| HYDERABAD: DuPont Knowledge Center (DKC), | | | | meet local needs of newer, low-cost, light-weight |
| Hyderabad, will be expanding its research and | | | | and innovative solutions for ballistic applications in |
| development operations on materials research, | | | | the country, said Balwinder Singh Kalsi, Managing |
| especially in developing technology for safety and | | | | Director of DuPont India. |
| protection. | | | | A tyre and rubber programme, to support its |
| Technology for helmets, vests and other | | | | Kevlar performance material applications in tyre |
| protection equipment to be used by civilian forces | | | | and hose segments, for automobile and mining |
| would be developed at the centre. Once the | | | | sectors, would be established to make stronger |
| ballistics lab in the centre, which is awaiting | | | | and more durable tyres, he disclosed. |
| clearances and approval from the Government, | | | | Local packaging solutions to address agriculture, |
| comes up, the development would commence. | | | | industrial and medical packaging needs, testing |
| “The company has invested Rs 150 crore so | | | | facilities for high-performance and energy-efficient |
| far and at our center in Hyderabad, and another | | | | sustainable solutions for the building and |
| Rs. 150 crore will be spent. We hope to increase | | | | construction industry; new applications for |
| our presence in biotechnology, agriculture, industrial | | | | developing use of its product Corian in applications, |
| design, construction, transportation and packaging | | | | fabrications, designers, value propositions in the |
| markets to suit the local needs of India, along | | | | Indian construction markets. |
| with ASEAN and other emerging markets in the | | | | “All our products will be customised for the |
| region,” said Mark P. Vergnano, Executive | | | | local market in tune with the local standards and |
| Vice-President, DuPont India on Monday. | | | | specifications. Protection of environment and |
| The centre would come up with a wide spectrum | | | | safety of lives will be top most on our agenda. |
| of product needs which would be priced factoring | | | | Research is also focussed on decreasing |
| in the prices for the Indian market, said Home | | | | dependence on fossil fuels. |
| Bhedwar, Director, DKC. | | | | “We are also in consultations for developing |
| The company aimed at hiking its business in India, | | | | clean technologies for refineries to limit emission, |
| which was among the top 10 markets for it now. | | | | discharges to contain and mitigate their |
| It proposed to broing it into the top five a few | | | | effects,” said Dr. Bhedwar. |
| years from now. | | | | DuPont which forayed into the seeds business by |
| DuPont would continue its focus on the biotech | | | | acquiring Nandi seeds and Nagarjuna Seeds earned |
| sector to address the growing food needs of the | | | | around Rs 30 crore to Rs 40 crore this year. |
| seven billion population across the globe, which | | | | Development of technology for clean, safe, |
| was projected to grow to 10 billion, according to | | | | durable and energy-efficient buildings was being |
| Mr Vergnano. | | | | mulled. Development of biofuels like ethanol, using |
| The company’s current workforce of 250 | | | | bio-waste – not the consumable part -- were |
| scientists, engineers would be increased to 600 in | | | | also in the pipeline in keeping with the |
| the next few years in tune with the requirement | | | | company’s commitment to the environment. |
| of the expanding facilities. | | | | DuPont’s discussions with tyre manufacturers |
| The new R&D programmes at the DKC would | | | | like Ceat, Apollo to bring out more sturdy, durable |
| include: life protection programme which would | | | | tyres and decrease fuel consumption were at an |
| include a testing lab for ballistic range, helmet | | | | advanced stage, said Mr. Kalsi. |
| press and stab testing equipment. The | | | | The expanded research facility in the city would |
| company’s Kevlar protective fiber would | | | | be operational by early 2011. |