In a virtual event, Germany based Lorch Schweisstechnik GmbH and Odisha based Skilofab Sansthan Private Limited signed an MoU, which is expected to improve employment opportunities for students making them industry-ready.
Cataldo Sposato, International Sales Director, Lorch Schweisstechnik GmbH, Germany & Managing Director for Lorch India and Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, Director, Skilofab Sansthan Private Limited signed an MoU for setting up a Centre for Excellence in Welding at Skillofab Sansthan, Kamakhyanagar, Odisha.
Besides conventional Welding, Lorch and Skillofab will put the Cobot welding for MIG, a first for an Indian Skill centre. The association will help Skillofab to become the first Indian skill centre to venture into Cobot welding for MIG, a growing market globally.
In his introductory speech, Rashmiranjan Mohapatra, Founding Member and Director of Skilofab Sansthan said that the institute is located at a remote location, but comes with many opportunities for the industry. “We at Kamkhyanagar have one of the world’s biggest aluminium company NALCO facility. Many high precision industries require industry-ready students, and in Odisha, we have many steel plants”, said Mr Mohapatra.
Mr Mohapatra informed that the very model of vocational training school is different, and they already signed MoUs with RSB, Khemka Refractories and IG Drones where students are trained along with their excellence centres at Skillofab, and placed for employment. “The employment opportunities are huge, and collaborations with the industry will strengthen our mission”, added Mr Mohapatra.
Signing the MoU, Catalado Sposato, International Sales Director, Lorch Schweisstechnik GmbH said, “We are happy that we have an opportunity to start such fruitful cooperation." Mr Sposato said that Lorch Schweisstechnik GmbH is in India for over 13 years and have a great Indian team to support their Cobot package. "Abhinibesh Kumar, General Manager at the company is one of our strongest members of Lorch India from the beginning in India", added Mr Sposato.
The big advantage of Cobots over industrial robots is that it becomes a third hand for the operator, they are safe in terms of movement. As soon as the cobot touches the body of the operator, it stops, hence it cannot hurt the operator. "Hence it makes up to the meaning Collaborative + Robot = Cobot, instead of an industrial robot. This is where the cobot has come into the picture of Industrial welding”, said Mr Sposato.
Adding to Mr Sposato's thoughts, Abhinibesh Kumar, company's General Manager, said, “We are working with Mr Rashmiranjan Mohapatra for the last one year on building welding as a profession in India, how it will benefit the new welders in the industry, and we are sure this association can make it a success.”
“We all are technocrats and engineers working in different roles and capabilities. We joined together to start Skillofab Sansthan to upgrade the skill capabilities of our students. We are happy to get associated with Lorch Schweisstechnik in this auspicious month of November”, commented Bimal Mishra, Director of Skillofab Sansthan.
“Skillofab is not founded to make commercial results, but an impact in the society by producing employable technicians. We have three MoUs already with RSB, Khemka Refractories and IG Drones and are able to start our mission successfully”, said one of the founding members of Skillofab Dr P K Guru.
The virtual event was attended among others by Abhinibesh Kumar, General Manager, Lorch India, Ashesh Padhy, Senior Vice President and Head Projects JSW Steels – Paradip Project, Hari Shanker, Managing Editor of Machine Maker, and Eliza Bhalerao of WeldFab Tech.
