TUSDEC plans industrial mechanization research institute in Multan

With a view to facilitating manufacturers of agriculture implements and ginning machinery to modernize their plants, Technology Up-gradation and Skill Development Company (TUSDEC) has planned Industrial Mechanization Research Institute in Multan.
TUSDEC Chief Executive Officer Alamgir Chaudhry told Business Recorder that an amount of Rs 60 million is likely to be spent on this project of vital importance for the southern part of Punjab province. Multan is a major commercial and industrial centre of Southern Punjab. A large number of SMEs in Multan are directly or indirectly related to agriculture sector. Industries include textile spinning, textile weaving, towel industry, vegetable ghee & cooking oil, wool scouring and woolen textile spinning/weaving, agricultural implements, auto parts, beverage, bakery products, chemical, chip/straw board, cold storage, cotton ginning & pressing, cotton waste, doubling of yarn, fruit juices, foundry products, pesticides & insecticides, packages, poultry feed, rice mills, sizing of yarn, solvent oil extraction, soap & detergent, tannery, textile processing.
In this regard, TUSDEC has carried out an assessment study in which it is analysed that SMEs involved in agriculture implements and ginning machinery in Southern Punjab are facing issues of low quality production, lack of knowledge about designs, materials, quality, standardisation, relevant technology and production.
He said the reverse engineering and standardization activity can be carried out on professional grounds, and expedited by employing technological facilities like 3D-Scanners and Co-ordinate Measuring Machines (CMM). "The proposed institute will identify the equipment and operations from pre to post harvesting. After selecting equipment, it will assess indigenous manufacturing capabilities of the imported samples required for the reverse engineering," he added.
According to him, standardisation of cotton ginning machinery is vital as it will ensure product compatibility, end-user ease of use and continuous design/quality improvement in the cotton ginning machinery being produced in Pakistan. "Reverse engineering of agriculture implements will ensure production of sophisticated machinery in the private sector and alongside will be vital in increases of production and yield. The next step would be developing a prototype of the selected machine/implement in conjunction with the relevant agri-research institutes, supplying all design data available from reverse engineering activity. Once the prototype is standardised, its design with all relevant CAD/CAM drawings, fit function test reports, assembly and motion simulation reports, stress analysis reports would be handed over to the private sector manufacturers with ensured facilities of Tool, Dies and Moulds Centres," he added.