Industrial Visit Report

Transcription

1 National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC) of Sri Lanka 23 / 03 / 2016 Mechanical Engineering Sectional Committee

2 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mechanical Engineering Sectional Committee (MESC) and Agricultural Engineering Sectional Committee of The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) jointly arranged an industrial visit to National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC), Ekala on 23rd March A group of twenty two members representing both sectional committees participated. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 INTRODUCTION NERDC 3 VISIT INSIGHTS 4 APPRECIATION 7 NEXT VISITS 7

3 3 INTRODUCTION NERDC The NERD centre was established in 1974 with the mission to engage in research and development activities that would have a direct bearing on the industrial development of Sri Lanka and on the improvement of the living standards of the people, and thereby develop technologies that would help in the sustainable utilization of the human and material resources towards the economic development of the country. Thus the NERDC was enacted under the Industrial Corporation Act No. 49 of 1957, on 14 August The centre was located in a small section of the Industrial Development Board complex at Katubadda Moratuwa at its inception and subsequently in September 1978 office was shifted to present location of IDB Industrial Estate, Ekala. Objectives of NERDC To promote direct and indirect mechanism of technology transfer and offer counsel to appropriate government and private institutions in Sri Lanka, when required to do so; To promote the optimal exploitation of the country s human and material resources, particularly labour and raw material resources by promoting the growth of suitable technology; To design, manufacture and test prototype machinery, pilot plants as demanded by industrial, commercial and other end users in an economical manner; To keep pace with global trends in engineering knowledge relating to research, design & development through cooperation with international & national programmes and agencies; To offer engineering consultancy services to public and private sector enterprise; To undertake research and promote indigenous technology; To broaden the base of the country s engineering and industrial design and research capabilities; To promote grassroots innovations and bring them into the mainstream of National Innovation system. To make provision for purpose connected with engineering, research and development related to matters aforesaid; To develop a critical mass of highly talented human resource base to achieve the above objectives. Source: -

4 4 VISIT INSIGHTS The Chairman Eng. Shavi Fernando, Director General Eng. Ananda Namal and senior officers of the NERD welcomed the group. They briefly commented about the vision and mission of the NERDC, ongoing research and development work, industrial services they provide and how knowledge is transferred to the general public. They insisted the group to propose ways and means of improving the activities of NERDC in the afternoon session after visiting important places. NERDC has various departments engaged in research and development activities related to various engineering fields. They are; Agriculture and Post-Harvest Technology, Civil Engineering, Design Fabrication, Consultancy for Industries, Energy and Environment, Renewable Energy and Mechatronics. The NERDC team took the IESL group to show various successful projects and explained how each new project works including the cost and advantages of each project.

5 5 Some of these successful projects are: Renewable Energy Batch type and continuous type Biogas systems. Model house with low cost construction methods Compressed cement blocks, slabs and walls, concrete window and door frames, cost effective ferro-cement toilets etc. Power weed remover for paddy fields Cost effective fertilizer application equipment for coconut estates Temperature controlled bakery oven, Bio mass rice cooker, Yogurt incubator and vegetable dehydrator Development of machinery for Ayurvedic sector juice extractor, cinnamon oil distillation

6 6 Virgin coconut oil extractor Industrial fire wood stove After lunch, the group had the opportunity to visit Engineering Museum which shows the history of local engineering (various types of agricultural equipment, biso kotuwa, eth pahana and replicas of and basic engineering equipment). After the visit, senior management including the Chairman, Director General and Heads of Departments of NERDC requested the IESL group to propose new innovations, ideas and ways and means to improve the NERDC and had an interactive session. Vote of thanks was given by Eng. Arjun Manamperi (Chairman MESC). The visit concluded at hrs.

7 7 APPRECIATION On behalf of the Mechanical Engineering Sectional Committee of The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), we wish to thank, the Director General Eng. Ananda Namal of the NERDC and Eng. A.Edirisinghe for making arrangements for the visit. The team extend our gratitude to the Chairman Eng. Shavi Fernando and senior officers of the NERDC for facilitating the same. NEXT VISITS Coming up North Sales PREPARIED BY ENG. GAMINI SANDANAYAKE ENG. KAMAL WIMALARATNE Coordinator Industrial Visits (MESC of IESL)