FPRDI Develops Low-cost Handicraft Dryer
One of the biggest concerns of the country’s handicraft-makers is quality drying – finding the cheapest way to thoroughly dry their raw materials and products.
According to Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan, Director of the FPRDI-DOST, “Many small and medium players in the local handicraft industry do not have their own dryers because of the high investment cost. They simply rely on the sun to dry their materials or products and so they often end up victims of bad weather. The rainy season cripples their production. They cannot deliver on time and their products are prone to the attack of molds because these are not thoroughly dried.”
To address this problem, the FPRDI has recently developed a low-cost handicraft dryer (LCHD). “We made a cheaper dryer by simplifying the design of the FPRDI furnace-type lumber dryer, and using quality surplus materials to save on material and fabrication cost,” says Ms. Wency H. Carmelo, Senior Science Research Specialist of the Technology Innovation Division.
“The LCHD is 40% cheaper than other FPRDI-designed dryers. A 10-cubic meter prototype worth Php 250,000 has been tested at R.A. Bagabaldo Wood Carvings in Paete, Laguna and was found to be as effective yet 23% more efficient on wood fuel use than our previously designed furnace-type lumber dryer of the same capacity,” Carmelo added.
Two other companies have adopted LCHD of bigger capacities. Starwood, Inc. in Valenzuela, which makes export-quality handicrafts from driftwood, has built two units of 18 cubic meter-capacity dryers in its plant. According to Mr. Larry S.Tan, company owner, they can now deliver their products on time without worrying that these will be attacked by molds.
Masaeco Development Corp. in Indang, Cavite which makes handicrafts from handmade paper now uses a 35 cubic meter-capacity dryer instead of their previous kerosene-fired dryer that consumed as much as Php 60,000 per month worth of kerosene.
The Philippines continues to be a leader in handicraft production worldwide. According to the Philippine Chamber of Handicraft Industries, Inc. (PCHI), our exporters are eyeing new markets in South America, Africa, Russia and Vietnam. In 2012, Philippine handicraft exports were estimated to have reached US$130 million. (Rizalina K. Araral , 13 February 2014)#
