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INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
History
In the pre-independence period , Industrial Chemical Section of the Inspite of the Limitation in respect of resourses, men and materials, the laboratory gradually extended its activities in diverse industrial researches. In the field of soap industry, the laboratory performed interesting research work relating to raw materials, manufaturing processes etc. During 1929-30, arrangement for six months pratical training in the manufacture of bar and moulded soaps on a cottage industry scale was made. Of the thirteen who joined the training, two were M.Sc. in applied Chemistry, one an M.Sc. in Technology from Massachussetts University, USA, Three were B.Scs, two I.Scs, two Matriculates and three non-Matriculates. It was during the thirtees when the middle class unemployment problem was acute that the Department of Industries, Bengal, launched its own scheme for controlling unenmployment in a regular way by offering facilities for training in soap making. The Industrial Chemical Section also conducted useful research on the process for manufacturing of paint and varnish, adhesive, gum, paste, ink, disinfactant etc. During 1939-40 training in the manufacture of paints and varnish was first arranged with a batch of eight students. A private enterpreneur being inspired by the industrial Research Laboratory started a new paint and varnish manufaturing unit near Calcutta where most of the students who completed the traning in the manufature of paint and varnish, get employment. Moreover the then supervisor-in-charge of the Paint & Varnish Section, Mr. M.A. Azam, M.Sc. was awarded State Technical Scholarship by the Govt. for higher studies at M.I.T. , U.S.A. During the fiftees, the paint & Varnish section as well as training section as the Industrial Research Laboratory was recognised in consultation with the Paint Federation and Indian Paint Manufaturing Assosiation. Intially two one year courses namely Paints & Varnish Technology (Technoligists') course after B.Sc (Pure Science) and Paint & Varnish Manufacture(Operatives') course after Madhyamik was started. Both the course were certificate courses. But in 1950 the duraion of both courses was increase to two years. Beside these there is another Six months training course at Industrial Research Laboratory in Ink, Adhesive,Disinfectant,Metal Polish, Shoe Polish, Nail Polish, Vanishing Cream, Taral Alta, Kumkum etc which started during 1940-41. |
Department of Industries, Bengal played a significant role in conducting research for developing chemical industries and training apprentices. But the activity of the Section could not be started till 1922 when Dr. R.L. Dutta D.Sc, FCS, FRSF, founder of Industrial Research Laboratory in 1919, joined the post of Industrial chemist. Immediately after his joining, Dr. Dutta felt the need of for establishment of an industrial research laboratory where research work to identify raw materials for few industries and to improve the manufacturing processes through continuous touch with the existing industries could no be carried out. A formal proposal for establishment of an industrial research laboratory was, therefore, made to the Government. The proposal was duly approved by the Government in the year 1924. In the year 1925-26, the main building of the laboratory having an area of 150'X40' was almost complete with its equipments and other laboratory facilities. Immediately thereafter, valuable research having important bearing on various industries like Soap, Vanish, Ink, Standardization of glaze for ceramic industries etc. was undertaken in the industrial Research Laboratory. Moreover, small industrial ventures who were unable to maintain seperate research section like the large factories, received assistance from the Industrial Research Laboratory for improvement of quality of there product or process. In this connection achievments made by the Industrial Research Laboratory during the time may be worth-mentioned. The potter's wheel designed and constructed by the chemical section in 1931-32 was placed at the disposal of Bengal Potteries Ltd. who effected a substantial economy in power consumption. The soap drying plant develpment in the laboratory was erected by the Banga Laxmi Soap Works and Calcutta chemical Co. Ltd. and both the companies found it quite satisfactory.