Awards

    Assoc. prof. Dr. Nirundorn Matan, Lecturer of School of Engineering and Technologies, Walailak University, received two national research awards in category Invention Award for Fiscal year 2022, on a Good Level. The awards were presented by Prof. Dr. Sirirurg Songsivilai, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in celebration of the 23rdThailand Inventor Day 2021-2022 organized by National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) on 2 February 2022 to honor Thai researchers outstandingly and nationally contributing to the field at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangkok.

       The research team was awarded honor certificates and 150,000 THB prize from two wood industry inventions 1) DryWooD: Wood Drying Automatic Control System collaborated by Mr. Korakot Suwannarat, Mr. Taweesin Wongprot, Mr. Thanyawee Rossamai and Mr. Vinich Petchmanee and 2) StressWooD Meter: Apparatus for Accurate Assessment of Internal Stress within Industrial Lumber collaborated by Dr. Prawet Diawwanich, Assist. Prof. Dr. Dr. Sathaporn Chanthavee, Assist. Prof. Dr. Satjapan Leelatanon, Dr. Satjapan Leelatanon, Dr. Sornthep Vannarat, Mr. Taweesin Wongprot and Kulthida Srisuchat, Mr. Ugrit Phawakthanon, Mr. Jaipetch Tomat and Ms. Mallika Rueangsri. 

      Regarding the first study, Assoc. prof. Dr. Nirundorn explained that the automatic wood drying system was devised to facilitate an accurate wood drying process which does not have to completely rely on human maneuver common in the conventional practice. This automatic evolution helps to reduce labor-intensiveness historically inherent to the wood drying process. Assoc. prof. Dr. Nirundorn highlighted the team’s success related to the process starting from theoretical concept building up toward the community and industry’s application of the apparatus. 

     “Every factory is in need of this tool. In our work, we were committed to three steps including seeking knowledge, devising equipment or inventions and supplying it to the community. After quality assessment, the Walailak University coordinated with local wood factories to set the system in motion,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nirundorn. 

     Likewise, the StressWooD Meter, simply used to measure and produce prompt signals before the wood being dried start reaching the point of cracking, was subsequently invented to address the typical issue of wood cracking in the drying process. 

     Assoc. prof Dr. Nirundorn emphasized that the next step is to push boundaries of the study to devise an automatic wood drying system which can self-operate upon being inputted property of each type of woods. He also reiterated tight-knitted teamwork culture as a key to this accomplishment. 

  “All the work ran smoothly because of our cooperation as a team consisting of individuals excelling at different skills. We have a quality team setting out for one single goal.”

   The National Research Award is organized by National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) to honor scholars contributing to academic in four categories covering 12 field of discipline, namely National Outstanding Researcher Award, Research Award, Thesis Award and Innovation Award, amounting to a total of 309 awards. 

News by Nootchanat Sukkaew 
Division of Corporate Communication (DCC)