Countryside to Speed Up Innovations through MEICs in SUC Campuses
by Faith P. Macatangay
Taguig City, Metro Manila – State Universities and Colleges (SUC) partners from Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions I, II, III, and X presented their respective new technical capabilities during the Metals and Engineering Innovation Centers (MEIC) in the Regions for the Industry event on June 17, 2021.
DOST-MIRDC Executive Director Engr. Robert O. Dizon shared with the group the vision of the Center to make the metals, engineering, and allied industries of the whole country more competitive. Engr. Dizon emphasized the establishment of MEIC – through the tripartite partnership of the government, the industry, and the academic institutions – is an enabling environment in the regions. Likewise, DOST Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña was optimistic that the Philippines will sustain the growth of innovation with these innovation centers.
Each MEIC Manager proudly showcased the capabilities and ongoing development of their handled innovation center – vision, mission, objectives, significant event highlights, building layout, proposed research and development activities, delivered and upcoming equipment from the DOST-MIRDC, and suppliers, and priority goals.
The MEIC Managers are: Engr. Dahlia Gay A, Bulna of Ifugao State University (IFSU) in CAR; Dr. Victorio C. Palabay of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in Region I; Dr. Arthur G. Ibañez of Cagayan State University (CSU) in Region II; Dr. Nathaniel Oliveros of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) in Region III; and Engr. Bronson G. Mabulay of University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) in Region X.
The partner machine and equipment suppliers, Scuderia Enterprises, Hytec Power, Inc., and JAMP-R Kilns and Dryer Enterprises, also gave an overview of the machinery they have provided or will deliver to the academe.
Meanwhile, MEIC project stakeholders Metalworking Industries Association of the Philippines (MIAP)–Dagupan, Inc. President Marcus M. Aquino and MIAP– Northern Mindanao Chapter, Inc. President Raymond Paras stated their openness to having cluster collaboration with the universities in uplifting the metalworking industries of their region.
Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Mabborang described the innovation center as a place where people can test ideas, build prototypes, and create solutions to address some of the problems of society. He expressed his support for the project. He also shared his excitement to see MEIC established in all regions soon. Usec. Mabborang is optimistic that MEIC in the regions can help in pursuing MSMEs to be Industry 4.0 ready.
DOST-MIRDC Deputy Executive Director for Research and Development and MEIC Project Leader Dr. Agustin M. Fudolig concluded that the added capability in terms of equipment design, and fabrication of the prototypes will help students, faculty and researchers gain actual exposures to the fabrication machines used by the industry. He expressed gratitude to the MEIC Managers and DOST Regional Directors who take part in the project. Dr. Fudolig invited the regions to avail of services of the MEIC and to support the transformation of the countryside to becoming more innovative and more competitive.
To know more about the MEIC and other MIRDC collaborative projects, visit www.mirdc.dost.gov.ph and the DOST MIRDC Facebook page.To know more about the MEIC and other MIRDC collaborative projects, visit www.mirdc.dost.gov.ph and the DOST MIRDC Facebook page.
Webinar Participants Treated to a Virtual Tour in a World-Class Sheet Metal Fabrication Facility
By: Eldina B. Pinca
People’s attention is drawn toward the manufacturing industry as the pandemic highlighted the need for the country to be more self-sufficient. It was truly an exciting experience to get to know a metal fabrication facility that has world-class capabilities.
Cherimel, a member of the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP), presented in a webinar its CNC machinery, especially for the information of clients who require precise sheet metal fabrication. Cherimel’s portfolio of state-of-the-art machines and integrated systems includes the CNC punching machine Amada, Trumpf fiber laser 3030 machine, Trumpf bend center 5030 machines, CNC shearing machine, and robotic welding machine, Trumpf Trupunch 5000, CNC acrylic laser cutting machine, CNC plasma/oxyfuel cutting machine, automatic storage-retrieval system, CNC hairlining machine, power press machines, CNC lathe machine, and many more.
Cherimel’s presentation also highlighted the precision, accuracy, the durability that go into the manufacture of their products. The company is proudly BS EN ISO 9001:2015 certified. The speaker also shared with the audience their list of clients that includes G.E. Philippines, Asian Transmission Corp., Concepcion Industries, and projects for Honda Cars Philippines Inc. Their vision for the next three years is to put up an additional plant and be a “kaizen” company.
Through the presentation, the webinar participants were informed that technology-driven metal works result in high-quality sheet metal customized products, which are capabilities that we have here in the Philippines.
The webinar is part of the celebration of the Metals and Engineering Week 2021. Through the various webinars, the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center, in partnership with the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines, aims to promote the technologies, products, and services of the metals and engineering industries to downstream industries.
Philippine Welding Society Offered a Free Webinar in Welding Evaluation by CR and DDA Technologies
By: Eldina B. Pinca
The Philippine Welding Society (PWS) actively supported the celebration of the Metals and Engineering Week 2021 by hosting webinars that are relevant and timely.One of the webinars that PWS has offered is the Welding Evaluation by CR and DDA Technologies conducted by Mr. Nick D’Ademo, a resource speaker from a German equipment manufacturer and now based in Malaysia. In the webinar, the resource speaker differentiated conventional film from digital technology. He further discussed the advantage of computed radiography scanners, CR and digital radiography, DDA technologies. According to the expert, these technologies may be used to perform welding evaluation using the ISO international standard. Welding evaluation is used in industrial inspection as well as in medical and educational research institutes. This kind of evaluation is to determine whether the weld is of suitable quality for its intended application by comparing the weld to a standard’s weld characteristic. The choice of using computed radiography or digital radiography depends on the volume capabilities and investment.
The webinar was attended by more than 160 participants from the academe, government, and industry. This activity was an effective platform to disseminate information about new technologies in welding inspection.
This celebration is spearheaded by the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center in partnership with the metals, engineering, and allied industries.
Latest Manufacturing Technologies Seen to Offer Business Solutions in the Time of the Pandemic
By: Eldina B. Pinca
Automation has crept into the consciousness of businesses and organizations as a way for the manufacturing industry to survive the threats of the pandemic. Automation has become a strategy to digitalize processes.
In a webinar entitled ‘Latest Manufacturing Technologies’ Mr. Michael Mayer and Mr. Daniel Uehlein of DMG Mori presented a solution to integrated digitization. This solution refers to allowing machines to make their product through programming. This automation and additive manufacturing solution encompasses planning, preparation, and product realization.
The use of this manufacturing technology begins with the creation of the job via the job manager. The job is sent to the machine through the job scheduler, and it is ready for processing. The technology also makes use of a messenger that receives notifications, performs final monitoring in the assembly, and provides notification to the operator in cases when certain issues arise. Being connected to the internet, troubleshooting services are easily accessible. This technology requires only a team of six members to handle preparation, programming, production, monitoring, and service. The latest integrated machine technologies are seen as manufacturing process solutions applicable in aerospace, die and mold, semiconductor, and gear machining to reach a new level of innovation.
The webinar was conducted as part of the celebration of the Metals and Engineering Week 2021, spearheaded by the DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center in partnership with the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines.
Virtual M&E Week ’21 Aims to Reach More Metals and Eng’g Enthusiasts
by Faith P. Macatangay
Taguig City, Metro Manila– The DOST-Metals Industry Research and Development Center’s 13th Metals and Engineering Week (M&E Week) adapted with the new way of conducting social events as it was held through an online platform, June 14-18.
With the year’s timely theme, ‘The Metals and Engineering Industries: Rising Above Challenges of the Times,’ the DOST-MIRDC, along with partner industry associations, offered free webinars covering a wide array of topics about the metals industry and related sectors.
Some of the webinars conducted during the week-long event:
June 14
Contactless Tool Management and Digital Manufacturing. Mr. Henry Palmero of Haimer Asia Pacific LTD. showcased high precision products for metal cutting that include shrinking, balancing, and tool presenting machines, and their known tool holders. The digital tool room management concept with Industry 4.0 system was also tackled. This webinar was conducted in partnership with the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP).
Advanced Blended Welding Training. Mr. Jorge Carrasco Ortega, Soldamatic Sales Regional Manager for France and French Speaking Countries of Seabery Soldamatic, demonstrated the welding parameters and process in welding through Augmented Reality and the Welding E-Learning where all students can be managed individually. Likewise, gamification was introduced, an application of game principles in educating welding. This aims to encourage the younger generation to learn the mentioned fabrication process. The webinar is in partnership with the Philippine Welding Society (PWS).
The Taxonomy of Implementing Internet of Things: Scalability and Interoperability of M2M Network. The Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines (MRSP) brought Engr. Lorna C. Ilagan, MS-ECE, PECE, and CEO of LORA-IOT Network and Data Solution, as the resource speaker. She ran through the network topology and communications infrastructure in implementing Internet of Things (IoT), designing and optimization of Machine to Machine (M2M) effectivity, and application of IoT in M2M Network. Engr. Ilagan accommodated the participants with her openness to help them with their network-related concerns.
June 16
Machining Economics and Process Improvement via Modern Tools. Mr. Francis Allen Empinado, Technical Manager of Guhring Philippines, Inc. presented the data-driven analysis of machining cost economics, and process optimization by using modern cutting tools and technologies. The webinar is co-presented with AIAP.
Confined Space Visual Inspection with Robotics and Real3DTM Measurement. Advanced confined inspection solutions are highlighted that aim to achieve zero man-entry and zero incidences in confined space inspection. Case studies and future technological feasibilities are also tackled by Mr, Stanley Leong, Regional Visual Business Unit Manager of Baker Hughes through the PWS.
Brittle Fracture of Welded Structure. The factors of brittle fracture occurrences, basic modes of deformation, types of fracture toughness tests surface, prevention, and more facts about brittle fractures, are elaborated in layman’s term by Engr. Reynaldo L. Dela Cruz, Jr., Senior Welding Engineer and Chief, Industrial Training Section of DOST-MIRDC. Most asked questions from the participants are about the kinds of metals that are best to use in different kinds of applications. PWS is the partner association.
June 17
Basic Calibration of Engineering Dimensional Metrology Instrument (Advocacy Seminar). Engr. Rommel N. Coroña, Chief, Instrumentation and Metrology Section of DOST-MIRDC, discussed the general terms in metrology, enumerated sources of error in measurement and methods of minimizing them, and demonstrated proper handling and maintenance of basic length measurement.
Industrial Robotics. The advantages, components, and applications of industrial robots are discussed by Mr. Charles Angelo O. Duran, Technical Specialist Manager-Mechatronics of Hytec Power, Inc. He also did offline programming demonstrations as well as inline programming using the Advanced Mechatronics, Robotics, and Industrial Automation Laboratory’s (AMERIAL) Smart Factory. Industrial Robotics webinar is made possible with MRSP.
One of the objectives of the Center and its partner industry associations is to convey the importance of continuous improvement of the metals industry and its significant role as the backbone of the industrialized value chain through the webinars held during the M&E Week.
The M&E Week celebration indeed was a success as all the webinars were actively participated by attendees from academe, government, private individuals, and institutions.
To know more about the projects, partnerships, and other initiatives of the DOST-MIRDC, visit www.mirdc.dost.gov.ph and the DOST MIRDC Facebook page.
