CITD develops know-how for making sparklers safely

Hyderabad: In a small but significant step, the Hyderabad-based Central Institute of Tool Design (CITD) has developed an indigenous technology which would save tens and thousands of people working in the fireworks manufacturing industries.

According to the CITD sources, Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu is the major fireworks manufacturing hub in the country. Over the years, the fireworks manufacturing industry there had been marred with accidents resulting in loss of life and property. Though, it is illegal, in some places, children are engaged in the manufacturing process to save on labour costs resulting in the fireworks manufacturers facing the wrath of people as well as law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of accidents at the manufacturing units.

It was against this backdrop that a small-scale fireworks manufacturing industry from Sivakasi had sought the help of the CITD. Speaking to The Hans Indiahere on Thursday, CITD Principal Director Shujayat Khan said that as a first initiative, the institute had developed a pneumatically operated special purpose machine for manufacturing of sparklers and automated Sparkler Dipping Machine.

Following the successful commissioning of works, another major private firm from Sivakasi had approached the CITD for automating flowerpot manufacturing, ‘Chakkar filling’ and ‘Chakkar tube winding’ machines.

Giving details of the importance of the project, the Principal Director said, “The main objective of the project was to automate the flowerpot chemical filling process to protect human beings from the hazardous work environment and also increase the rate of production. This is the first of its kind in India with fully indigenous technology,” he added.

This, the manufacturers and the institute hopes that the automation process will reduce the hazardous work environment. The design and manufacturing of structure work for automation of flower pot manufacturing has been completed and trails also have been completed.

So far, “The institute has achieved automating 60 cones per minute as against a target of 123 cones. Fine tuning is under progress to achieve the targeted production,” Shujayat Khan said.

He said that CITD was also planning to provide training and production in activities related to 3D printing, taking up of design, development and delivery of automated solutions for labour intensive operations with an aim to reduce human fatigue and preventing workforce from exposure to hazardous environment.