Asia-Pacific aluminium conference, exhibition to begin from tomorrow

Panaji, Nov 1 (UNI) A four-day Asia-Pacific Aluminium conference providing a platform for exchange of technology-related information to promote per capita aluminium consumption from the present one kg in India to the level of 25 kg in developed countries begins here tomorrow.

''The conference brings together the user and manufacturing industry and the technologist on the same platform that help work out strategies for promoting the die csting and extrusion technologies, which have wider applications in day to day life including car manufacturing,'' says the Aluminium Caster's Association of India (ALUCAST) president P N Sadhu.

Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane would inaugurate the conference in which representatives of 22 countries including Australia, Canada, France and China, 100 delegates and 25 industries would participate.

About 50 experts would submit their technical papers.

Interacting with media persons on the eve of the conference here today, Mr Sadhu, along with the association secretary R T Kulkarni and organising secretary T Parabrahman said a mega-exhibition with 120 stalls showcasing the latest aluminium technologies would also be inaugurated by State Industries Minister Luizinho Faleiro.

The conference includes meting of the chief executive officers of different aluminium industries, buyers-sellers-exports meet, business to business meet and consultant to consultant meet.

Mr Sadhu said he had demanded the Centre to ''restrict'' the growth of the ''Information Technology'' industry to prevent losing the talent from working on shopfloors and factories threatening the core industry.

''We can not afford IT talent wooing white collar jobs in place of machine floors any longer,'' he said.

North American Die Casters' Association Board of Governors member David Thomas would give a special address, while Ennore Foundries Limited, Chennai managing director V Mahadevan would address the valedictory function.

Experts said the future cars would be using maximum aluminium extrusion components, which reduces the body weight thus increasing fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Reduction in one kilogram of weight of the car would enhance 0.7 litres fuel saving, according to Aluminium Extrusion Industry's Mr Pai.

UNI BM SSS AW2005