JAKARTA – Empty bunches of palm oil fruits have been used as raw material to produce organic fertilizer and as biomass waste for co-firing in coal-fired power plants (PLTU). But apparently, the empty palm bunches can be also used to produce eco-friendly helmets.
Siti Nikmatin, a researcher and lecturer of the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences at Bogor University of Agriculture (IPB), said that she and her team managed to produce the eco-friendly helmets under a partnership with PT Intertisi Material Maju, which is located in Bubulak subdistrict of Bogor Barat district in Bogor, West Java province. Their project is financed by the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Board (BPDPKS).
CEO of PT Intertisi Material Maju, Andika Kristinawati said that her company, which is under the tutelage of PT Surveyor Indonesia, has been conducting a study on the innovation initiated by the startup in the IPB Science and Techno Park since 2017.
According to Andika, PT Intertisi Material Maju has also established a partnership with PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) VIII in Jasinga district of Bogor regency to supply the empty palm bunches. “The processing of the empty bunches involve groups of farmers in Jasinga, who are under fostering program of PTPN VIII. The farmers had been trained to process the empty bunches into fibres as the raw material of the helmet production. The helmet types are designed for the use of cyclists and motorists,” Andika was quoted by Republika as saying in Bogor.
According to her, for further process the fibers are mixed with polymer plastic and then extracted into small granules. Later the small granules are injected to form helmet shells. “Then the helmet shells will be strengthened with reinforcing elements and undergo painting with several colors before releasing to the market,” she said.
“These helmets are bio-composite, not just polymer. Called green composite (GC) helmets, they are ecofriendly and can absorb impact to head. With this production we contribute a solution to reduce palm oil wastes,” Andika said. She said that the GC helmets have been on sale across almost all regions in Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke.
Andika said that there are many innovative products that been produced by IPB researches from the palm wastes. Those innovations include a variety of fashion products and bullet-proof vests.
Siti said that the bullet-proof vests had undertakean a shooting test with glock pistols and bullets of MU1-TJ. “Currently, the bullet-proof vests are being retested by PT Pindad,” she said. According to Andika, recently those ecofriendly helmets of the safety type have been also offered to the authority of the new capital city, Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN), which is under construction. (*)
Source: sawitkita.id
