"Molding the Future of Metal Industries"
"Molding the Future of Metal Industries"
"Molding the Future of Metal Industries"
The Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization
(PhilMech), is initiating a prototype equipment for design and development for the project entitled “Design and Development of Hand Tractor Attachments (Harvester and Transplanter)” are transplanter-attached handtractor and har vester-attached-handtractor. The concept of developing rice transplanting and harvesting implements that can be readily mounted to and dismounted from the hand tractor unit is a relatively new concept. The availability of such implements will significantly increase further the utilization of hand tractor in farm areas. Moreover, it can potentially reduce the cost of farm level mechanization. The target beneficiaries of this project are the farmers, rice field owners and planters, agri-cooperatives and local
fabricator shops.
Unlike commercially available transplanters and harvesters which are self-propelled and dedicated machines, these mechanisms are integration of a transplanter or harvester to a hand tractor which can be readily disassembled in order for the hand tractor to be usable for other farm operations . The transplanter-attached-handtractor is driven by 7HP diesel engine, with a 6-row planting capacity. Its planting distance is within 20cm to 25cm as required by the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards (PAES). Furthermore, it has also adjustable planting depth comparable to commercially available transplanters. The harvester-attached-handtractor is driven by 9HP diesel engine, with target working efficiency of 500m2/hour.
Overall, the transplanter-attached-handtractor and harvester-attached-handtractor offer many operational
and financial benefits. By using these mechanisms, an appropriate, efficient and effective transplanting and harvesting functionalities will be added to plowing, tilling and harrowing, which a hand tractor can perform. This will also address the delayed or longer transplanting and harvesting period and its high labor cost due to lengthy job.
As of December 2013, the transplanter-attached handtractor prototype was completed and field testing wil be conducted in January 2014. The design, prototyping and testing of harvester-attachedhandtractor is also expected to be completed in 2014.
"Molding the Future of Metal Industries"
The Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) through its Technology Information and Promotion Section (TIPS) is currently conducting a survey of metalworking firms engaged in welding and electroplating processes to determine the status of the said sectors. Aside from general information, the study also focuses on industry, market and technical aspects of operation. Through the survey, the electroplating and welding sectors’ production capacity and technical profile will be determined. Pertinent information will be provided to our policy makers, policy implementers and members of the industry to be used for decision-making and formulation of recommendations in terms of facilities upgrading, personnel development and investment incentives.
To do away with time-consuming survey, the staff verified information from previous surveys to update company’s profile. The Center assures the respondent-firms that all information will be treated with utmost confidentiality. Data will be consolidated and analyzed. The initial reports will be subjected to further validation through focus group discussions. The final report will then be published after a series of reviews.
The MIRDC will make the sector report easily accessible to those who need it: the government in the legislative and cabinet level for mapping out more accurate planning strategies; the government in the agency level for addressing the problems of the said sectors; the concerned public and private organizations for developing roadmaps to fulfill and the technology and training requirements of the industry; all firms in the M&E industries for identifying and implementing relevant S & T interventions. Ultimately, the respondent –firms will receive significant benefits from this initiative. The government can generate better programs including training, consultancy and financial assistance in order to boost the industry’s competitiveness. The respondent-firms are given priority to receive these benefits from the program of the government.
