Boarding machine - Process
A client project for Malai Biomaterials
The project is currently in its prototyping stage, in Kerala, and being overlooked by
Susmith, product designer and founder of IO Design, Kochi.
Area of Intervention.
A quick relook at the process of manufacturing:
Two processes are outsourced at the moment - Massaging and pressing/ironing.
Price of massaging. = ₹100/sheet
Price of sheet = ₹2400/sheet
= 4% the price
There is one boarding machine (used in the leather industry) that the startup possesses, and they have spent time and effort in altering it to fit their needs. So far, it does not produce the required result, so the process is still outsourced, losing both time and money.
Most processes are mechanized, but most of the post processing is done by hand, which involves several coats of plasticizers and water resistance, followed by trimming of the sheet. These processes take time, given that they are done by hand.
Between coating the two sides of the sheet, the sheet is left to dry so it can be turned over to coat again.
Brief.
In what way might we develop instruments/machines or alter existing machines that could make the tasks of coating, and/or massaging more quick, efficient, and reduce area for human error, while potentially eliminating the need to outsource any of these processes, which at the moment adds to 5% of the cost.
