TWI to open its training centre in Trichy

Cambridge technology was again to the fore as Business Secretary Vince Cable led another high profile UK delegation to India today.
The Welding Institute (TWI) was announcing as part of the government initiative that it is opening new training facilities in Mumbai, Trichy and Cochin. The Cambridge business is a global leader in technology engineering providing research and consultancy to its members. It is a manufacturing, engineering, materials and joining specialist.
TWI is one of the world’s foremost independent research and technology organisations with expertise in solving problems in all aspects of manufacturing, fabrication and whole-life integrity management technologies.
Established at Abington, Cambridge, UK in 1946 and with several facilities across the globe, the business employs over 700 staff serving companies in 80 countries.
Expanding in India is a natural progression for TWI. It is already massive in Asia.
It has just welcomed the start of a technical collaboration with the Aviation Industry Corporation of China to create new opportunities for the Corporation’s Aviation Foundation Technology Establishment known as AVIC Tech, in the innovation and application of advanced research in novel welding and coating technologies, along with additive manufacturing. The initiative is part of AVIC’s drive for technology advancement through co-operation with key international partner organisations.
AVIC Tech will join TWI as an Industrial Member in an agreement which will see an exchange of knowledge and knowhow between teams of materials engineers from both organisations. The opportunities for innovation and extended research will focus on technologies specific to the advancement of aviation engineering together with software development, and training support.
Beijing-based AVIC Tech employs more than 12,000 members of staff across China, engaged in aero engineering disciplines covering aerodynamics; strength; materials; manufacturing; standards; metrology; measurement and control, and information technology. The company is planning to establish seven new innovation centres to drive and support its current laboratory activities.
TWI chief executive, Dr Christoph Wiesner, said: “This is an unprecedented opportunity for our specialists to work alongside development scientists at one of the largest aviation groups in the world. We are looking forward to supporting AVIC Tech as it scopes the development its new innovation centres to study advanced materials joining and manufacturing technologies.”
At the request of Industrial Member Lockheed Martin, TWI has recently completed a project to deliver offshore wind technology to the Taiwanese government-owned Ship and Ocean Industries R&D Center (SOIC).
The project enables SOIC to extend its capabilities beyond its remit of providing consultancy services to Taiwanese companies involved in ship design, marine energy, ocean tourism and marine transportation by providing expertise and advice on all aspects of an offshore wind turbine’s life cycle, from design to construction, operation and maintenance. This will greatly benefit Taiwan as an island with an abundance of wind but currently without the necessary industry to capitalise on the resource.
Starting with an intensive and extensive basic training programme for over 20 recipients from SOIC and other strategic development partners that included courses in engineering, project management, NDT techniques, failure analysis and asset integrity management, TWI also delivered technical assistance in data procedures, special modelling tool requirements, environmental impact assessment and in the production of an offshore wind farm development technical roadmap.
After the initial training, work continued with an in-depth specialised regime for recipients with appropriate technical backgrounds. This included courses in construction, environmental management, site selection and feasibility, project management, and a look at lessons learned from European offshore wind farms – an area where TWI has extensive experience and expertise.
This practical training gave recipients practical experience in using a modelling tools list, best-practice checklists for offshore wind farm development technology and management, and a software checklist. TWI also provided two software packages: WindGiS™ – Niras software for the energy outcome of wind farms; and RiskWISE™ – TWI’s risk-based maintenance software for optimising plant maintenance.
TWI was in a delegation of 25 British companies spending four days in India's growing regional cities with Dr Cable.
The visit began today in New Delhi where Dr Cable was co-chairing the annual UK-India trade and economic committee with the Indian Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma.
Plans to develop business opportunities and strengthen existing partnerships over the coming year to progress advanced engineering, education and skills and innovation through business was to be the focus of the talks.
Dr Cable and the business delegation then visit Coimbatore (Tuesday), Chennai (Wednesday) and Bangalore (Thursday) - each fast growing regional cities with considerable growth potential for UK companies.
Cable said: “Economic recovery remains a central priority for the UK and our industrial strategy is a key element in giving businesses the confidence to invest. Trade has lagged in recent years but I am delighted that UK exports to India have grown by some 20 per cent this year.
“UK firms are the largest European investors in India and there is more Indian investment in the UK than the rest of the EU combined, led by Tata.
“We have always had a special relationship between our countries and I am keen to push business collaboration much further as we work towards doubling trade with India by 2015.”
During the visit Dr Cable will sign a new £180 million repayment guarantee deal underwritten by UK Export Finance (UKEF) and coordinated by HSBC which will support Indian company Reliance Industries Limited to place up to 30 service and equipment contracts with UK companies for their Jamnagar and Dahej oil refineries.
The visit follows the announcement in Thursday’s Autumn Statement that UKTI’s presence in India will be increased by investing £6 million in the next financial year. This will enhance the level of support for UK companies in India, and strengthen the proposition for Indian companies to invest in the UK.