Bandung: The Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Garuda Metalindo on Friday, March 8, 2024. The agreement was signed by Dr. Ir. Hermawan Judawisastra, Vice Dean for Resources at FTMD ITB, and Mr. Erwin Wijaya, President Director and Owner of PT Garuda Metalindo. 

This MoU marks the beginning of a collaboration aimed at leveraging both parties’ potential and expertise. The scope of this cooperation includes researching and developing products, technology, and knowledge at PT Garuda Metalindo.     

Founded in 1966 as a small home workshop, Bengkel Garuda, PT Garuda Metalindo Tbk (BOLT) initially focused on producing parts for rickshaws. In 1982, the company became part of the Garuda Metalindo Group and started producing fasteners, nuts, and bolts for motorcycle and automobile assembly.  

PT Garuda Metalindo, a pioneer in the production of high-quality fasteners and components, has evolved over 35 years from a humble workshop to a leading manufacturer. It caters to the needs of major two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicle producers, and supplies automotive components to large companies in both the domestic and international automotive industries.  

This collaboration is motivated by several mutually beneficial reasons. First, the synergy between industry and academia can develop superior human resources and technology. Additionally, the company recognizes that while machines can operate optimally, production can only run efficiently with the role of quality individuals. Therefore, the main goal of this collaboration is non-regular education in the form of training. PT Garuda Metalindo also aims to provide FTMD students with opportunities for internships, practical work, and final projects to enhance the knowledge gained from their studies.  

Following the MoU signing, discussions on research and collaboration between the two institutions continued. The discussions included a training proposal to identify the needs required to support the company’s technology development. 

The proposed training in this collaboration will be structured into four main stages. The first stage will delve into material techniques and selection for fasteners and automotive and aircraft components. The second stage will focus on fastener design and numerical modeling. The third stage will highlight sheet metal forming and heat treatment techniques. Finally, the fourth stage will address coating techniques for structures and materials.  

This training represents a type of non-regular education with a curriculum tailored to the industry’s needs and the trainees’ backgrounds. It ensures that participants acquire relevant knowledge and skills that can be directly applied in an industrial environment.  

This partnership is expected to create synergy between academic knowledge and industrial needs, ultimately contributing to developing technology and human resources in Indonesia.