National Metallurgical Laboratory Foundry Stations

Abstract

There are at present more than 4000 foundries producing non-ferrous, iron, steel and malleable iron castings. Major number of these foundries are of small scale type which do not have adequate facilities for testing and improvement of their products. As a result they are often handicapped in producing quality castings to compete in the market. It is therefore, imperative that the problems of the Small Scale Foundries shoud be looked into so that they can produce quality castings with the resources at their command. In this context the National Metallurgical Laboratory has so far set up four Foundary Stations at Batala, Madras, Howrah and Ahmedabad where these small scale foundries are concentrated and is also contemplating to establish another Station at Agra. These Foundry Stat-ions have taken up an active programme to look into the difficulties of the Small Scale Foundries by way of peri-odical visits, advising on the spot regarding operational problems, testing their raw materials and suggesting methods of improvement for production of quality castings. The services of the NML Foundry Stations in this respect have already been acknowledged in certain quarters.