The Hari Shankar Singhania Elastomer & Tyre Research Institute (HASETRI), India's first research centre for developing newer and better technologies for elastomers and tyres, recently celebrated 20 years of its existence. Ms Sheela Thomas, Chairman, Rubber Board of India, presided as the Chief Guest in presence of other eminent industrialists and scientists. The HASETRI was established in October 1991 to broaden the scope of analytical testing, performance evaluation, product certification and other scientific testing to make products that are not only world class but set unparalleled standards in quality and performance in tune with the ever emerging needs of the Indian consumers.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Raghupati Singhania, President, HASETRI and Vice Chairman & Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited, said, "The fruits of R&D efforts carried in this centre are not confined to the organisation alone but are also available to and shared by the industry at large. We are witnessing unprecedented growth in Rubber & Allied Industries including the Auto Industry. We plan to invest 30 crores in the next 5 years in order to develop newer technologies to serve this increasing demand."

A seminar on 'Green Technology for Elastomer and Tyre Industry' was also organised to mark the occasion.

HASETRI has to its credits many new developments for many of its clients ranging from Govt. Agencies to Suppliers to Customers. Some major recent developments have been Eco-friendly Green Tyre Development and commercialization with Partial Silica Tread Compound Tyre, Development of Automobile Tyre/Tube with higher proportions of Regenerated Tyre/Tube Material, Development of Regenerated carbon Black for use in the virgin rubber compound, etc.

HASETRI is also associated with different defence establishments of the Govt. of India for development of Rubber products of strategic importance including the Atomic Energy Commission for development of 4 mtr and 6 mtr static back up seal for rotatable plug of Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor for IGCAR Kalpakkam.

In addition to the research and developments, HASETRI has also been working as a bridge between academia and the industry. It has been jointly running post graduate courses and short term courses in Polymer Science & Rubber Technology with many imminent universities and institutes. In its new initiative for the technical manpower development at supervisory level for Rubber and allied industry, HASETRI is starting a Post Diploma course on Rubber Science & Technology, duly approved by AICTE, in collaboration with Vidya Bhawan Polytechnic Udaipur.

(HASETRI, Rajasthan, Tel: 02952-232019, 232079. Mobile: 094147-86040. Fax : 91-2952-232019, 232030, 232018. Email: rm@hasetri.com)