Indian print equipment manufacturer lauded for Mangalyaan success

The Mangalyaan blasted off into space on 5 November last year, but when it entered the Mars orbit on 24 September, there was one Indian print equipment manufacturer, who was proud of their contribution in one of the biggest scientific achievements for India.

27 Oct 2014 | By PrintWeek India

It had put Indian’s space agency, ISRO, in the select group of four space agencies that have successfully sent a probe to Mars orbit.

Welbound Worldwide, the post-press equipment manufacturer, developed components for the 4th stage of the PSLV C 25 rocket and also PS4 fluid system components made for the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM). The LAM, which is considered an engineering marvel, is meant to raise the orbit of the MOM, propel it on a trans-Mars trajectory and slow it down for Mars orbit insertion.

One of the major mission challenges, according to Welbound, was the restart of LAM after a 300-day journey to Mars. These projects were handled by the centres of Indian Space Research Organisation (LPSC and VSSC) at Welbound's Trivandrum plant.

In a congratulatory message addressed to K C Sanjeev, the chairman and managing director of Welbound Worldwide, the director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Dr K Sivan, said, "It was, indeed, a proud moment for our nation as well as the whole of aerospace manufacturing fraternity and in particular MME/LPSC as the PS4 Fluid system components supplied by your firm performed precisely as expected during the entire mission. This historical achievement was made possible only due to the unstinted support and continued co-operation of the Indian industries. This is also a testimony to the strong partnership LPSC/ISRO has with the Indian industries like yours."

A jubilant Sanjeev, beaming with pride spoke to PrintWeek India. He said, "Our celebrations had to wait due to the sensitivity of such a mission. Now that the Mangalyaan has completed one month, it is bringing us cheers in this Diwali. It is a great moment for us, made possible by the efforts of our team and the confidence shown in us by ISRO."

Welbound has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Trivandrum. It is an approved vendor for the ISRO, and prior to Mangalyaan, had also participated in ISRO’s missions, including the Chandrayaan.

Visitors to the Trivandrum plant of Welbound would have seen this facility producing highly critical components for space missions. One of the complex projects undertaken by this division was to manufacture a wind tunnel model of GSLV mark -III, a launch vehicle under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It is intended to launch satellites into geostationary orbit and as a launcher for an Indian crew vehicle.

Sanjeev said, "What ISRO experience has given is different from our other partnerships. This is not about manufacturing efficiencies, but about developing skills to develop components that are really rocket science compliant. This was one of the cornerstones for us to embark on the journey of developing an indigenous PUR solution that requires similar, high level of skill sets."

Dr P V Venkitakrishna, deputy director of LPSC, in a message to Welbound, said, “Let us join hands in making our nation a superpower in Aerospace arena". 

“This is a moment for the whole printing industry in India to cheer, because, without the success of our bookbinding machine, we would not have reached here,” signed off Sanjeev.

The Mangalyaan mission was executed in 15 months at a cost of Rs 450-crore.