An engineer is a person who applies the skills and knowledge of basic science for the good of society.
– Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya
Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, India’s most celebrated, visionary engineer, lived up to his remark and lofty idealism. He is credited with many infrastructural milestones that have built our society today such as the Krishnarajasagar dam in Mysore, a patented automatic water floodgate and flood protection systems, as well as factories and buildings that survive today, over a 100 years later.
This simple line truly resonates with us at CUMI, as we mark National Engineers’ Day in honour of Sir M. Vishvesvaraya’s 163rd birthday on September 15.
This Engineers’ Day, we speak to four of CUMI’s engineers on their love for engineering, the possibilities, and what’s on the horizon for CUMI in materials science engineering for aerospace and defence.
Dr. Jabeen Fatima M J
Manager – Technology (Graphene), Electro Minerals Division Carborundum Universal Limited
“Nanomaterials like graphene can be a gamechanger for the defence sector.”
More than six decades ago when Dr. Richard Feymann said “There’s plenty of room at the bottom”, no one was aware of or could’ve imagined the immense potential of miniaturisation. Today, nanotechnology has emerged as the foundation for cutting-edge innovation and research, with nanomaterials revolutionising the world of materials science.
Jabeen’s dream to be an engineer took shape during her school days. She was fond of chemistry and believed that by becoming an engineer, she could practically apply this knowledge to develop solutions with use potential. She was also attracted by the complex world of electronics and mechanics. Her interests led her to pursue an M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry from Mahatma Gandhi University, followed by a PhD in Nanoscience and Technology from University of Calicut.
As a nanotechnologist at CUMI, her focus is on exploring graphene’s applications in areas such as composites, coatings, and energy. Jabeen says, “The aerospace and defence sector is among the most critical areas where lightweighting and superior performance are vital. New age materials and nanomaterials like graphene can be a gamechanger for the sector.”
Her belief that every day is a new day and should be approached with positive energy, hope, and enthusiasm to develop better products and solutions motivates her to bring her best always.
Akshay Kashinath
Head of Business Development (Aerospace & Defence) Carborundum Universal Limited
“Today, the aerospace & defence industry needs materials that are lightweight yet strong and have the ability to withstand extreme conditions.”
Akshay was 10 years old then, and recalls the sense of wonder he felt the first time he took a flight, flying over the clouds and covering what would have been a train journey of 24 hours in just 1.5 hours. From there, his dream of experiencing space travel led him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Bombay. He went on to work as an aircraft performance engineer and post an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, he got into the strategy side of the business.
Akshay’s favourite quote is “Engineering is not only the study of machines, but also the study of the human spirit” by Prof. Henry Petroski. He believes this aptly reflects his role at CUMI – bringing together his expertise in the world of materials and tech for aerospace with the requirements of customers across the globe.
Akshay shares, “Today, the aerospace & defence industry requires materials that are lightweight yet strong and have the ability to withstand extreme conditions. One such critical advanced material is ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) that protect components in all aircraft with gas turbine engines and rocket engines from extreme heat. The most commonly used TBC for aircraft engines is Yttria stabilized Zirconia, currently being entirely imported by India. To ensure self-sufficiency in aerospace and defence manufacturing, it is essential to manufacture advanced materials in the country. CUMI is among the first companies in India to manufacture this critical material. We are also in the process of obtaining certification for the use of indigenously manufactured TBCs in aircraft and rocket engines.”
at DefExpo 2022
Rama Sundaram R
Senior General Manager – Marketing, Industrial Ceramics Division
Carborundum Universal Limited
“At CUMI, we are helping the nation indigenise mission-critical products like metallized ceramics used in defence and aerospace.”
When Ram was in 9th grade, he was inspired by a neighbour who was very passionate about his job as a project engineer for state hydroelectric projects. After graduating in Electrical Engineering, he began his career as a motor testing engineer and then as a product development engineer, developing a first-of-its-kind electrically operated lubricating oil pump for a leading motor vehicle OEM around 1998.
In 2002, Ram made the switch from Technical to Marketing (Techno Commercial) to simplify technical knowledge about engineering products and solutions to customers. He currently heads the Sales and Marketing functions for CUMI’s Industrial Ceramics Division.
“At CUMI, we are helping the nation indigenise mission-critical products used in defence and aerospace. We supply metallised ceramic products to various DRDO labs and ISRO. One of my proudest achievements is helping CUMI become the second largest producer of metallized ceramics globally with our marketing strategy,” Ram says.
“We also engineer highly customized material for bulletproof jackets and armoured panels with premium advanced ceramic materials such as Alumina, Silicon Carbide and Boron Carbide. Extremely lightweight, they enable superior ballistic protection, enable better mobility of soldiers at the frontlines to be able to carry more ammunition and food, while reducing fatigue,” he adds.
Whenever Ram needs inspiration, he harks back to what Thomas Alva Edison said. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” So, every time there’s failure, he learns new ways to do things.
Vishnu Sasidharan
Vice President and Business Head – Climate Technologies
PLUSS Advanced Technologies Ltd.
“The first step towards engineering-based innovation is to observe and understand the problem & end use.”
Vishnu developed a strong inclination towards Biology and Physics early on in high school, taking inspiration from both his parents being engineers and early exposure to passionate discussions around science & technology at home.
Eminent American civil engineer Nathan W. Dougherty once said, “The ideal engineer is a composite. He is not a scientist, he is not a mathematician, he is not a sociologist or a writer; but he may use the knowledge and techniques of any or all of these disciplines in solving engineering problems.”
PLUSS is also engaged with various defence agencies to co-develop solutions for the defence and aerospace sector. “PCMs can play a significant role in heat management and thermal control. Applications include thermal comfort for soldiers serving in extremely harsh environments, precise temperature control to transport temperature-sensitive life-saving drugs and perishable food, passive heating for accommodation in particularly cold regions with no access to electricity, and improving thermal efficiency of temperature-sensitive electronics systems need engineering innovations,” Vishnu states.
Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Marketing from SP Jain School of Global Management, Vishnu’s journey in sales and marketing involved understanding the customer’s problem, building a product, and eventually creating a business for Phase Change Materials (PCMs).
Vishnu fondly recalls, “Moments where I was able to act as a catalyst to build impactful products such as ‘Miracradle’ – a neonate cooler developed to treat birth asphyxia for newborns – from innovative materials give me the greatest sense of achievement.”
A passion to constantly innovate and discover new material combinations or novel uses, employ cutting-edge engineering for continual improvement, balance it with customer expectations and demand, and above all, understand the different dimensions at play to make a strong case for innovation and progress – all of these make CUMI’s engineers stand at the very apex of revolutionising the future, especially of materials science.