Technical Performance Evaluation of the TEP25 Young Coconut Peeling Machine

Abstrak

This study evaluated the technical performance of the TEP25 young coconut peeling machine for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and compared its performance with conventional manual peeling. The evaluation involved six hybrid young coconuts and three respondents, focusing on peeling time, theoretical capacity, operational efficiency, machine rotational speed, product cleanliness, and user perception. The results demonstrated that the TEP25 performed better than the manual peeling method. The machine achieved an average peeling time of 41.67 s fruit?¹ and a theoretical capacity of 86.39 fruits h?¹, whereas manual peeling required 49.60 s fruit?¹ with a theoretical capacity of 72.58 fruits h?¹. Thus, the TEP25 increased peeling capacity by approximately 19% compared with the manual method. The machine achieved an operational efficiency of 91.67%, assuming approximately 5 min of non-productive time during each hour of operation. Its rotational speed decreased from 1479.2 rpm under no-load conditions to approximately 776 rpm under load, indicating the mechanical response of the system during peeling. In terms of product quality, the TEP25 achieved a coconut-water cleanliness score of 5.00/5.00, compared with 3.33/5.00 for manual peeling. Respondents also rated the machine more favorably for comfort, safety, and ease of operation. Overall, the TEP25 demonstrates promising potential to improve peeling productivity, product cleanliness, and workplace safety in MSMEs, although further evaluation using larger sample sizes is recommended.