India needs a strong mechanism to safeguard Zinc
Zinc application in industries like automobile, agriculture and infrastructure projects including railways, roadways and highways has been increasing, according to Dr. Rahul Sharma, Director (India) of International Zinc Association (IZA).
“Over the last few years, zinc has found a strong application in construction and automobile. Solar panels, power storage batteries and fertilizers are the three new areas where zinc market has ample scope to grow in India. We’re hopeful that leading authorities will take cognizance of its benefits and adapt to more sustainable ways of construction,” he told a webinar on ‘Structural Galvanization and its scope in India’.
Galvanization finds its application in automobile industries, fertilizers, rebars, home appliances, solar panels, power storage and die-casting. Steel structures with zinc coating are environment friendly, has the lowest life-cycle cost and possess properties that can significantly enhance the life of any structure with minimum maintenance, he said.
The Iron & Steel industries are backbone of any nation and their role in development can not be emphasized enough, added V R Sharma, Chairman – India Galvanizers Association & MD, Jindal Steel and Power.
“But to achieve longevity of this sector and its structure, India needs a strong mechanism to safeguard it from external factors such as corrosive climates, natural calamities, and extreme weather conditions. And therefore, the need of galvanized steel structures,” Sharma said.
He assured webinar participants that work is being done on scaling up the consumption of zinc across the above mentioned sectors and underpinned its relevance in robust nation building.
Amrita Singh, Director – Sales & Marketing, Vedanta Limited, and Bernardo Duran (Manager Technology and Market Development – IZA, USA), shared interesting insights on application of zinc-coated steel in leading global economies and how India can benefit from these practices.
Bernado Duran stressed, “India is on the cusp of infrastructure boom. To make the most of this rapid urbanization and support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of smart cities, it is imperative to use technologies that have much longer life-span than the conventional material and are sustainable.”
IZA, a leading industry body dedicated exclusively to the interests of zinc, in association with Hindustan Zinc Limited, organized the webinar on ‘Structural Galvanization and its scope in India’ on 30 July 2021.
IZA was created in 1991 by a group of leading zinc & steel producers to represent the zinc industry globally. IZA’s activities are to sustainably grow markets and maintain the industry’s license to operate through effectively managed initiatives in research and development, technology transfer, and communication of the value of zinc. Operating internationally and locally through its regional affiliates, IZA helps sustain the long-term global demand for zinc and its markets by promoting such key end uses as corrosion protection for steel and the essentiality of zinc in human health and crop nutrition.
IZA’s main programs are Sustainability & Environment, Technology & Market Development and Communications. Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina (USA), IZA also operates regionally through their offices in China, Europe, Latin America, North America, India, and Southern Africa. #construction #infrastructure #projects #material #investment #manufacturing /fiinews.com
