M. Visvesvaraya. Established in 1971, IIPE is a Non-Profit Organization IIPE has many Chapters all over India.IIPE focuses on equipping plant engineers with the skills to solve industry challenges, offering various programs like seminars and workshops to keep engineers updated on the latest technological advancements.
The event commenced with a welcome address by Col. (Retd) K. S. Chakaravarthi, Chairman of TNC. Er. Vijayaraju K. from the National Productivity Council spoke on overcoming cost escalation in industries, attributing it to factors like material price fluctuations and labor costs. He emphasized indigenization, showcasing examples from Bharat Electronics Limited and the Tejas Fighter Corporation.
Dr. Deva Prakasam addressed the need for engineers to invest more in research and innovation, citing Steve Jobs as an inspiration for his ability to integrate the best technologies into one product. He highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to revolutionize India’s IT sector in the next five years.
Mr. Leo Bernard, Manager of Plant Engineering at Ashok Leyland Ltd., Ennore, spoke about sustainable development through innovative approaches during his industry insight address. He emphasized the vast opportunities for manufacturing within India, stressing the importance of sustainability that meets the needs of the current generation while laying the foundation for future generations. At Ashok Leyland’s Ennore plant, they are committed to preserving the five natural elements—air, water, fire, sky, and earth—in their processes. Notably, they are pioneers in extracting iron from grinding waste, transforming hazardous waste into non-hazardous, usable iron. This innovation, currently used internally at the plant, foundry, and among vendors, has also been certified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As the patent owners of this process, they plan to expand its application across industries such as automotive, sports, civil engineering, and home appliances.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Baskara Sethupathy, Head of Automobile Engineering at Vellammal Engineering College.