Zinc deficiency is a global health problem. In spite of proven benefits of adequate Zinc nutrition, approximately 2 billion people still remain at the risk of Zinc deficiency.

 Zinc is supplied to the body through a diversified diet including meats, nuts, eggs, spinach, fish, mushrooms etc. which are seen to be inaccessible to people in developing countries. Children are especially vulnerable to Zinc deficiency which weakens their immune system making them prone to diarrhoea and pneumonia which are most common causes of death in developing countries. Surprisingly, India contributes to the largest child deaths in the world.  Zinc deficiency also leads to retarded growth & development and stunting with life-long impacts on health, productivity and income.

 According to Food and Health Organization (FAO), one third of the world population lives in countries that have high risk of Zinc deficiency, India being one of them. The most vulnerable are infants, young children, pregnant and lactating women due to their elevated requirements for Zinc.

 Affordable approaches to eliminate Zinc deficiency exist and need to be implemented urgently. Zinc can be added to mineral pre-mixes used in fortification programs and preventive Zinc supplementation to be given to children of less than 5 years age in high risk countries. Exclusive breastfeeding during first six months to a child is an excellent source of Zinc. Also, by applying agricultural and food processing technologies, the amount of absorbable Zinc can be increased in staple foods.

 Point is we do understand that we need Zinc but how many of us actually demand it…

 Hindustan Zinc is India’s only and world’s leading Zinc-Lead-Silver Producer..

Article by- Pavan Kaushik, Head – Corporate Communication, Hindustan Zinc

15 months rigorous job by 25 painters – 60,000 KGs of Paint – 1500 brushes – 5000 sanding disks – 1500 set of work clothes and USD 20 million each time – this is what it takes to keep the world’s most sought after Tower standing.

 The Eiffel Tower is built of riveted wrought-iron, a material that only lasts if it is painted periodically. From the date Eiffel Tower was built, in 1889, the tower has been painted 18 times, once every 7 years. Painting the entire Tower takes 15 months to complete and a mammoth 60,000 kilograms of paint is used for the first coat that cost around $20 million each time – Rs. 130 Crore..

 Amazed at the cost and complexity of the work involved in repainting the tower, where the painters must use hooks, ropes, safety nets and cannot begin painting each day until the morning dew has evaporated; a Dutch corrosion expert recently made a hypothetical calculation of cost savings had the Eiffel Tower been built on galvanized steel. If Eiffel Tower had been hot-dip galvanized and then painted, which is known as a duplex system, any damage to the paint coating will not lead to corrosion as the steel would continue to be protected by the Zinc, which underlies the paint.

 Had the steel used to build the Eiffel Tower been galvanized before painting, only 7 maintenance operations would have been required since 1889, compared to the 18 that have taken place.. The first large-scale maintenance of a duplex system normally takes place after about 25 years.

 What does all this mean in terms of cost?

 Based on today’s wage and price levels, the duplex system – would have  further saved at least $10 million in maintenance costs, which is again 50% savings on maintenance.

 Obvious question would be that did hot-dip galvanization exist when the Eiffel Tower was made. The answer is YES.

 About 50 years before the Eiffel Tower was made, in 1836, Sorel in France took out the first of numerous patents for a process of coating steel by dipping it in molten zinc after first cleaning it. He provided the process with its name ‘galvanizing’. 1742 is the first recorded history of galvanizing which dates back to when P.J. Malouin, a French chemist, presented to the Royal Academy of Sciences several experiments involving coating iron with molten zinc.

 Hindustan Zinc is India’s only and world’s leading Zinc-Lead-Silver Producer..

Article by- Pavan Kaushik, Head – Corporate Communication, Hindustan Zinc

At an incredible 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 storeys, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the world’s tallest building.

 Engineers, designers, architects and skilled workers from more than 100 countries were involved in the making of the building. The construction took 22 million man-hours, where more than 12,000 dedicated personnel ensured the seamless progress of the building.

 Burj Khalifa’s primary structure is made of reinforced concrete. The  construction used 330,000 m3 of concrete and 55,000 tonnes of galvanized steel rebar. A cathodic protection system is in place under the concrete to neutralize the groundwater and prevent corrosion.Due to the hot and humid outside conditions, an additional protective coating to the structure was required. Thus, the steel pipes used in the inner skeleton of the building were hot-dip galvanized along with the steel construction around the entrance to maximise protection.

 The world’s tallest building is another testimony of the strength of Zinc … We all have Zinc in our lives…

 Hindustan Zinc is India’s only and world’s leading Zinc-Lead-Silver Producer..

Article by- Pavan Kaushik, Head – Corporate Communication, Hindustan Zinc