| PUTRA SCIENCE PARK

FELDA settlers receives UPM’s Innovation “E-Cutter”

HULU SELANGOR, July 20 – Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh, Minister of Higher Education, handed over E-Cutter machines to Felda Hulu Selangor settlers at the E-cutter: Translational Research Programme of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in collaboration with the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA), Hulu Selangor zone at Felda Sg Tengi Selatan Hall.

The E-Cutter is the latest innovation in electric-pruning machines that combines the concept of electrical and mechanical power drives to operate the chisel and sickle at the end of a composite pole.

 

At the event, he distributed 10 units of the machine as part of realising the ministry’s aim of putting into practice the translational research. On the whole, FELDA settlers will receive the E-Cutter machines in stages, to be used for harvesting and pruning of oil palm fronds.

Datuk Seri Idris said that UPM’s innovation of the E-Cutter could solve problems and facilitate plantation work especially in the oil palm industry.

“This innovation could be rendered to benefit the people,” he said in his speech at the event.

Also present at the event were Deputy Ministers of Higher Education, Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching, Deputy Ministers of  Education, Datuk P. Kamalanathan; UPM Vice Chancellor, Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris and FELDA Deputy Director (Community Development), Anuar Malek.

UPM’s Faculty of Engineering researcher, Prof. Ir. Dr. Norhisam Misron and MPOB Research Officer, Abdul Razak Jelani had put in five long years of research into the construction of the E-Cutter.

“Reduced vibrations and the ability to harvest trees up to 30 meters tall are important factors in exploring new dimensions of technological harvesting in the future,” said Prof. Ir. Dr. Norhisam.

 

The Ministry of Higher Education has announced 2017 as a year dedicated to translational research congruently ensuring researchers are able to come up with solutions that can address both national and international issues.  This programme is also part of the ministry’s initiative to consolidate the country’s oil palm industries - UPM

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