September 2019


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UWI Engineers Develop Affordable Cocoa Industry Equipment

Among the reasons cited for the decline in cocoa production in Trinidad and Tobago is the significant cost of establishing production facilities such as chocolate factories. In an effort to help producers, the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (DMME) at UWI St Augustine has developed a line of affordable and efficient processing equipment. The equipment was showcased in August at its “Engineering Innovations for the Cocoa Industry” symposium and exhibition.

The event featured a display of nine equipment prototypes and models developed by staff of the DMME for the affordable harvesting, fermenting, pre-processing, processing and finishing of cocoa and cocoa products. A total of 13 prototypes and models were developed under the 2016 Regionally Relevant Cocoa Equipment Project (RRCEP), funded by the European Development Fund (EDF) through Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Education.

The project centred on field research, mechanical design, machine development, fabrication and preliminary testing of prototypes.

The project also inspired a new generation of mechanical, industrial and agricultural engineers to develop machinery for the cocoa industry, with 20 additional machines being developed by students. These exist as proof of the fact that the equipment of the cocoa industry can be developed using local expertise.

For more information on this project, the models and prototypes, please contact Dr Renique Murray, Project Coordinator, at 662-2002 ext. 83173 or renique.murray@sta.uwi.edu.