The intent to be a global steel major over
next few years warrants an internationally acclaimed R&D actively into cutting edge
research in the areas of product and processes. The requirement of each segment can be
classified into service requirements and research requirements. Fig. below shows the
customer segments, key customers in each segment and their requirements. In general the
expectation of the customer from the service wing is information in real time keeping pace
with the production process while from the research wing is to bring about process
improvements and new product development on a slightly longer time horizon.
| Customer Segments |
Key Customers |
Customer
Requirements |
| Process |
Mines/Collieries |
Beneficiation |
| Coke Plant |
Cokemaking |
| Sinter Plant |
Sintermaking |
| Iron Making |
Ironmaking |
| Steel (LD1, LD2) |
Steelmaking |
| Ferro Alloys Division |
Chromite Processes and Products |
| Product |
Hot Strip Mill |
New Products |
| Cold Rolling Mill |
| Wire Rod Mill |
| Tubes |
Fig.p1.3 Customer
Segments and thier Requirements |
In general the
expectation of the customer from the service wing is information in real time keeping pace
with the production process while from the research wing is to bring about process
improvements and new product development on a slightly longer time horizon. The challenge
of adapting products existing elsewhere in the steel world to the local milieu poses
significant challenges. This task, until the advent of Technology Groups was, most
onerously, carried out by the product research group of Research and Development wing of
the Company. The above then leads to the question of the development of new products in
the fullest sense of the term and also the role of the research wing of Tata Steel
Limited.
With the advent of new
regime of Product patents coming into effect from 1st January 2005, patents can now be
filed in India for both Products and Processes. Prior to this, India recognized only
Process patents, thereby legitimatizing different process routes for the production of the
same Product. From January 2005 this security no longer exists. The threat from this
change is real and not imagined.
The ongoing research in
the area of new product involves development of high strength steels especially for the
automotive sector.
Recently the process
research groups have embarked upon carrying out long term research from the perspective of
future needs of the business.
The following thrust
areas should are being looked at by R&D starting April 2005:
 |
Improving Blast Furnace Productivity
|
|
Improving Dephosphorisation during BOF steelmaking
|
|
Ferro- chrome-the total process
|
|
Production of Clean Coal with < 8% ash
|
|
Recovery of values from BOF slag
|
|
