Page 46 - Plastics News January 2017
P. 46
FEATURES 10
INDIA 2017
International Plastics Exhibition & Conference
Where the future of plastic is...
JAN 2017
19 20 21 22 23 MUMBAI. INDIA
‘ICERP 2017’ ends on higher note
Composites industry eyes defence, auto and marine engineering sectors seeks government support
in the form of special grants, incentives and sops to grow and offer defence equipment at lower costs.
FRP Institute, a society for promotion of the composites
had organisied its flagship 'International Conference &
Exhibition on Reinforced Plastics (ICERP 2017), between
January 10-12 in Mumbai. Union Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar inaugurated the event. The trade fair seemed to
be sucessful attracting a sizeable niche audience.
"Composites market in India is not fully tapped and offers annum.
tremendous opportunities for composites manufacturing
in the coming years. This makes an apt case for 'Make The strong pitch from the industry for support from the
in India'. The current rate of growth in the composites Government and mainly from the Defence Ministry comes
industry is a meagre 6 per cent in spite of huge untapped amid rising supplies of Russian and Chinese composites
potential," FRP Institute Chairman S C Lakkad said. raw material in Indian defence sector. In the recent
past, Russian and Chinese composites industry started
The Industry seeks government support to boost usage focussing on India as a major exports markets.
of composite reinforced plastics. The Indian composites
industry seeks government support in the form of special As a result, Indian composites industry, which has been
grants, incentives and sops to grow and offer defence growing with a lower rate of 5 per cent per annum
equipment at lower costs. Composites industry also compared to the global rate of 12 per cent per annum
known as reinforced plastics (combining of polymer, glass is taking a big hit. The Indian composites industry is
fibre or carbon fibre) industry is aligning with the Union fully capable of supplying 100 per cent of requirements
Government's 'Make in India' programme and expects of the defence sector, if given due support. Composite
immediate intervention in the form of special grants, materials are emerging as an innovative alternative for
incentives and sops to grow. steel and aluminium and hence, can be used in defence
equipment manufacturing.
"In order to build on the underlying opportunities,
we urge the Government's unwavering support and The composite reinforced plastics manufacturers have
interventions by way of incentives," S C Lakkad said, also sought government support in mandating use of
citing the need for increased awareness and visibility for the alternative material for wood, steel, aluminium and
composites, investment in technology and manufacturing concrete in infrastructure, construction and defence
of composites. “The industry is looking at opportunities projects.
in defence, auto, wind energy and marine engineering
sectors,” he said The strong pitch from the industry for support from the
government and the Defence Ministry in particular comes
The industry participants have urged the Government for amid rising imports of composite raw material from China
immediate attention as they feel that with government and Russia for use in the defence sector . In the recent
support it can unleash the potential of the industry to past, Russian and Chinese composites industry started
the fullest. The per capita usage of composites in India is focusing on India as a major export market for sectors
just 0.25 kg compared to that of 10 kg in USA indicating such as defence, aviation and auto, said S Ramachandran,
a clear potential for composites manufacturing in India. Director, Jushi India.
Further, compared to China, which produces a mammoth
60,00,000 tonnes of composites per annum, where as
India just stands at 3,40,000 tonnes of production per
• January 2017 • Plastics News 46
