The RV-TIFAC Composite Design Centre, which was established by TIFAC, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. New Delhi, in collaboration with the Rastreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust, NAL and CMC Limited, at the campus of the RV College of Engineering, Mysore Road, on 2nd MAY, 1997, is holding a GET-TOGETHER with leading Architects, Builders and Contractors in the city on 2nd MAY, 1998 to mark its first anniversary.

Most of the 40,000 composite products that are in use the worldover are in the areas of housing and construction, transportation, chemical and energy industries. In tune with the prevalent global trends, the Composites Design Centre has been focusing its activities mainly on the design and development of composite products for applications in the housing and building sector. It has so far developed about 60 products which are ready for technology transfer and commercialization.

The product range includes FRP doors, door frames, windows, staircase railings, wall claddings, partition panels for wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, etc. The Government of India have already announced an ambitious programme for constructing 2 million houses annually. If we take into account the massive house construction activities both in the public and private sectors, the requirements for a variety of building products would be phenomenal. To cite an example, about 20 million doors would be required to meet the demands of the housing sector. Even if a fraction of these wooden doors is replaced with FRP/ Composite doors, the advantages on account of savings in costs and avoidance in the usage of wood would be enormous. A standard door made of teak wood would cost about Rs. 10,000, of salwood about Rs. 4,500, while a FRP/Composite door would cost only about Rs.2,500 - resulting in whopping reduction in the cost of nearly 75% with respect to teak wood, and 40% in relation to salwood. It is felt that the housing and construction industry is one major sector in which wood materials can be easily replaced by composites. The estimated annual consumption of composites in this sector the worldover is over one million metric tons at present, whereas in India its usage in this sector is almost negligible.

In order to publicize the successful design and development of FRP/Composite Building products by the Centre and to facilitate transfer of Technology for some of these products for commercialization, a Get-Together with the Architects, Builders and Contractors is being arranged on 2nd May, 1998. In the opinion of the Centre, architects are the path-breakers in innovating and introducing new materials, products and technologies in the building and construction industry and if at all composite products have to be accepted and widely used in this sector, it would be only through the support provided by the architects for the growth of this technology. It is, therefore, considered appropriate that the get-together aims at closer interaction with the prime catalytic agents of change like architects, builders and contractors.

the Principal Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, Department of Industry & Commerce and some of the heads of the State Government Undertakings concerned with huge housing and construction projects will be participating in the programme. The Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi, will inaugurate the get-together.