Innovation
Creating new value

A continued emphasis on novel approaches keeps us ahead of the curve, amid changing customer needs, competition from alternative materials and a dynamic regulatory environment.

`259 crore

r&d spend
 

58

patents granted
 

155

new products launched

NEW PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT, KALINGANAGAR | NOTE: ALL FIGURES ARE FOR FY 2019-20

To generate ~10% of revenue from new materials

Key support units
  • Enhanced research facilities with state-of-the-art laboratories, an R&D team of 200+ researchers and collaborations/memberships with 50 premier technical institutes
  • Innovation council that incubates novel ideas, enables implementation and advances research on new materials
  • In-house platforms, such as Innovent, that identify key customer insights and translate them into tested and scalable business models
Key outcomes

We are creating solutions that make a positive difference to the society with patents, new products, new materials and by developing in-house technologies for sustainable performance.

Louvre in Abu Dhabi
New products
  • Developed 155 new products in FY 2019- 20, including those for high-strength automotive structural applications.
  • On the long products front, we commercialised high-strength, high‑ductility rebar grade - Fe600 HD. We also developed low nitrogen steel grade (WR3M) wire rods through the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) route for welding electrode wire application.
  • Continuous efforts towards enriching customer experience by delivering innovative products resulted in Tata Steel winning the 'Innovative supplier of the year 2019' award for developing the S460MC grade of steel.
  • In Europe, 22 new products were launched during the year, which include major developments for engineering, automotive and construction markets.
  • The Packaging department has further developed and commercialised its already launched polymer laminated steel Protact® range of products.
New & advanced materials
  • Graphene
    ~1,500 tonnes of graphene-coated 'cut and bend' superlinks (GFX Ultima) were sold.
  • Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) products
    In the infrastructure segment, a wide range of FRP solutions were launched, including FRP street furniture, gazebos, fencing, and a range of decorative and translucent poles.

    Building on the success of installing India's first FRP foot overbridge in March 2019, our New Materials Business (NMB) completed two more successful FRP bridge projects in FY 2019-20.

    In the industrial segment, FRP pressure vessels for water filtration, FRP tanks and chemical equipment for paper and pulp, textile and iron and steel industries were supplied. These products are best equipped to tackle corrosion and are lightweight, thereby offering a long maintenance-free service life.

    Following the initial success of supplying FRP components to the Indian Railways, NMB has entered into railway coach interiors and is working closely with key production units of the Indian Railways.
Process improvements
  • TMining
    An insight development on application of blast free mining technology (Surface Miner) in hard rock (Underground Coal Study: ~80 Mpa) such as overburden material (sandstone, shale etc.) near West Bokaro has been conducted. This would be a first of its kind in the world for removing materials that create overburden.
  • CProcess Visualisation and Diagnostics (PV & DT)
    Developed a virtual pile-making model using real time data for Noamundi iron ore pile, facilitating visibility of chemical composition and material mix of every location of 100 kilo tonne pile, to identify and take corrective action in order to reduce standard deviation of iron ore fines quality.
Innovent

In-house platforms such as Innovent focus on identifying
key customer insights and translate them into tested and
scalable business models.

Pravesh Vista windows

These are hybrid window with dual functionality features, which swing and slide open.

  • Give 95% uninterrupted opening space to the user
  • Provide integrated security features
  • Durable and easy to maintain
  • Termite resistant and rust proof
  • Hassle-free, professional installation
Solar panels

Our first-of-its-kind solar panels, made with extremely thin steel sheets, eliminate the thick, toughened glass with high‑end polymers. This makes the panels practically unbreakable and are used in rooftops, mobile portable units, facades and solar bags.

  • Steel integrated solar panels with all associated accessories as standard ready-to-use roof-top kits
  • State-of-the-art mechanism for diverting solar power
  • Easy and quick installation on flat roofs with no invasion to existing roof and no welding
  • Modular structures that are lightweight, robust and wind- resistant, with complete safety features
Smart bus shelters
  • Provide Wi-Fi connectivity and phone charging sockets
  • Accessibility for the differently abled
  • CCTV and hooters to ensure safety of passengers
  • Enable emergency access to a central command centre
Smart trash bins

These help the municipality segregate waste at source into two collection bins.

  • Variable sizes and vandal proof
  • Provide garbage-level information to the command centre for necessary action
French doors
  • Doors with aesthetic look and greater security for areas leading to balconies, gardens and lobbies
  • Are being piloted in Punjab and Kerala

 

Road ahead

Continue to enhance our new product portfolio, cost competitiveness and environmental performance through capability building and collaboration with technology and research partners

Co-develop and adopt new business models that can bring about a paradigm shift through world-class partners and start-ups