The recent celebration of the Metals and Engineering Week wheeled-in two new automotive-related service centers by the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) of the Department of Science and Technology. Called the Finite Element Analysis Design Center and the Die and Mold Solution Center, the facilities are among the transportation solutions initiated by DOST to help accelerate the country’s transportation industry.
According to DOST-MIRDC, the automotive centers are now being developed at the DOST Complex in Taguig City, and will be fully implemented by next year.
“Our advanced transport solutions are not exactly rocket science as, when one looks closely, they are actually straightforward engineering and metalworking applications. We want to overcome the thought barrier that Filipinos cannot produce this [kind of transportation], as we have the capabilities and know-how to [perfect] them,” said Secretary Montejo.
The Finite Element Analysis Design Center will serve as the government’s main laboratory for the upgrading of customized local road vehicles (CLRVs) such as tricycles, jeepneys, and mini buses, through testing, safety and structural design improvement. The center also aims to address environmental safety aspect of CLRV’s as well as develop expertise in finite element analysis or FEA, which refers to the modeling of products and systems in a virtual environment, for the purpose of finding and solving potential or existing structural or performance issues.
Meanwhile, the Die and Mold Solution Center aims to sustain local manpower in die and mold manufacturing and design by providing continual training. With these objectives combined with the advanced facilities and technologies housed inside, the center is expected to augment the productivity of the tool and die industry and make the Philippines establish a stronger footing in the global scene. At present, Japan, China, and South Korea are global leaders in the tool and die manufacturing sector.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino commended DOST for its transportation technology program. “DOST deserves the highest commendation. Our current metro trains have a capacity of 300,000 but are now servicing 700,000 people daily. And given the uncontrolled proliferation of vehicles despite our number coding schemes, clearly, the solution here is better mass transportation,” he reiterated.
Mass transportation solutions
DOST-MIRDC also presented three other new locally developed trains — road train, railroad train, and the automated guideway transit system (AGT), which will be highlighted in a booth during the upcoming 2013 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) to be held July 23-27 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Mounted annually by DOST, NSTW 2013 aims to showcase the various high-impact S&T-based solutions crafted by the Department for the country’s most pressing problems – from transportation and other social services, to climate change, food security, industry competitiveness, and poverty alleviation.
For more information about the 2013 NSTW as well as DOST technologies, please contact Public Affairs Unit of the Science and Technology Information Institute at (02) 837-2071 local 2142.
