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India can become major stainless steel hub
Wednesday, 15 September 2004, 19:30 IST
NEW DELHI: India is barely utilising a minuscule of the country's potential in stainless steel for a wide variety of needs from railway coaches to salt-and-pepper shakers.
The country is manufacturing barely one or one-and-a-half percent of its capability to produce stainless steel, say experts.
"India produces about 23 million tones of stainless steel and 964 tones of crude steel," said Ratan Jindal, head of Jindal Stainless Steel, one of the biggest makers of the stainless steel in the country.
"There is a huge opportunity for growth," Jindal told IANS, explaining why his company has announced the first Stainless Steel Innovation Awards.
Carrying awards of 
100,000 and 75,000 for professionals and 50,000 and 25,000 for students, entries have been invited in architectural and creative use of stainless steel.
The main selling point of stainless is that it lasts for years without corroding or staining.
"Most people forget the great qualities of their stainless steel utensils that they have used in the kitchen for years," said architect Mohit Gujral.
"These same qualities can make a bus shelter and rail coaches made of stainless steel immune to the sun and rain for years," said Gujral.
And though stainless steel is more expensive than the ordinary version (around 200 a kg versus about 50-100), in the long run it works out much cheaper. "Lifecycle cost is the Bible," said N.C. Mathur, director of Jindal Stainless.
"The lasting power of stainless steel just beats anything else."
That's why countries from Thailand to Italy are using stainless steel to make buses, and even jewellery.
Jindal Stainless also has a range of artefacts and household items from salt-and-pepper shakers, stylish dinner sets, beer mugs, candle stands and photo frames.
There are even gigantic sculptures made of stainless steel, and now the Mumbai railway authorities are looking to get stainless steel coaches for the local trains.
"From automotive parts to earrings, everything can be efficiently made with stainless steel," said Jindal.
Source: IANS
100,000 and 75,000 for professionals and 50,000 and 25,000 for students, entries have been invited in architectural and creative use of stainless steel.
The main selling point of stainless is that it lasts for years without corroding or staining.
"Most people forget the great qualities of their stainless steel utensils that they have used in the kitchen for years," said architect Mohit Gujral.
"These same qualities can make a bus shelter and rail coaches made of stainless steel immune to the sun and rain for years," said Gujral.
And though stainless steel is more expensive than the ordinary version (around 200 a kg versus about 50-100), in the long run it works out much cheaper. "Lifecycle cost is the Bible," said N.C. Mathur, director of Jindal Stainless.
"The lasting power of stainless steel just beats anything else."
That's why countries from Thailand to Italy are using stainless steel to make buses, and even jewellery.
Jindal Stainless also has a range of artefacts and household items from salt-and-pepper shakers, stylish dinner sets, beer mugs, candle stands and photo frames.
There are even gigantic sculptures made of stainless steel, and now the Mumbai railway authorities are looking to get stainless steel coaches for the local trains.
"From automotive parts to earrings, everything can be efficiently made with stainless steel," said Jindal.
Source: IANS