Search results

Direct energy utilization in nine palm‐kernel oil (PKO) mills located in Southwestern Nigeria was analyzed. The mills were stratified into small, medium and large‐scale categories, based on their modes of operations and production capacities. Evaluation of energy usage was carried out in the seven readily defined unit operations namely: palm‐nut drying, palm‐nut cracking, palm‐kernel roasting, palm‐kernel crushing, PKO expression, PKO sifting and PKO bottling/pumping. PKO extraction rates in the three mill categories were evaluated. The average PKO extraction rate for small, medium and large mills were 48.45 percent, 42.68 percent and 36.24 percent, respectively. The total energy expenditure in small, medium and large‐scale PKO mills were 350.89MJ/tonne, 230.70MJ/tonne and 181.74MJ/tonne, respectively. This suggests that the unit energy requirement for PKO output decreases as mill capacity increases. The four most highly energy‐intensive operations identified were palm‐nut cracking, palm‐kernel roasting, palm‐kernel crushing and PKO expression, altogether accounting for 95.29, 92.14 and 93.65 percent of total energy used in small, medium and large‐scale mills, respectively.

Cold forging operation is one of the widely used techniques in industry production. This paper aims to present a case study in highlighting and modelling the use of different type of palm oil-based [palm stearin (PS), palm kernel oil (PKO) and palm mid olein (PMO)] as a bio-lubricant in cold forging process using experimental and finite element method.

Ring compression test plays a fundamental role in the understanding of materials science and engineering because of the deformation, friction and wear behaviour. Aluminium (A6061) was used in this test to observe the deformation of the ring with different palm oil and its derivatives by comparing with commercial metal forming oil.

The presence of certain type of palm oil-based lubricant has a good performance compared to mineral-based oil in terms of surface roughness but when observed in terms of friction the result shows that palm oil-based lubricant has poor friction performance compared to mineral oil-based lubricant (m = 0.25), where PS has the lowest friction at m = 0.3 compared to PKO (m = 0.35) and PMO (m = 0.38).

This research is using palm oil in cold forging test to study the friction, formation and stress at certain levels of stroke. The detail of the test is explained in the manuscript as attached.

This research is trying to promote the use of biodegradable material to reduce pollution to the surrounding.

The originality of this paper has been checked using Turnitin and the result is 13%.

The purpose of this paper is to assess lubricating performances of selected locally produced vegetable oil‐based lubricants with a view to utilizing them as a possible alternative to petroleum‐based lubricants in metal‐forming processes.

The ring compression testing and twin disks upsetting testing methods were employed.

The results obtained from these two tests showed that the red palm oil performed better than others at room temperature, followed by sheabutter oil, while palm kernel oil performed the least. High‐temperatures compression ring tests gave sheabutter oil lower values of friction coefficients than red palm oil.

Further work should be done on numerous vegetable oil‐based lubricants. Also those that show promising performance could be further investigated with locally available additives.

These are numerous since increase in environmental interest has resulted in a renewed interest in vegetable oil‐based lubricants.

The research work has broken new ground in finding applications for environmentally friendly lubricants in various areas of metal‐forming processes.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices in Malaysian palm oil mills (POMs) by comparing the status of their current achievements and the levels of priority placed on their practices.

A questionnaire survey was used to collect data about 20 sustainable manufacturing practices from 51 POMs located in Malaysia. A five-point Likert scale was considered for recording variations in priorities and current practices with regard to sustainable manufacturing. A Cronbach’s α reliability test and a binomial test were undertaken to assess the internal consistency and the validity of the survey data. Spearman’s ρ correlation analysis was employed to determine the linear correlation between each of the sustainability practices identified. Factor analysis was conducted to reduce the number of sustainable manufacturing practices based on factor loading and to derive a clustering of these factors.

The results showed that employees’ well-being has the highest level in terms of both priority and current achievement. However, for other sustainable manufacturing practices, there was a difference where the current achievement of these practices in the Malaysian POMs was seen to be slightly lower than the priority given to them. Strong correlation of significant value was observed between the minimization of production waste and pollution prevention practices. From factor analysis, 15 practices of high factor loading were grouped into a proactive sustainability strategy and a preventive sustainability strategy.

The study was still relatively exploratory. Future studies could investigate the barriers to the implementation of sustainable manufacturing practices at Malaysian POMs. The sample, which consisted of 51 Malaysian POMs, represented an important sector of the Malaysian economy. Reliance on stated, rather than revealed, preferences may limit the implications of the analysis undertaken for this study, but it does represent a major step forward in understanding the past in what was a highly recommended sector for investigation due to the paucity of extant data. A more broadly based, random sample of POMs from other countries would provide a better understanding of issues related to sustainable manufacturing practices.

The results of this study can be used by practitioners to adjust the sustainable manufacturing practices currently applied and further studies may go on to examine the reasons and implications for discrepancies between priorities and desired sustainability goals in more detail.

The survey conducted about sustainable manufacturing practices amongst Malaysian POMs was focussed on the three dimensions of sustainability, namely, the economic, environmental, and social elements involved.

The purpose of this paper is sixfold: first, to know the ability of area carrying capacity to the development of downstream oil palm industry; second, to know the potential for the development of downstream oil palm industry in efforts to improve the community through employment and business opportunities in the regions; third, to find eco-friendly institutional arrangement strategies of oil palm farming in order to spur economic growth and development; fourth, to formulate strategies for potential environmental impact as a result of institutional arrangement and development of downstream oil palm industry, both in regional and national scope; fifth, to predict the economic multiplier effect as impact of institutional arrangement and development of oil-palm-based downstream industry; and sixth, to include production centers and development areas of oil-palm-based downstream industry in potential areas.

Research location was in potential areas of oil palm plantation development, either in the form of plasma through state-owned enterprises (BUMN) and private-owned enterprises (BUMS), or in the form of self-supporting by community. The research locations were divided into two parts, namely the land area and the coastal area. The land area of Riau consisted of Kampar, Rokan Hulu and Kuantan Singingi Regency, while the coastal area of Riau consisted of Pelalawan, Siak, Bengkalis, Indragiri Hilir, Indragiri Hulu and Rokan Hilir Regency. Both research areas had different productivity which was caused by differences in soil fertility. The required data were primary and secondary data.

Plantation activities have increased the mobility of goods in the villages, causing plantation activities to also open business and employment opportunities for people who are able to accept these opportunities. Since post-1998 crisis, the growth of oil palm plantation area in Riau increased sharply, namely in 1998, the area of oil palm plantations was 901,276 ha, in 2012, 1,119,798 ha and increased to 2,103,175 ha at the end of 2017. Through economic activities that produce goods and services required during the plantation process and the development, downstream industries will have backward linkages. The development of oil palm plantations in Riau has had an impact on economic activities in rural areas. The result of the research in the field is that the average income of farmers in the plantation subsector (especially oil palm) is Rp4,576,696 per month or $5,781.09 per year. The impact on investment in the estate subsector has been felt by rural communities. This condition also affects the purchasing power of the people, resulting in the increase of mobility of goods and people. During the period 2009–2016, rural communities enjoyed a high level of prosperity. During this period, the price of fresh fruit bunch at the farm level was quite profitable. On the other hand, the production of the plantation area also increased compared to the previous period. The impact of rising prices and increasing production of farmers is that the farmers’ welfare index in the countryside had a positive value of 0.43. This index showed the increase of farmers’ welfare from the previous period by 43 percent.

There are few previous studies which have comprehensively and specifically reviewed the regional economic empowerment through institutional arrangement and development of oil-palm-based downstream industry. The development of oil palm plantations aims to eliminate poverty and underdevelopment, especially in rural areas. In addition, it also pays attention to equity. In broad sense, agricultural development which is based on plantations aims to improve the welfare of the community so that there is a change in the pattern of life of the surrounding community. On the other hand, the success of plantation development that is based on oil palm agribusiness is expected to reduce income inequality between community groups and between regions.

Farmers in Colombia have faced economic instability due to a long-lasting armed conflict. An attempt to support the rural community has been through the creation of productive alliances – a strategic association between small-scale producers and anchor companies with the assistance of the private and public sectors. By closely examining the Association of Guarupay Palm Growers (ASOPAY)'s financial cash flows, this study investigates the challenges faced by small-scale agribusinesses in an emerging economy.

This study addresses the situation of ASOPAY, an oil palm productive alliance formed by families displaced by the Colombian armed conflict and relocated in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains. By closely examining ASOPAY's financial flows, the article sheds light on the economic incentives enhancing the cohesion of the small-farmers’ association.

A key finding is the critical role played by institutional efforts focused by promoting policies to enhance producers income. In addition, technological transfers made through technical assistance programs may improve the association's profitability by enhancing agronomic practices, while decreasing palm mortality and disease incidence.

The relatively small sample used in the study might rise concerns regarding the generalization of the outcomes. However, the authors implemented strategies to overcome these limitations by incorporating the inputs from experts on the oil palm supply chain in Colombia and from experts in rural development.

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study analyzing the financial success of small farmers in post-conflict zones.

In the first article in this series, the author dealt with general classification and composition of oils, fats and waxes, and this went on to discuss the properties of drying and non‐drying vegetable oils. In this second part, the properties of animal and fish oils, fats and waxes will be considered.

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of polymeric viscosity improver on the tribological performance of palm kernel methyl ester (PKME).

Tribological performances of the PKME added with the various concentration of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) were evaluated using four-ball tribotester under extreme pressure condition. The morphologies of the worn surfaces were observed by using the optical microscope.

The addition of polymeric viscosity improver (EVA copolymer) has produced positive results towards the tribological properties of PKME. In total, 4 per cent of EVA copolymer is found as the optimum concentration by improving the friction reducing properties and anti-wear behaviour due to the formation of film thickness between two rubbing surfaces.

This work might contribute to the development of vegetable oils as a new source of environmental-friendly lubricant.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the link between trade diversion risk and new Halal market exploration.

This paper analyzes the Halal trade flows for Malaysia’s top 11 halal food/food-related commodities from 1967 to 2018 by relying on co-integration and auto-regression techniques.

This paper determines that the greater the country’s current comparative advantage in an exported good, the higher the risk of export diversion between the Halal and conventional markets. The diversion risk, however, disappears with a lower current comparative advantage.

To take advantage of the fast-emerging Halal market, a country should expand export of commodities with relatively low current comparative advantage but high demand in the target market, along with supportive trade policies to build competitiveness in the long term.

This study fills the gap in the literature by investigating if the theory of comparative advantage can predict the market diversification risk that may arise from the expansion of exports to the Halal market occurring alongside existing exports to the conventional market.

This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between organisational resources, technological innovation, relationship quality and enterprise performance, as well as the mediating effect of firm–supplier RQ.

A survey was conducted of the palm oil processing sector in Malaysia, consisting milling, refining and oleo-chemical companies. Data were gathered and used to statistically test hypotheses that underpinned a proposed conceptual model.

Organisational resources have a direct impact on RQ, which, in turn, has a direct effect on performance indicators such as financial performance, market effectiveness and strategic objectives. RQ is a mediator in some of the resource-performance relationships, which underpins the genesis of the research undertaken. The mediating role played by RQ in promoting business performance in the palm oil processing sectors, is achieved through translating the effects of organisational resources into improved business performance.

The main limitation of this study lies in its cross-sectional nature. A single respondent was drawn from each company, and information from each respondent was obtained only once and at a single point in time.

The results offer some suggestions to top management, e.g. on the type of resources to invest in and exploring vital relational issues that enhance performance outcomes and the impact of different sets of resources on relational dynamics.

Very little is known about the application of resource-based view in the Asian context, or how RQ affects business performance from the East Asian perspective. By confirming the strong impact of RQ on business performance in the Asian context, the study adds value by providing evidence from the East. The study also makes a contextual contribution, by demonstrating the applicability of the observed relationships among palm oil processing companies from a non-Western, collectivist society.