Producing Banana Trunk Fiber with Multi-fiber Tandem Stripper
The banana plant has always been a source of fiber. Its shoots and leaves are commonly used in producing fiber, but its trunk usually goes to waste as it is difficult to extract fiber from it.
Well not anymore. With the multi-fiber tandem stripper, one could produce per hour about 1,000 kilograms of banana fiber from banana trunk.
Designed and fabricated by Engr. Hospicio Luarca Agustin Jr. of Midsayap, North Cotabato, this machine can also extract fibers from pineapple, ramie, kenaf, and other fibercrop at the same rate. That’s because it is spring-loaded so it can be adjusted according to the softness or hardness of the fiber crop, Agustin said.
Fueled by diesel and powered by 8 horse power, this double-drum fiber stripper followed the single-drum fiber stripper, which was developed also by Agustin in the 1980s. Actually, the single-drum fiber stripper operates the same way the multi-fiber tandem stripper does, but the latter, of course, has a higher output capacity.
The multi-fiber tandem stripper costs P114,000 and can be easily operated by two persons. It was exhibited in the Eco Product International Fair held last March 19-22 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, Manila.
Many visitors got interested in it and Agustin said that his Agustin General Engineering Services (AGES) has received so many inquiries on the tandem stripper. In fact since’ he fabricated it, he has already sold more than 50 units and he has recently sold one more to the Provincial Agriculture Office of Basco, Batanes. He also plans to establish a branch in Quezon City this year to cater for more clients in Luzon.
By Alicia Tangonan Hayundini