USM WINS GOLD MEDAL AT NAFEC 2026 THROUGH SMART SOLDRY HOME INNOVATION

PENANG, May 15 - The Smart SolDry Home project developed by researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus achieved a major milestone after winning the Gold Medal and Special Innovation Award at the National Agricultural and Food Engineering Convention (NAFEC) 2026.

The recognition was earned through the innovation of a closed and controlled cowhide drying system integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology during the competition held in Seremban on May 12.

Project leader, Ir. Ts. Dr. Muhammad Hafiz Hassan from the School of Mechanical Engineering, USM, said the system was developed to replace conventional drying methods that require a long processing time and are exposed to environmental contamination.

According to him, Smart SolDry Home successfully shortens the drying period for cowhide from approximately three months to about one month through a cleaner, more systematic and controlled process.

“Through this system, the drying process is conducted in a closed environment and monitored using IoT technology to ensure temperature, humidity and cowhide weight changes can be recorded more systematically,” he said.

Dr. Hafiz added that the technology also helps operators determine the optimum drying stage when the cowhide weight is reduced by about 60 per cent from its original weight, instead of relying solely on manual observation.

“In addition, the innovation not only improves product quality consistency, but also supports halal certification efforts as the entire drying process is cleaner and offers better traceability records,” he added.

He said the project’s success at NAFEC 2026 was driven by Smart SolDry Home’s ability to solve real industry challenges, particularly in terms of drying duration, process hygiene and quality control of frozen cowhide products.

“This project also has strong commercial potential as cowhide products can be positioned as high-value collagen-based food products for the halal market,” he said.

According to Dr. Muhammad Hafiz, the research team is now focusing on strengthening the production chain and developing halal documentation to enable frozen cowhide products to be marketed more widely, including in supermarkets and export markets.

The project was developed over approximately one year beginning in 2023 before becoming operational in July 2024 through collaboration between USM, Azkar Resources, and Azmi Ijok Farm.

Apart from Dr. Muhammad Hafiz, the project also involved Ir. Dr. Abdul Haadi Abdul Manap, also from the School of Mechanical Engineering, who focused on the development of the IoT system and data monitoring, while Azkar Resources played a role in the development of frozen cowhide products and the coordination of downstream processing operations with the community and industry partners involved.

Text by: Muhammad Hakimi Md Saad and Nurul Ismahani Rizuan (Industrial Training Students)
Photo: Courtesy of Ir. Ts. Dr. Muhammad Hafiz Hassan / Unit Komunikasi Korporat Kementerian Perladangan dan Komoditi KPK
Edited by: Siti Faizah Abd Halim