THE FABRICATION OF A FOOD CONTAINER FORMING MACHINE FROM BAMBOO CULM SHEATH BY HOT COMPRESSION MOLDING

Abstract

This research aims to design and develop a food container forming machine made from bamboo culm sheath using the hot-pressing method. The developed prototype machine consists of two main operational systems: a pressing system driven by a hydraulic jack to move the mold for material compression and a heating system that uses a heating coil, capable of reaching a maximum temperature of 200°C within 18 minutes. The machine operates at   a maximum power of 706.60 watts. Testing of the bamboo culm sheath food container formation revealed that the optimal forming conditions were at 200°C for 5 minutes, resulting in the highest dryness with an average water evaporation percentage of 24.96%. Additionally, fungal contamination tests indicated extremely low microbial growth levels, as assessed by the water activity (a_w) value, which was within a range unfavorable for fungal development. The formed containers demonstrated excellent heat resistance, with an average moisture content of 6.12%, an average density of 0.19 g/cm³, and an average water absorption percentage of 22.71%. The production rate of bamboo sheath containers using the developed pressing machine averaged 10 pieces per hour, reflecting its efficiency and potential for use in community-level production to enhance the value of natural materials.