Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry relentlessly encourages the use of innovation in order for national industries to advance and gain global competitiveness.
This strategic step is in line with the priority programs in the Making Indonesia 4.0 roadmap and corresponding to the country’s great aspiration to be in the top 10 of the world economy in 2030.
As reported, the use of digital technology, having full utilisation of information and communication technology (ICT), is now being applied in the batik production process.
The high demand for batik recently is stretching the capacity of the industry. Producing enough supply to meet the demand has become a problem.
Automating Indonesia Batik Production
Making batik is a long and complicated process because of equipment that is limited in its abilities. Stamped batik production, in particular, is more tedious as it still relies on human labour.
To address the problems that make it difficult for batik artisans to meet increasing market demand, the Centre for Crafts and Batik developed the Automatic Batik Stamp Tool, which is based on Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).
The tool uses an automation method in making batik caps where the canting cap and fabric are alternately driven using a pneumatic-based PLC.
The automated stamp-based batik tool engineering technology is capable of increasing capacity and production efficiency as well as improving the quality of printed batik.
Hopefully, the creation of this tool would help the Small and Medium Industries (IKM) in increasing their production capacity, thereby boosting the competitiveness of IKM Batik.
Other Digital Innovations
Aside from this technological innovation, the Ministry of Industry had also created a variety of other innovations through the five units of research and industrial development centres in Bandung.
These centres are: Central for Material and Technical Goods (B4T), Central for Metal and Machinery (BBLM), Central for Textile (BBT), Central for Ceramics (BBK), and Central for Pulp and Paper (BBPK).
The centres are engaged in creating innovations and research needed by industry and providing technical services to the public.
The centres have produced innovation that includes Battery and Railway Brake Block by B4T; the manufacturing of Dobby Non-Weaving Machines (ATBM), Geotextile, and coir-based fibres by BBT; and track links single and double pin models for tank battle vehicles, which have been patented by BBLM.
An innovation that gained recognition is the Ambon Wood Baristand Industrial Oil Kettle Innovation or Si Telmi Biam.
It is a modification of a wood boiler that improves efficiency, effectiveness and productivity in order to obtain the quality of eucalyptus oil in accordance with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI).
In support of the developing Industry 4.0 in Indonesia, the Industrial Research and Development Agency (BPPI) of the Ministry of Industry continues to strengthen innovations in the manufacturing sector.
They have built three units of Industry 4.0 three mini-showcases so that the public has the opportunity to directly witness the simulations of Industry 4.0 applications.
These are Mocaf 4.0 at the Bogor Agro-Industrial Center (BBIA), Vision 4.0 at the Bandung Metal and Machining Center (BBLM), and Cacao 4.0 at the Indonesian Plantation Industries Center (BBIHP) ) Makassar.
