Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) on Saturday signed an MoU with ABB, one of the world’s largest companies in robotics and automation technologies, for technical training of its employees.

The Swiss-based firm ABB will train over 4,000 SAIL employees in the next two years.

“SAIL is expanding its capacities, getting new technology and automation.

“We want to stay competitive as more and more private players compete for scarce resources. We have identified trainees according to departments and ABB will customise training programmes for us over the next two years,” said M.R. Panda, Director HRD, SAIL.

“This is a part of SAIL’s massive modernisation programme. We are trying to train our employees in new skills in modern technologies for better product quality and cost competitiveness.

“ABB will train our workforce at plant locations on specific equipment,” said Satyajit Rena, Assistant General Manager and senior faculty, Management Training Institute, Ranchi.

SAIL officials said ABB officials will begin the process by visiting five SAIL plants and drawing a yearly plan for on and off-plants training.