National Test House

Keywords :

Metrology and Calibration Laboratory, single-story Acoustic Laboratory and single-story Heavy Material

The NTH established in the year 1912 at its present location at Calcutta with limited facilities to check the suitability of indigenously manufactured items for their use by the Indian RailwaysSubsequently new blocks were constructed within the premises for creation of other facilities based on the needs and demands of the industries. The NTH complex at Calcutta does not provide enough space to create the state-of-the-art facilities envisaged for the technology upgradation and expansion of the Institution.In view of this a Lab Complex with a seven-story main building and three annex building viz. 3 story Metrology and Calibration Laboratory, single-story Acoustic Laboratory and single-story Heavy Material Testing Laboratory buildings was constructed at Salt Lake City in Calcutta taking into consideration of the facilities to be created on major thrust areas. Due to changed global scenario Material Science assumed critical importance in the development process. Advanced materials and products become very much essential for future growth of industries.The development has already made in the areas like new composites, fly ash, hybrid paints, powder coating technology, fire retardant materials, orthopedic materials, alloys for structural purpose, super alloys, ceramics n glass composites for propulsion system and carbon-carbon composites for high temperature applications in place where resistance to heat is critical.To cope up with the modern production process and zero defect programme a dire need has been felt for automated evaluation employing modern non-destructive techniques, robotics, artificial intelligence, computer vision etc.with real time analysis.This has necessitated technological upgradation and modernisation of the Institution.Keeping this in view a modern Laboratory complex of NTH has come up at Salt Lake City in Calcutta where the facilities like Environment Management Activities, Characterisation of materials and products, Residual Life Assessment, Failure Analysis, Assessment of Health of Machines, Energy Efficiency Test, Lighting and Luminaire, Electro-optic materials and products, Thermal Conductivity Test, Advanced Welding Technology, Calibration in the field of Mechanical Measurement and Electrical Measurement NDT Calibration, Regulatory Certification posed to be created.There is also a proposal to set up an Institute of Test and Measurement Technology (ITMT) in the Complex for providing education on Testing and Evaluation, Calibration, Quality Assurance Techniques, Interpretation of Standards etc, to participants of India and abroad, with the objective to generate quality manpower in Test Engineering, by utilising existing expertise and facilities available with NTH and to ensure quality education and training from outside the formal education structure by strictly following the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms for infrastructure, syllabi, accreditation and examination.The NTH over the years has generated large volume of test data in the diversified fields of engineering and technology.This data needs to be properly preserved by introducing a suitable system of collection and dissemination of information as the same play a vital role in Research & Development activities.For this purpose a Computerised Data Management System is essentially required for facilitating information storage and retrieval in the shortest possible time.The essentiality of such a compendium has also been revealed during National Conference on Test Engineering & Metrology.The NTH being the pioneer in the field also proposes to establish Data Base Management relevant to Measurement of Materials and Products in the complex. Various arrangement have already been made and many more arrangements are in the process of making with a view to make the Laboratory Complex fully functional.As soon as the proposed facilities are made operational in the complex it will enable NTH to become the center of excellence in the field of Test Engineering.