A new method of drying fresh fish has been developed with the help of the new cabinet solar dryer created by Macondray Plastics, Inc. (Macplas), a local firm in Davao City who has been supplying the plastic bag requirements of banana plantations in Davao since the 1990s.

The cabinet solar dryer known as Helichaus was developed by Macplas with the assistance of the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD). Selected housewives in Barangay Masili, Calamba City, Laguna.

The Helichaus was  field-tested in fish drying and its quality of dried products using cabinet solar drying and sun drying, determined  the moisture content if the dried products were subjected to two drying methods. Likewise, sensory evaluation of the dried products was also conducted, as well determination of the production cost.

The results of the research was reported by Vicente de Jesus of Macplas at the “First National Summit on Mechanization in Aquaculture” which was held recently at the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute – Asia Fisheries Academy in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.



In the test conducted, siganid (rabbit fish or danggit), shrimps, tilapia and ayungin were subjected to sun drying and cabinet solar-drying methods. De Jesus noted  “it was observed that the heat from the sun was trapped inside the cabinet solar dryer, thereby increasing its temperature which facilitated the drying process of the fish samples.”

In both drying methods, the temperature readings increased as the weather changed and drying time progressed. However, the Macplas dryer had higher temperature readings than the sun drying method at the same weather condition.

Employing the assistance of the trained students at the Laguna State Polytechnic University in Los Baños, sensory evaluation was done, while at the DOST-Los Baños, chemical analysis was done on the dried products. Results showed that the cabinet solar-dried fish samples had better quality attributes and moisture contents than the sun dried and commercially dried fish species.

The Helichaus also prolongs the keeping storage, safety of the dried fish samples and it reduces the drying period from two to three days to one or one and a half days, depending on the sun’s heat.





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This entry was posted on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 10:48 pm and is filed under Agriculture, Articles, Entrepreneur Philippines, Fishing, Food, Innovation, Philippine Agriculture, Philippine Business, Philippine Business News, Philippine Business Opportunity, Philippines, Renewable Energy, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.



14 Responses to “New solar fish dryer cabinet developed by a Davao firm”

  1. Water Efficiency - The Resource Matrix Part 2 of 4 - Water’s Role in Global Warming | Message: Energy Saving Methods on July 26th, 2009 at 10:49 am

    [...] New solar fish dryer cabinet developed by a Davao firm Philippines … [...]

  2. Recycle Your Plastic Bags Green Tip | Topic Earth on July 26th, 2009 at 10:57 am

    [...] New solar fish dryer cabinet developed by a Davao firm Philippines … [...]

  3. Your Solar Green Shop on July 26th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    It sounds that this method is more reliable, quicker and as good or better quality than the conventional sun drying method under similar conditions.

  4. alfredo pacis on August 8th, 2009 at 4:19 am

    the machine seems very effective. just asking how much is the price of the solar dryer.

  5. alfredo pacis on August 8th, 2009 at 4:21 am

    the solar dryer seems very effective and good. just asking how much its cost.

  6. alfredo pacis on August 8th, 2009 at 4:24 am

    the solar dryer must be very good and effective. how much is the price.

  7. Rex Harold on September 12th, 2009 at 6:51 am

    Let me know the price

  8. Ikenna Nneji on January 24th, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    Sounds good. Mail me the price and other details please.

  9. Alexander T.Mendiola on October 24th, 2010 at 7:46 am

    I am curious of fish drying. As far as i know fish are protien foods. Protien from fish if exposed to extreme heat, Protien will convert to sufuric acid that is not healthy to human this is base on international standard. My question how did u eliminate the sulfur from the dried fish? i would suggest to use dry air drying system using water vapor because protien will not convert to sulfuric acid if water vapor is present.

  10. anastasia udembah on January 28th, 2011 at 5:41 am

    mail me the price and the answer to alexander mendiola”question. it sounds good and i like to know the size.thanks

  11. olive on April 23rd, 2011 at 7:12 am

    very innovative. mail me the price.

  12. Rodel Penaranda on May 14th, 2011 at 4:01 am

    how much does it costs to acquire the technology? Very much interested.

  13. indira dela torre on June 23rd, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    pls email me the price, very much interested

  14. Jorge Calabias on September 15th, 2011 at 8:16 am

    im interested on the helio film that aws used in the cabinet drier, our office delivered convass at your office in manila more than one month ago but until now we could not recieve the canvass back. how could we order the helio film,tnx

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