Two environmentally friendly Ground Support Equipment products created by ITS and GMF AeroAsia

Jakarta, ITS News – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)in collaboration with PT GMF AeroAsia launched two environmentally friendly Ground Support Equipment products, namely the Electric Vehicle RC Pushback Tug and the Material Handling car. The launch coincided with the GMF AeroAsia Innovation Day event at the PT GMF AeroAsia hangar, Jakarta, Wednesday (1/3).

The Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Anwar Makarim in his remarks said that he fully supports ITS and PT GMF AeroAsia to continue this collaboration. Moreover, this research collaboration is a collaboration with the Kedaireka Matching Fund program, which is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

“I hope that in the future I will continue to be involved in Kedaireka and other Independent Campus Programs, as a concrete manifestation of Innovation without Limitation,” Nadiem said in his welcoming speech which was delivered online.

The Research Team from ITS together with GMF AeroAsia stakeholders

Meanwhile, Deputy Chancellor IV for Research, Cooperation and Alumni ITS Bambang Pramujati ST MScEng PhD in launching the product explained, these two products were created to facilitate the distribution and supply of aircraft parts or components, both in warehouse areas, workshops, hangars, as well as apron area.

The two products, according to Bambang, were made to facilitate distribution activities so that they are more effective and efficient. “Moreover, this product is environmentally friendly, so it is very useful for the aircraft industry,” he said.

The head of the research team for the electric-based Material Handling car, Dr. Bambang Sudarmanta ST MT, explained that so far PT GMF is still using conventional carriers that use fuel oil. Therefore, ITS makes environmentally friendly electric-based Material Handling vehicles that support the Green Environment Ecosystem in the airport area.

Another advantage of this Material Handling car is its easy energy storage system and low maintenance. Namely through the battery modular system as the leading sector in the application of electric-based vehicles in the airport area.

An electric-based material handling car with a real-time monitoring system as an effective and environmentally friendly Ground Support Equipment by ITS researchers

On the same occasion, the head of the Electric Vehicle RC Pushback Tug research team, Nani Kurniati ST MT PhD, explained that the Pushback Tug was made due to the high operational costs consumed by conventional tugs at this time. The Pushback Tug has proven capable of towing large tonnage objects such as airplanes up to 60 tons.

“In the future, we hope to be able to collaborate with other industries that need tools for handling heavy objects,” said the ITS Department of Engineering and Industrial Systems lecturer.

Nani Kurniati (right) as Team Leader of the Electric Vehicle RC Pushback Tug when explaining the details of her innovative product to PT GMF AeroAsia stakeholders at the Product Demo at the GMF AeroAsia Innovation Day event

CEO of GMF AeroAsia, Andi Fahrurrozi expressed his gratitude to ITS. Because with this research collaboration, GMF can be greatly assisted by the research results. “We are also happy because we can provide a forum for academics to continue to conduct research. We are very open to continue with other potential topics,” he confirmed. (ITS PR)