3.

Twining of coco coir

LEGAZPI CITY – A coconut coir twining machine has been developed in answer
to the need for a highly mechanized process for the coir industry. The device was
crafted by a team of engineers of the DOST-Metal Research and Development Center
(MIRDC) composed of Rey Rifareal, chief of MIRDC’s Industry Assistance Division;
Amado Jabrica and Entereso Cruz. Completed this year, the twining machine can
produce good quality coco coir products at a rate comparable to the imported
commercial units being used by the local industry, said Rifareal when interviewed by
this writer and Agriculture editor/write Zac Sarian.

According to Rey Rifareal et.al., A coconut coir twining machine has been
refined to the need for advance mechanical development for the coir business in
Legazpi City. A team of engineers of DOST-Metal research and develop center
(MIRDC) engineered the device. The twining machine can produce good quality coco
coir products graded to be as good as imported commercial units being used by the
local industry.

The machine produces two to three kilograms per hour of two ply ropes of 4-5
millimeter diameter. When woven, the twined coir can be used as doormats, wall
carpets, plant containers, sandbags for riverbanks to prevent soil erosion, and
decorative items. It can also be used to cover unsightly and degraded earth surfaces,
rehabilitate deserts, enhance greens in golf courses, and beatify landscapes.

When woven, the machine produces two three kilograms per hour of two ply
ropes of 4-5mm diameter. The produced coir is sold and can be used as wall carpets,
doormats, plant containers, coconet, sand bags, and decorative items. The product can
also be used as cover to degraded and unsightly earth surfaces, reconstruct deserts,
beautify greens in golf courses, and enhance landscapes.

"With the coco coir processing equipment, the coconut industry will definitely satisfy the
growing demands for coco coir products and the country is expected to be transformed
into a major source of coco-based products in Asia," MIRDC, headed by Director
Rolando Viloria, averred. – Rudy A. Fernandez

Rudy A. Fernandez states that the twining machine will definitely satisfy the
expanding demands of coco coir products in the coconut business. The country is
expected to be revolutionized into a major source of coco-based products in Asia.
3.1 Coco coir
Coco coir, a durable fiber extracted from discarded coconut husks, is now widely
used as basic material in making nets, rolls, and mats as protective covers for soils and
slopes. Coco coir is preferred over concrete bricks and peat moss because it is
cheaper, renewable, and completely organic.

Coco coir is a tenacious fiber extracted from junked coconut husk. In making
nets, rolls, and mats as protective covers for soils and slopes, coco coir is used as the
basic material. And is also favored over concrete bricks and peat moss because it is
cheaper, renewable, and completely organic

Coco coir is extensively used to rehabilitate deserts, enhance greens in golf

courses and prevent soil erosion in riverbanks and highways. It is also an excellent
growing medium for landscape plants and grasses since the fiber has natural rooting
hormones and good water-holding capacity.

To beautify greens in golf courses, avoid soil erotion in riverbanks and highways,
and restore deserts, Coco coir is extensively used. It is also an outstanding medium for
landscape plants and grasses considering the fiber has natural rooting hormones and
excellent holding capacity.

3.2 Coco coir twining process

In rope making it takes two persons to twine the coco fiber, one in the
crank and one connecting the fiber. The person assigned to the crank will repeatedly
rotate the crank, and the person assigned in the fiber will attach the fiber to the machine
and connect the fiber until its 10 meters long. In order to produce the quality needed to
make coco net, the workers will combine two 10 meter twined fiber to make 1 good
quality rope.

References

https://www.philstar.com/business/agriculture/2004/08/01/259629/coco-coir-twining-
machine-developed

http://www.pca.da.gov.ph/pdf/techno/coir_fiber.pdf