(28 November 2025) Phuket Rajabhat University held a press conference to launch the “Coconut Waste Value-Adding Machinery Set,” an innovative community-oriented achievement resulting from the collaboration between Phuket Rajabhat University and the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), NSTDA, with support from the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, through the Science, Research and Innovation Promotion and Utilization Division. This initiative exemplifies how engineering and scientific knowledge can be applied to address key local challenges in a tangible and practical way.

At the event, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hiran Prasarnkarn, President of Phuket Rajabhat University, warmly welcomed executives, partner organizations, media representatives, and many attendees at the Kaesad Meeting Room, 4th Floor, Chalermphrakiat Building. He emphasized that this machinery set marks an important step in transforming discarded “aromatic coconut” waste—formerly a major waste problem in Phuket—into new economic value for the community.

A key highlight of the event was the live demonstration of the prototype machinery set, which can process discarded coconut shells and leftover coconuts into strong, functional wood-substitute materials. This innovation opens opportunities for further development into furniture and various decorative products, significantly reducing large amounts of organic waste and promoting a circular economy at the community level.

The research originated from the problem of aromatic coconut waste in Phuket, which reaches up to 3,000 coconuts per day due to tourist consumption. This posed a significant burden on municipalities and local authorities. In response, Mr. Kittisak Jitkuea, a lecturer at Phuket Rajabhat University (PKRU), proposed a collaborative discussion, which ultimately led to the partnership among OPS MHESI – MTEC NSTDA – Phuket Rajabhat University (PKRU) to develop a sustainable solution. The result is a prototype machinery set that transforms aromatic coconut waste into wood-substitute materials through four main processes:

1. Peeling machine
2. Crushing machine
3. Drying machine
4. Molding machine

A noteworthy feature is the use of lignin, a natural adhesive found in coconuts, replacing chemical binders. This makes production cost-effective at only 23 baht per sheet, which can be assembled like a jigsaw puzzle and developed into a side table with a production cost of approximately 780 baht. It can also be further crafted into various types of furniture or wood-substitute materials.

This machinery initiative is not merely waste management—it is the creation of new economic value that communities can truly adopt. It also serves as a model for driving sustainable innovation using local resources in the future.