PTRI Technologies fulfill TAPI's PROMISE with living colors: The First Technology Transfer Day

Natural Dye Extraction & Dyeing Application Pitched + 4 more Countryside Development PTRI Technologies Showcased

Let's talk about living in color

Celia B. Elumba. PTRI Director IV

The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) joins TAPl's 1st Technology Transfer Day as promised, "Promoting Research and Outstanding Milestones in Science for Entrepreneurship (PROMISE)" at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila last April 27, 2016.

 The 74 Technologies were divided into five clusters, namely: Agricultural Productivity, Countryside Development, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Industry Competitiveness and Quality Health Care. It was a venue in promoting technologies that are spearheaded and supported by the DOST, ripe for the picking and are commercially-viable to relevant private sector, beneficiaries, users and the potential investors.

 NatDyes

PTRI Director Celia B. Elumba lead the Institute's Technology Transfer Day Team with the Natural Dyes Extraction and Application on the pitch. She presented the Philippines' status relative to the world trade relations then trickling down to the increase in trading partners by 25% on 2015 with North America, Europe and New Zealand. She then focused on the negative impact of synthetic (Azo) dyes that lead to the market churning from the synthetic dyes to natural dyes.

"Over time studies showed ill effects of Azo dyes posing very serious health risks including primary cancers: of the urinary bladder. the kidney and the liver, particularly among the workers in the dye industry.", Director Elumba said.

The PTRI Natural Dyes Technologies core are represented by the six (6) concentric petal formation as advocating to Cultural Preservation,Environmental Conservation, Countryside Development, Livelihood Generation, Competitive SMEs through S&T and Women Empowerment.

PTRI has developed locally made dyes using natural materials with now over 100 natural dye extractions and 30 natural dye powders. We have eight (8) natural dyes for silk screen painting, and 10 upscale natural dyeing technologies.

PTRI Natural Dyes present possibilities for growing the clients' own color and reverting to traditional dyeing with technological intervention from DOST-PTRI. The supply lines are now established from the seven (7) Regions: I, IV-8 VI, X, XI, XII and CAR Natural Dye Production Hub and Dyeing facilities intimately connected to the fifteen (15) Regional Handloom Weaving Innovation Centers from nine (9) Regions: I, Ill, IV-B, VI, VII, X, XI, XII.

"The market is there; the technologies have been developed by the PTRI. They continue to grow. We have started the consolidation of the supply chain and market linkages. We stand ready to help you dye naturally. Let's talk about living in color.", Director Elumba concluded.

More Countryside Development PTRI Technologies

Four (4) braver & bolder PTRI Technologies also gained more exposure and attracted the provincial and regional S&T officers and clients. These are the Innovative Yams and Textiles, Geoloom Machine with Cloth and Warp Beam Mechanisms, Modified Handloom Weaving and the Twining / Twisting Machine.

The spotlight was also tumed on the Innovative Yams and Textiles which are the products of the Innovative Center for Yarns and Textiles (ICYT), the Degumming and the Spinning-to-Winding Facilities. These are blends of customized cotton / abaca, cotton / banana, cotton / pineapple leaf, and cotton / water hyacinth. There are also clients who request for additional researches on yams & textiles with the blends of polyester / abaca, polyester / banana, polyester / pineapple leaf, polyester / water hyacinth. The fiber pre-treatment production capacity holds the record ranging from 65 to 70kgs of fiber per batch per day excluding drying time of three (3) to four (4) days.

The ICYT production capacity takes pride in the output of 200kg/day (17Ne) from the Ring Frame and 26 kg/day (17Ne) from the Open-end machines. These mean to address the supply chain gap in innovative yams of local indigenous fiber content from a low of 5% to 30%. These yams with improved quality enables the use of indigenous spun yam blends for both the warp and the weft.

The Geoloom Machine with Cloth and Warp Beams produces fabric using coco coir fibers and other indigenous materials to provide a strong "mattress" foundation that significantly increase soil stability. Equipped with cloth and warp beams which makes it possible to reel the roll of woven net on a front beam and likewise warp it to an end beam following the standard operating procedure for handloom weaving. This may be used for geonet production from coco coir fibers and other indigenous materials and can be operated by only one (1) technician. The output with 514 g/m2 has a constant 46 inch-width. Tensile strength, elongation and thickness are also measured.

The Modified Handloom Weaving Machine as a Utility Model provides efficient mechanism for the supply of yams from the warp beam and the winding of the woven fabric to the cloth beam. The metal parts prevent usual wear and tear associated with wood. The alternative foot switch allows the weaver to adjust the cloth beam without the need to stand up, thereby maximizing productivity against time. Ancillaries include the bobbin winder, fly shuttle and warping frame.

The Twining / Twining Machine features a traversing motion mechanism for automatic winding of the rope to a spool. It ensures the uniformity of the thickness of twined fibers. For geonets, ropes, novelty products and other handicraft items such as bags, carpets, slippers, etc. There is 100% increased productivity compared to conventional twining machine since a single operator has direct access to twined fibers and can transfer these fibers to another hook without leaving the pedal.

TAPl's PROMISE

The event recognized the significant milestones that DOST has accomplished in beaming-up the country's global competitiveness, strengthening the local economy and uplifting the lives of the Filipinos. It was a day for gathering of stakeholders and partners to highlight the journey of the Department in its quest to revolutionize the S&T initiatives in the country to be more relevant and responsive to the needs of the local industry.

As DOST Secretary Hon. Mario G. Montejo, an Engineer and a Techno-preneur said, "I'm open to say again and again, as I always do in DOST, that local technology works. I will share my personal motto by saying Local technology works. Local technology is competitive. Local technology is worth every centavo!"

Mr. George Barcelon, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and guest speaker, encouraged everyone to seize these exciting times of expounding ideas and the modem approaches to supply chains. He also regaled the DOST's and PCCl's common denominators such as developed policies and programs - supportive, proactive and responsive technology transfer system, Intellectual Policy Protocols and Awards, Fairness Opinion Guidelines, Market-readiness and pre-commercialization activities.

“This is the era of robotics. nanotechnology, super computers, AI (Artificial Intelligence), LTE (Long-Term Evolution) - this is G4 and beyond ... CLOUD now is Computing Landscape On Ur Demand... it is information anytime, anywhere ... I wish I was 25", Mr. Barcelon said.

The TAPl's 1st Technology Transfer Day proved its commitment to their objectives, which provided a platform for recognition and dissemination of top and recent DOST breakthroughs that have made impacts to the country's global competitiveness; built partnerships, linkages and technology transfer deals among research institutions, investors, private sector and other relevant stakeholders; and recognize the DOST's milestones in technology transfer and commercialization.

Technology Showcase included were the Food Innovation Center (ITDI), Brown Rice (FNRI), CharM or Charding in Minutes (UP Diliman), Ventilator (UP Manila), RxBox (UP Manila), Intellisense (De La Salle University), Nano Plant Growth Regulator (UPLB), Compact Impeller Rice Mill (Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization), Genome-based Lateral Flow Strip Biosensor KIT: Quick Detection, Qucik Response Against Shrimp Disease (ADMU).

The five (5) Testimonials were the Public-Private Partnership in Health R&D (Orthopaedic International lnc.), Local Technologies Work (Farm by the Sea), Year-round Mango Supply (Farm Owner-Pulilan Bulacan), Bringing Food Innovations to the Skies (PAL), and Now Serving: Your Daily Cups of Fortified Rice (Nutridense Food Manufacturing Corporation)

There were six (6) MOA signing among RDls (Research & Development Institutes) and the Private Sectors: DOST/FNRI and DSWD Partnerships TAPI and LANDBANK of the Philippines; Biogroe TM Technology; Hybrid Electric Road Train; STARBOOKS of STII; Biotech Enzymes: MOA for Marketing and R&D signing of technology developer and Caracao Trading Corporation (CTC).

There were two (2) Turn-Overs of Fairness Opinion Report to Clients (Biotek-M and ArQ) and two (2) Turn-overs of Royalties (Axis Knee System and OL Trap). More than 700 attended the event, serenaded by Gitara ni Juan.

DOST Undersecretary for S&T Services, Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, congratulated TAPI Director, Engr. Edgar Garcia, on the historical, promising, and successful event.

The program was hosted by Dr. Aristotle Carandang and Ms. Maria Elena A. Talingdan.

Photos by H DLeon - STII AV Team
Text by SMS Bemardo - PTRI TTIPS-OD

Director Celia B. Elumba with the PTRI Technology Transfer Day Team

Director Celia B. Elumba on stage of the 1st TAPI Technology Transfer Day

PTRI Technology Transfer Day Team at the Modified Handloom Weaving and NatDyes Booths