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FPRDI inks pacts with industry, government
partners
FPRDI recently agreed to work with partners in industry and government
to facilitate the research and development, and commercialization
of critical technologies.
With funding from the DOST’s Technology Innovation for Commercialization
(TECHNICOM) Program, the Institute will work with the Philippine
Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD),
Aycafil Industrial Corporation (AICOR) and the Asia Rattan Manufacturing
Corporation (ARMCI) to fast track the commercial adoption of the
bamboo veneer lathe.
ARMCI will test the performance of the machine in its plant, FPRDI
will modify it according to test results, AICOR will fabricate the
improved lathe and DOST will look for an organization to do the
business plan.
The FPRDI bamboo veneer lathe is a less costly and more versatile
version of an old model. According to FPRDI’s Engr. Belen B. Bisana,
“Instead of only two thickness levels, the lathe can make veneers
of seven thicknesses. Using the machine, a square meter of bamboo
veneer costs around Php 40 to produce and may be sold for Php 80,
ten times cheaper than its counterpart from China.”
Meanwhile, FPRDI will also collaborate with Dow Corning Singapore
Pte Ltd., a leader in silicon-based water repellent products, to
test the performance of its water repellents when applied to wood
wool cement boards (WWCB) and wood fiber-reinforced composites (WFRC).
Headed by Dr. Dwight A. Eusebio, the study will also look into the
behavior of the water repellents under Philippine conditions. #
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