PROGRESS OF ACTIVITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS OF KUMARAPPA NATIONAL HANDMADE PAPER INSTITUTE(2007-08)

With the opening of the global economy and globalization, Indian handmade paper industry has seen significant changes particularly to meet out the increasing demand both in domestic and global market.

In view of above, there in an urgent need to develop and adopt new technologies to produce eco-labeled handmade paper, board and converted products to make the industry globally competitive and sustainable. In this context, the Institute has been reviewing its strategies and research programs regularly through its R&D committee represented by experts in the field. The following R&D activities have been planned.

1. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

• 1.1 RAW MATERIAL AND PROCESS RESEARCH

  Objective:-

  • To identify & evaluate cost effective locally available alternative ligno-cellulosic raw materials for their suitability in handmade paper, board and paper products
  • Development and adoption of environment friendly pulping, bleaching and paper making process.

  Achievements

  Highlights of major achievements of the Institute

  • Identified certain cost effective locally available alternate ligno-cellulosic raw materials like shredded currency waste of RBI, Banana(extracted fiber/ whole leaves), Ankara(calotropis procera), Bhimal (Grewial oppoisitifolia Roxb.), Jute & Sunn Hemp to improve competitiveness of Indian handmade paper industry.
  • Developed environmental friendly pulping and bleaching process to process above identified raw materials for conversion into eco-friendly handmade paper
  • Developed certain specialty papers and boards as import substitute for specific applications related with archives and for preservation of old manuscripts and art work by blending of certain natural fibres.
• 1.2 CLEANER PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES

  Application of Natural dyes in handmade paper making

  Objective:-

  • To develop and promote ecologically compatible process technologies so that ecofriendly credibility of Indian handmade paper /board & products could be encashed both in domestic and export market.

  Achievements

  • In order to promote eco-friendly dyes to produce eco-labeled handmade paper and products, the shade cards were developed using natural vegetable dyes to promote in Indian handmade paper industry.
  • Replacement of conventionally used hazardous azo dyes with these eco-friendly dyes should also help Indian handmade paper industry in boosting its exports and promotion of these eco-labeled products in domestic market also.

  Application of Biotechnology in handmade paper making

  • Developed enzymatic retting process for extraction of bast fibre from alternate ligno-cellulosic raw materials like Bhimal and Ankara which should help in promotion of these good quality cellulosic fibres in Indian handmade paper industry while producing specialty grade handmade paper.
  • Developed enzymatic pulping process for pulping of shredded currency waste of RBI using identified enzymes which should help in replacing chemicals and conservation of steam.
  • Developed enzymatic pre-bleaching process to improve quality of handmade paper produced from banana and above ligno-cellulosic fibres.
• 1.3 RESOURCE CONSERVATION

  Objective:

  • To conserve the valuable resources like energy, water and fibre to produce quality paper at cost effective price to improve competitiveness of Indian handmade paper industry.

  Studies on energy conservation and environment management

  Achievements

  • Energy audit in identified handmade paper units to explore possibilities of energy conservation which is one of the major cost components.
  • Development of energy efficient process technologies like enzymatic beating/refining and implementation of the same in some of the identified handmade paper units which could help in conserving the electrical energy to the tune of 20-25% .
  • Studies on water conservation in some of the identified handmade paper units to explore the possibility of recycling using suitable treatment system.
• 1.4 PRODUCT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

  Objective:

  • To develop value added eco-labeled handmade paper products by way of creative designs to produce value addition to handmade paper and improve sustainability & competitiveness of Indian handmade paper Industry.

  Achievements

  • Development of specialty paper from Ankara fiber and its blending with other fibers to develop specialty paper for archival applications and other high end applications like decorative/gift wrapping paper etc.
  • Development of insulation paper/board, Mount paper/board for archival applications using hosiery/hemp and handmade paper and board for low end applications using blended fibers like banana garbage, shredded currency waste of RBI and recycled fiber.

  Tissue Paper of 9-10 GSM for Archival Purpose

  Based on the technology developed at the institute for production of fine quality of tissue paper from banana fiber, the institute is continually trying to improve the process and tissue paper in different GSM of 6,8 and 10 were produced as per the specific requirements of State Archival Departments (NRLC,Lucknow and National Archives, Bangalore) to be utilized for preservation of old manuscripts and documents. The prospective users of the above said tissue paper to whom the tissue papers are supplied are:

  • National Archives of India, New Delhi.
  • The Grenadiers Archives, Jabalpur.
  • Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Jodhpur.
  • National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow.
  • Khudabaksh Oriental Public Library, Patna
  • National Mission for Manuscripts, Patna
  • Regional Conservation Laboratory, Mysore
  • Karnataka State Archives, Bangalore
  • Deptt. Of Culture,Regional Conservation Laboratory, Mysore.
  • Punjab Regiment Center, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
  • Regional Conservation Laboratory, Bangalore
  • LalaBhai Dalpat Bhai Institute of Indology,Ahmedabad.
  • National Archives, Bangalore
  • NRLC,Lucknow
  • Dept. of Archives, Delhi
• 1.5 CAPACITY BUILDING & INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS

  Infrastructure facilities were upgraded in the area of Physical and Paper testing, Chemical and Environment, Pulping, Bleaching & Paper making, Biotechnology and Pilot plant of the institute and the following equipment have been added and proposed to be added.

  Upgradation of Pilot Plant facilities:

  • Basket centrifuge for efficient washing of pulp from alternate ligno-cellulosic raw materials
  • Hot press for development of special quality of boards like insulation boards, partition boards etc.
  • Refiner for defibration of pulps from alternate ligno-cellulosic raw materials

2. TECHNICAL SERVICES

Technical services were provided to more than 30 various organizations and tested more than 150 numbers of samples of paper, water and chemicals.

3. PROJECTS CONSULTANCY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

The Institute provides project consultancy and technical services for setting up of new handmade paper units and for revival of sick handmade paper units by way of adoption and up-gradation of the new technologies developed at the Institute. The consultancy provided for some of the new projects & for revival of sick units are placed as below:

• Projects Detailed

  • Detailed project report for Green Field Projects
  • Detailed project report for brown field projects

4. SPONSORED PROJECTS

• 4.1 ONGOING PROJECTS SPONSORED BY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY , GOVT. OF INDIA
  • “Effective Processing of Synthetic Fiber Mixed With Cotton Hosiery Waste”
  • Pulping of ligno-cellulosic raw material for handmade paper
• 4.2 NEW SPONSORED PROJECTS
  • Multi-institutional project on “Evaluation of xylanases at pilot and mill scale in pulp & paper industry
  • Studies on market research in indian handmade paper industry
• 4.3 PROJECT CONSULTANCY TO DEPARTMENT OF FOREST-

  WORLD BANK FUNDED PROJECT :

  • The Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute has been providing technical consultancy for setting up of a handmade paper and conversion unit utilizing this raw mater as a major raw material with the financial assistance of world bank.
• 4.4 PROJECT CONSULTANCY TO NRC, WEED SCIENCES, JABALPUR
• 4.5 STUDIES ON MARKET RESEARCH IN INDIAN HANDMADE PAPER INDUSTRY

  In order to improve the competitiveness of Indian handmade paper industry and to have realistic data, a study has been initiated on market research in Indian handmade paper industry

5. DEVELOPMENT & TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY

• Production of handmade paper/board from banana garbage (leaves and stems)
  Production of handmade paper & board/products from Shredded currency waste of Reserve Bank of India
  Eco-friendly cost effective carry bags from handmade paper

6. HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

• Human Resource Development
  • Human Resource Development Programs and continuing education are important in improving and strengthening the capabilities of Indian handmade paper industry, so that industry could equip itself to compete the changing scenario in the global market. The Institute organized various training courses for entrepreneurs and shop floor personnel for skill up-gradation in area of handmade paper and its conversion into value added products.
  • 170 candidates were trained at the Institute and in the field onsite in the area of handmade paper making and conversion into value added products.

  	TRAINING PROGRAMS	Total no. of candidates
  	Conducted at KNHPI,Jaipur
  1	ORIENTATION TRANING PROGRAMME	34
  2	SPECIALIZED OPERATORS COURSE	05
  3	CONDENSED COURSES	11
  	Conducted at Radaur(SFURT PROGRAM)
  4	PRODUCT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT	120
  	TOTAL	170

7. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

• 7. A ORGANIZATION OF WORKSHOPS /CONFERENCES
  • National workshop on “Conversion of shredded currency notes into different varieties of handmade paper and paper products” ( May 14-16,2007)
  • National workshop on “Utilization of banana fibre for handmade paper & products making” (July20-22,2007)
  • Workshop on solar drying system for handmade paper industry on 22nd Nov,2007 at KNHPI Jaipur.-
  • National workshop on “Effective utilization of cotton hosiery waste mixed with synthetic fibre”
  • Interactive meeting on Handmade paper at Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI)
• 7. B PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS AND EXHIBITIONS
  • Conference on“ Possibilities and Potential of handmade paper in the state of Mizoram” based on pine apple and banana.
  • Workshop cum Brainstorming session at Indira Gandhi National Open University, Guwahati
  • Trade Fair on Khadi(Khadi Bazaar 2007, Mumbai)
  • Khadi Utsav 2007 at Mumbai
  • Buyer Seller Meet on Handmade Paper in Jaipur
  • All India Technical Seminar on Handmade Paper,Jaipur
  • National Conference on “Application of biotechnology in sustaining the environment”
  • National Seminar on “Marketing Potential and Export Opportunities for Indian Handmade Paper Industry” jointly organized with ABGM on Dec. 09, 2007.
  • India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan Delhi from Nov14-27, 2007
  • Golden Jubilee celebration of Khadi. Jaipur
  • Paper-Ex-2007 at New Delhi from Dec.7-10,2007

8. OTHER ACTIVITIES

• ACTIVITIES
  • Release of website of KNHPI
  • Recognition of Institute from DSIR,Govt. of India
  • ISO-9001-2000 Certification
  • 04 number of patents filed/sealed