Mr. Mai Văn Ngừng, a farmer from Bài Lang village, Chân Mộng commune, Tiêu Sơn district, Đoan Hùng, Phú Thọ, has invented a machine for shaping and splitting coconut strips, which not only reduces labor but also saves materials.
To create this machine, Mr. Ngừng repurposed a 1.4 kW electric motor from his wife’s meat grinder used for making Vietnamese pork sausage, along with some rice husking rollers, transmission gears, and a belt purchased from a local grocery store. With a little mechanical knowledge, he was able to successfully design the coconut strip machine after nearly two years of diligent effort.
During the first test run, the machine had many flaws, producing strips of varying sizes. The blade wore out quickly, and the thickness of the strips was inconsistent. He continued to measure, sketch, and make repairs, and over a year later, the machine was finally perfected.
The most important feature of the machine lies in its four power transmission shafts, along with two rows of belts and a movable blade. “Three motors burned out because of that first version,” Mr. Ngừng shared. He vividly remembers an afternoon after completing the assembly when he turned on the power switch, and the machine began to move slowly. When he fed in the raw coconut strips, the machine started producing perfectly uniform, shiny strips.
“My wife and I were in awe watching the machine run for nearly an hour without any issues; the strips were coming out perfectly, none were left behind like when done by hand, and it was so smooth,” he recalled.
Since acquiring the coconut strip machine, Mr. Ngừng’s family’s labor has been significantly reduced. One machine can do the work of 9-10 people, producing nearly 400 kg of coconut strips in a day. Not only does it split and shape coconut strips, but the machine can also be used to shape rattan, bamboo, and other materials. Upon hearing about this machine, many local coconut mat makers came to see it, and a workshop owner from Quế Lâm (Đoan Hùng) even came to inquire about purchasing it.
Mr. Ngừng also hopes to invent a continuous weaving machine for coconut mats to simplify the process further.
When asked why he doesn’t produce more similar machines for sale, he smiled and said, “I created this machine because the process of shaping strips for my family was too labor-intensive. I have no desire to do business; whoever comes to learn how to make the machine, I will gladly teach them.”
