Construction Industry News
India’s largest iron ore producer, NMDC has unveiled its new state-of-the-art R&D center in Patancheru, Hyderabad to advance innovation in mineral processing and sustainable steel technology. The Navratna company has made investments of over Rs 150 crores for research and development in the past 5 years and Rs 50 crore towards building the new R&D centre.
Spanning across eight acres in Patancheru, this leading-edge facility was inaugurated by Amitava Mukherjee, CMD (additional charge), NMDC, accompanied by Dilip Kumar Mohanty, director (production); Vinay Kumar, director (technical); B Vishwanath, CVO and senior officers from NMDC.
Contributing to the field of mineral processing since 1970, NMDC R&D has been recognized as a Centre of Excellence by both UNIDO and DSIR for its knowledge and technology transfer to the domestic and global industry. The R&D Centre houses cutting-edge laboratories that foster innovation in sustainable mineral technology and ore beneficiation, manned by a team of experts.
The newly inaugurated NMDC R&D centre boasts an array of sophisticated instruments, including an automated mineral analyser and automated fusion bead-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser, ensuring precise and efficient characterization of various minerals. The centre features a dedicated facility for pelletization studies, which will generate crucial data for the installation of commercial pellet plants. This will not only enhance NMDC’s in-house requirements and capabilities but will also benefit the sector by providing valuable insights into mineral processing and pellet production.
Mukherjee said, “Embracing our responsibility to innovate and lead the Indian mining Industry towards a sustainable future through research and development, we open the doors to NMDC’s new state-of-the-art R&D Center.”
This facility is a decisive step towards driving the digital transformation of India’s largest iron ore producer and will further reinforce its commitment to responsible mining by building an ecosystem that is sustainable at its core.
One of the unique aspects of the new R&D Centre is the hydrogen reduction facility, integrated with a microwave-assisted heating furnace. This innovative setup will play a vital role in the development of green steel-making technologies, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices in the steel industry.
Equipped with latest technology and infrastructure, the Centre has an expertise in mineralogical characterization, elemental analysis, bulk materials handling and storage, mineral processing, coal and coke characterization.
