Following its launch on 16 June 2021, the Advanced Mechatronics, Robotics, and Industrial Automation Laboratory or AMERIAL is set to bolster the metals and engineering sectors and allied industries as the Philippines takes part in the “fourth industrial revolution” or IR 4.0.

AMERIAL was built with a PHP 40.9-million project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) in partnership with the Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines.

The laboratory houses state-of-the-art equipment such as the SMART Factory Learning System; a six-axis collaborative robot; and a mechatronics training kit for pneumatics, programmable logic controllers, and human-machine interface (HMI).

By making industrial automation processes more accessible, AMERIAL could achieve its aim of enhancing the technological and workforce competitiveness of local enterprises in the global market thereby improving economic productivity at the national level.

The new facility will serve as the central hub for collaborative innovation and training on other “disruptive” technologies such as mechatronics and robotics—thus aiding the transformation of the country’s capacity to integrate with the IR4.0-ready world economy.

For more details on how to avail of this facility and other products and services of the DOST-MIRDC, interested parties may contact Engr. Robert O. Dizon, the project leader of AMERIAL and the executive director of DOST-MIRDC, through email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The AMERIAL is just one of the technologies to be presented during the Big 21 in 2021 Launch scheduled on 7 September 2021 at 10:00AM to be broadcast via the DOST Philippines Facebook page. 

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña (4th from the left) led the official launch of AMERIAL at DOST-MIRDC compound held on 16 Jun 2021 with other DOST-MIRDC officials led by Executive Director Engr. Robert O. Dizon (4th from right).

Equipment and machinery at AMERIAL: a mechatronics training kit (upper-left), an HMI operator panel (upper-right), the SMART Factory Learning System (lower-left), and a six-axis collaborative robot (lower-right).

By Allyster A. Endozo, DOST-STII

Photos from DOST-MIRDC