The Industry Interface Cell (II Cell) at SiliconTech, the engineering institute of Silicon University, facilitated a series of industrial visits to prominent organizations. Students visited Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys Limited (IMFA) in Choudwar, Cuttack, on 6 July 2024, followed by a visit to Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) in Bhubaneswar on 13 July 2024.
These visits were conducted as part of the Summer Internship Program on core industries to seamlessly integrate academic learning with real-world industry practices. The program aimed to provide students with hands-on experience and insights into modern industrial processes. By observing these processes, students could see how their theoretical knowledge is applied in professional settings.
IMFA, India’s largest integrated producer of ferroalloys, is pioneering in the sector with its Low-Density Aggregate (LDA) plant at Choudwar in Cuttack, Odisha. This plant boasts an impressive annual production capacity of 175,000 MT. During their visit, students learned about advanced production techniques and the significance of quality control in large-scale manufacturing.
OPTCL, one of India’s leading transmission utilities, which is fully owned by the Government of Odisha, manages an extensive extra-high voltage (EHV) transmission system. This system includes approximately 16,300 circuit kilometers of transmission lines operating at 400 kV, 220 kV, and 132 kV levels, as well as 193 substations with a total transformation capacity of 25,800 MVA. Students gained insights into the complexities of managing high-voltage transmission systems and the critical role of efficient energy distribution in maintaining grid stability
A total of four faculty members and seventeen students participated in the visit, benefiting from the opportunity to enhance their knowledge through direct engagement in industry research and practices.
