(From left) Vepro director Lim Swee Peng, Omron robotics business development manager Kent Goh, Lee Kok Soong, MTDC group chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan, Vepro managing director Chu Chee Seng, Hernan founder and group chief executive officer Datuk Anna Teo, Navis Capital Partners Ltd senior investment director Chen Mian Hua, MTDC Group Corporate Strategy Division executive vice president Mariamah Daud and Omron engineering and solution manager Lai Yit Kean at the Hernan headquarters in Puncak Alam, Selangor. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/TheStar
AS THE world gears up for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), the integration of digitalisation, robotic automation and advanced manufacturing technologies is becoming crucial for businesses to stay ahead.
For the Malaysian durian industry, where harvesting, processing and packaging are key practices, the adoption of these innovative solutions is transforming traditional practices.
By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, businesses can enhance efficiency, reduce costs and improve product quality, setting new benchmarks for the global market.
Hernan Corporation Sdn Bhd is paving the way for the implementation of these technologies, as the company is applying automation solutions to its operations by collaborating with Vepro Group Sdn Bhd and Omron Electronics Sdn Bhd, with support from Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC).
The bonbons will be picked up and placed into plastic trays by a robotic arm that uses a vision system to ensure accuracy.
Hernan founder and group chief executive officer Datuk Anna Teo says that this is a crucial step in transforming business operations, as well as local agricultural industries and the production sector as a whole.
“I think that the farming of Malaysian durians uses a very traditional way of doing things. Malaysian agriculture in general is still very basic,” she says.
“By digitalising certain processes and leveraging robotic automation, we can optimise our operations and reduce cost.”
To test the viability of embedding these solutions into her business, Teo shares that the company currently employs a pick-and-place robotic arm system to assist in the processing and packaging of its upcoming Bon Bon ice cream product.
“By digitalising certain processes and leveraging robotic automation, we can optimise our operations and reduce cost,” says Hernan founder and group chief executive officer Datuk Anna Teo.
The flexible robotic arm, supplied by Vepro and Omron, uses a vision system to accurately pick up and place the bonbons into plastic trays – each segmented to hold three bonbons – before being sent for packaging.
“We can produce 24,000 bonbon pieces per hour, making this investment profitable. By reducing the number of people involved in the processing and packaging of the product, we achieve substantial cost savings.
“This also helps enhance food safety, as fewer people come into contact with the food, which will reduce the risk of incidences of contamination.”
She adds that some robotic arms can also operate in extremely cold temperatures, such as the -20°C environment in Hernan’s factory cold room, where humans may struggle to work effectively under such conditions.
Teo adds that the company is working with Vepro to explore other applications of automation solutions, such as using automated or unmanned forklifts on the factory floor.
Digitalisation solutions, like artificial intelligence (AI), are also being mooted for durian grading, sorting and segment scanning.
As an automation solutions provider, Vepro’s managing director Chu Chee Seng opines that these advanced solutions are merely the first steps in revolutionising the production industry, marking the beginning of a broader transformation.
“The future holds many more opportunities for digitalisation and robotic automation in the agriculture and production sector.
“Various solutions can be implemented, such as, for example, using drones in the planting and seeding of crops, as well as for applying fertilisers and pesticides.
“Plantations are huge and there is a lot of ground to cover. But, if you have a drone, that can fly to each tree autonomously, target each fruit on that particular tree and spray specific amounts of fertiliser or pesticide, there will be a lot less wastage.”
He says that by doing this, businesses can save a lot of time and money, as the need for manpower is reduced, which is further supplemented by the accuracy and efficiency of such technologies.
MTDC group chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan says active collaboration between multiple organisations is essential in driving automation and digitalisation locally.
Chu adds that AI has potential applications in durian harvesting as well, as they are developing a system to analyse ripeness so that the durians can be harvested a few hours before they drop.
“If we can apply this technology to durian harvesting, we can minimise the damage to the fruit (when it drops) and have a positive impact on its shelf life. This way, by the time it reaches the consumer, it won’t be overripe.”
Omron engineering and solution manager Lai Yit Kean adds that advanced technologies like smart farming sensors can also be applied to monitor the condition of crops.
“The sensors can be planted strategically to cover vast areas, to read climate conditions, rainfall, humidity, soil moisture and PH, as well as the actual condition of the crop,” says Lai.
He says that this digital monitoring system is cloud-based and provides enhanced accessibility for users with the integration of these systems via mobile applications.
Teo (right) and Chu marking the start of a fruitful partnership.
MTDC group chief executive officer Mohammad Hazani Hassan says that this type of business model, with active collaboration between multiple organisations, is essential in driving automation and digitalisation locally.
“For our country to improve its efficiency, productivity and local talent, we must drive the advancement of technology across various sectors through joint efforts.
“If we can work through this type of business model, we can minimise the risk for all parties involved, creating a win-win situation where processes are improved and the overall development of the industries is accelerated,” says Mohammad Hazani.
Vepro is one of the MTDC’s investee companies.
