GISSCO’s Founder Won the 2014 Outstanding Technologist Award
GISSCO’s founder, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jessada Wannasin, won Thailand’s 2014 Outstanding Technologist Award for his work on the Slurry Metal Casting Technology (GISS Technology). The award was given by the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology under the Patronage of His Majesty the King to recognize Thai researchers with outstanding scientific achievements each year. Dr. Jessada received the award from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on December 27, 2014.
Associate Professor Sakarin Bhumiratana, Ph.D., Chairman of the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology under the Patronage of His Majesty the King, announced the “Outstanding Technologist and New Technologist 2014” awards at The Sokosol Hotel on October 13, 2014. Among the recipients were Warin Thanasomwang, Ph.D., a fishery specialist from the Dept. of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Associate Professor Jessada Wannasin, Ph.D., from the Dept. of Mining and Materials Engineering and Science Park, PSU. Pichet Turongkaweroj, Ph.D., Minister of Science and Technology, led a discussion regarding “Science, Technology, and Innovation to Elevate Thailand from Middle-class Level” while visiting the awarded exhibitions.
Associate Professor Jessada Wannasin, Ph.D., from the Dept. of Mining and Materials Engineering and Science Park, PSU, received the Outstanding Technologist Award in the individual category based on his work on slurry metal casting, which overcomes many limitations of the traditional metal casting method.
Associate Professor Wannasin revealed that he had conducted metal casting technology research while in the USA and was aware of the limitations of casting technology at the industrial level, such as high cost and limited die life. When he began teaching at PSU, he continued the research for 11 years and became the first person in the world to develop the Slurry Metal Casting Technology, which has already been patented.
Associate Professor Wannasin also explained that Slurry Metal Casting Technology is a semi-solid casting process in which liquid metal is converted into superheated slurries with a texture like gelatin, which increases the quality of the casting because the slurries fill the die cavity without creating gas bubbles. The technology has been applied to Aluminum Die Casting without altering any part of the machine. The benefits of the slurry are its lower heat content compared to liquid metal, which in turn extends die life, lowers production costs, and increases product quality.
“Slurry is like gelatinous beer whose viscosity is higher than liquid. Traditional casting of liquid metal creates gas bubbles, but slurry casting does not have this problem due to its high viscosity, which also makes casting much easier and requires a lower temperature. These factors help lower costs while increasing the quality of the casting.”
The technology, sponsored by GISSCO Company Limited, has been used in Thailand and abroad in various productions such as electronic equipment, toys, motor vehicles, motors, and cell phone parts by Japanese and Korean companies, bringing in 5,000-10,000 million baht per year. The technology is to be expanded to European and US markets. Moreover, it has also been used to develop lightweight prosthetic legs to reduce imports in Thailand and increase the potential for the country to become a leader in science and technology.
The recipients received the award from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on December 27, 2014, at the opening ceremony of the 40th Science and Technology Conference in Khon Kaen province.
