EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF HARVESTING AND INFIELD COLLECTION – KULIM (M)

BERHAD EXPERIENCE

Mohd Fauzi bin Azmi @ MisnonPalm Mech 201224 October 2012

Hotel Equatorial Bangi-Putrajaya

Introductionoil palm industry operation - labour dependent.

harvesting operation requires the most…

i. Cutting Fronds And Ripe Bunchesii. Rearrange & Stacking Fronds And

Trim Bunch Stalkiii.Collecting Harvested Bunches And

Loose Fruitsiv.Transport Bunches To Hopper Or

Mill

Oil Palm Harvesting Operation

Oil Palm Harvesting Operation

machinemanual

manual

manual

machine

machine

machine

machine

machine

Mechanization in Cutting Operation

early trial on cutting mechanism by MPOB since 1988 – chainsaw type, rotating blade type, scissor type, claw type and sickle with counter shear type…

Mechanization in Cutting Operation

late 1990’s and early 2000’s, TUAH Kawasaki chop cutter was introduce and in 2003 MPOB starting the CANTAS motorize cutter development…

below 20 feet

Mechanization in Cutting Operation

machines introduce for tall palm harvesting…

try and try again…

Mechanization in Cutting Operation

prototype tall palm “all in one” harvesting machine by MPOB…

need to be;• fairly easy to handle, • efficient cutting, • increased productivity over manual

harvesting,• ergonomically designed, • minimize loose fruit on the ground, and• affordable price.

Mechanization in Loose Fruit Collection Operation

some of loose fruit collecting machine that have been evaluated and documented…

no takers?

Mechanization in Loose Fruit Collection Operation

potential loose fruit collecting machine to be fully commercialized…

Mechanization in Collecting Bunches

the development of mechanization in infield transportation of FFB can be considered matured, widely develop and tested both by MPOB and the plantation

groups…

Mechanization in Collecting Bunches

it is up to the planters to choose the most suitable machine to meet their requirements depending among

others, the type of works, terrains, productivity, machine costs and machine running cost…

Mechanization in Mainline Loading & Transport

tested and proven…

Mechanization in Kulim (M) Berhad

• Management of Kulim (M) Berhad had always been strong advocates on mechanization efforts in the oil palm plantations operations.

• We had already embark in usage of motorize cutter for harvesting operation, usage of BADANG mechanical buffalo, mini tractor with scissor lift trailer and life buffalo for FFB infield collection, usage of ‘Kulim Crane Free System’, crane netting for hukka bin system for mainline loading & transport.

• The approach taken by Kulim (M) Berhad for these mechanization initiatives is not rigid to only one system and we encourage our estates to develop the best practices that suit the estate locality.

Motorize Cutter in Kulim (M) Berhad

- started in 2006…trial in Ladang Tereh Selatan- not as expected…poor machine durability & lack of

training…- starting again in 2011…suitable area > 15,000 hect.- as at Sept 2012…87 units (Cantas & Ckat) in 21 OUs…

Motorize Cutter in Kulim (M) Berhad3 system;

i) motorize cutter + wheelbarrow FFB collection• 3 harvesters in a team (1+2)• up to 8 tons FFB per team • 2.6 mt/har

ii) motorize cutter + MB Badang FFB collection• 4 harvesters in a team (1+1+1+1)• up to 14 tons FFB per team• 3.5 mt/har

iii) motorize cutter + mini tractor scissor lift trailer FFB collection • 13 harvesters in a team (3+3+3+3+1)• up to 40 tons FFB per team• 3.0 mt/har

FFB Infield Collection in Kulim (M) Berhad

- Badang Mechanical Buffalo…our own product- 168 units operating in 24 OUs…- 2 system;

• motorize cutter team – 4 members (1+1+1+1)• manual cutter team – 5 members (2+2+1)

- target productivity…> 10 mt/day

FFB Infield Collection in Kulim (M) Berhad

- Mini tractor scissor lift trailer…still under evaluation in 2 OUs…

- 2 system;• motorize cutter team – 13 members (3+3+3+3+1)• manual cutter team – 17 members (7+7+3)• Productivity 3 mt/harvester

Mainline Loading & Transport in Kulim (M) Berhad

3 system;i) lorry & tractor mounted crane system

• introduced in early 70s…• has been gradually phased out…

ii) Kulim Crane Free system (trailer and hukka bin)• 11 OUs adopting this system• expected > 45 mt FFB per shuttling tractor

iii) hukka bin system• on trial basis and still under evaluation

Mainline Loading & Transport in Kulim (M) Berhad

The Flow

mechanization in harvesting operation…Kulim style

The harvesting mechanization method adopted by Kulim (M) Berhad may be not the most efficient mechanization system

available to use as a benchmark but currently it is workable in our environment.

Mechanization has proven to reduce labour dependency and increase workers’ productivity.

The success in any mechanization depends very much on the commitment of the people involved.

Open mindedness, innovativeness and willingness to change are some of the important traits required.

We at Kulim (M) Berhad, always believe that sharing information of non-trade secret must be applauded as this will

only helping oil palm industry in Malaysia becoming more competitive in this already fierce industry.

Conclusion

The Most Efficient?

it is up to the planters to choose the most suitable machine to meet their requirements…

THANK YOU