DOST Testing Facility to Speed Up Auto Industry

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is looking to accelerate the growth of the local automotive industry by helping it to produce high-quality auto parts.

DOST’s Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC) recently launched its Auto-Parts Testing Facility in Bicutan, Taguig as part of the week-long celebration of Metals and Engineering or M&E Week.

The facility will serve as a testing center for local parts manufacturers so that expenses incurred from overseas testing will be minimized. Housed within the facility are more than 30 pieces of equipment performing different testing services for automotive and other metal-related industries, such as hardness measurement of metallic material and rubber, thickness measurement for base metal, simulated crash analysis, tire endurance testing, and accelerated corrosion tests.

“The reason why this project was conceptualized is to address the challenges faced by the automotive industry firms, both assemblers and parts manufacturers, in terms of product improvement” said Engr. Florante Catalan, chief of MIRDC’s physical laboratory section.

According to him, the Philippine automotive industry is relatively small when compared to its ASEAN neighbors in terms of number of players and their production size. Thus, there is a need for government not to hit the brakes on the industry’s growth, but instead accelerate its technological advancement.

Catalan also pointed out that the One ASEAN “policy that is implemented starting this year is one of the major reasons why this project was developed. Local parts manufacturers shall be able to produce products with high quality at a competitive cost against imported automotive parts and components manufacturers from other ASEAN member countries.”

During M&E Week, DOST also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc., Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturers Association of the Philippines, and Mechatronics and Robotics Society of the Philippines as the Department’s newest partners under its MakiBayan initiative.

Short for “Makinarya at Teknolohiya para sa Bayan,” MakiBayan aims to spur the growth of the metalwork and related industries by providing a roadmap outlining R&D thrusts for the industry to achieve more sustained growth and overall development.

For more information about the Auto-Parts Testing Facility, send an email at mirdc.dost.gov.ph or call 838-78-78.

Source: www.dost.gov.ph