Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)’s Chennai based constituent laboratory Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC) has signed an agreement for licensing of 
technology – Portable lightweight foldable module for makeshift hospitals and other needs (PoliTal-M), with Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), Mumbai. The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr. Shekhar C Mande, Director General, CSIR, Prof. Santosh Kapuria, Director, CSIR-SERC, and Shri M V Satish, Whole-time Director and Senior Executive Vice President, L&T.
PoliTal-M is a lightweight foldable modular unit for fast deployment in the critical need of shelters, which can be transported and erected quickly using a crane and two-three manpower. This technology is first of its kind in India, and has a high potential for multi-functional use for different needs such as the fast deployment of shelters for ready to use makeshift hospitals, housing for affected people in case of natural disasters, temporary shelters for migrant workers in construction sites and remote areas, deployment of shelters at remote strategic locations etc.
The total weight of the unit is around one ton and it can be folded and transported easily.
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The module can be fabricated in the factory with simple fabrication utilizing standard steel sections welded. The fully folded modules can be taken to the site and erected after leveling the site and each module can be installed within 30 mins. The size of the module is 6.0m x 3.0m x 2.8m height and the size can be customized as per the requirement from 3m to 6m length.
This promising technology has high value for commercialization to the construction and steel structure fabrication industries. L&T has shown immediate interest in the technology and the technology is licensed to them for use in different sectors. This technology is available for licensing to other industries as well and CSIR-SERC is committed to promote this technology for its wider use and reach. (India Science Wire)
