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Manufacturing facility for composites set up at BEL

22 Aug '19

2 min read

Pic: Bel-India

A new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for Composite Materials, Environmental Testing and Finishing, has been set up at the Navi Mumbai Unit of Navratna defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The new facility is expected to turnaround the fortunes of BEL’s Navi Mumbai Unit by boosting its manufacturing and testing capabilities in composites.

The new facility is expected to turnaround the fortunes of BEL’s Navi Mumbai Unit, which has traditionally been in the business of manufacturing shelters and masts and overhauling of hydraulic systems of T-72 tanks. It would boost the unit’s manufacturing and testing capabilities in composites, a new area which has been identified by BEL for diversification. The unit will use the facility to carry out inhouse designing and manufacturing of components using GFRP (Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer) and CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer) composites for various naval applications, submarines, aircraft and shelters.

Inaugurating the new facility, Shripad Naik, minister of state (independent charge) for Ayush and minister of state for defence said that the new facility at Navi Mumbai Unit would enable BEL to develop composites which are lighter yet stronger and posed no environmental hazard. He added that these new products would cater to the requirements of ship builders, metro, etc.

Gowtama M V, CMD, said that the revival story of Navi Mumbai Unit was worth emulating. He added that BEL would like to be a supply chain partner for all platform manufacturers of the country, including PSUs such as MDL and GRSE.

BEL-NAMU has already executed composites projects such as Radome for 12.86m Doppler Weather Radar and GFRP Pressurised Missile Container for the Akash Missile System. Besides, the unit has designed a CFRP shelter for defence applications, composite mast, composite canister for QRSAM, Climatic Control Light Weight Composite Enclosure, Composite Stave Assembly to mount sonar sensors, etc.

Composites consist of two or more distinct materials, which are combined to improve the directional strength properties of individual parts. Composites have many advantages including weight saving (without compromising on other properties), leading to fuel saving, increase in payload and increase in performance, good corrosion resistance, low thermal expansions, high strength to weight ratio and better aesthetics. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India