Student Activity 2019: Company Visit to Martha Tilaar and BASF Cengkareng

In order to promote the growth of industrial activities, technical progress is starting to accelerate. Instruments that can expedite the production process have been employed in the processing of industrial materials. Computational and digital process control have enabled technological advancements in the production process. In order for the industrialized sector to participate and offer the facilities and infrastructure needed to use this knowledge, trained and professional human resources (HR) in their disciplines are also required as a result of technical advancements that promote rapid industrial development. Collaboration between academic institutions and business is required to support this. As one of the institutions that offers education in the field of chemical engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Universitas Indonesia offers every entry-level student the chance to see potential for the growth of chemical industry technology in Indonesia. It is believed that this visit will help incoming chemical engineering students broaden their perspectives and spark their enthusiasm in the advancement of process technology.

Ms. Desiani, Brand Support Officer Martha Tilaar Group, welcomed a group of students and lecturers from an introductory chemical engineering course during her visit to PT Martina Berto Tbk. Representatives of the Martha Tilaar Group and the department of chemical engineering made opening remarks during the occasion. The presentation then continued with information about the Pulogadung factory's production process, which was centered on the production of cosmetic ingredients. There are numerous options, such as joint research projects relating to substitute cosmetic ingredients and the development of new goods, as stated by Research and Development PT Martina Berto Tbk. After the material was presented, Mrs. Martha Tilaar, President of the Martha Tilaar Group, spoke and urged the students to remember Indonesia because it is a country with a wealth of natural resources. She specifically stated that foreign countries constantly seek to control Indonesia's natural resources and that the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Universitas Indonesia should begin to care about culture and the management of resource extraction. Following that, there was instruction on how to utilize cosmetics, as well as tours to factories and museums. The event showed a number of working cosmetic manufacturing units during the factory tour, including extractors, mixers, packing equipment under high pressure for powder materials, and filling equipment for both high and low viscosity fluids.

The second visit took place at the Cengkareng facility of PT BASF Indonesia, which specialized in the production of paint and resin polymers. Representatives of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Universitas Indonesia and the Head Site of PT BASF Indonesia for the Banten-Jakarta Region gave opening remarks at the event. Then, information from PT BASF Indonesia was presented regarding opportunities for real-world employment, the quality standards that PT BASF Indonesia demands, as well as general factory processes.In addition, it provides a simplified overview of the production process and the Process Flow Diagram. Reactors, heat exchangers, boilers, and storage tanks were displayed to students during the factory visit at the PT BASF Indonesia Cengkareng site. Additionally displayed are personal protective equipment for the workplace and PT BASF Indonesia's Cengkareng site fire suppression systems.

The company was eager to communicate with and work with the Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, on both occasions. They both sincerely hope that they will soon have the chance to discuss with the department management about the practical job requirements for chemical engineering students, bioprocess technology, and possible institutional collaboration on educational and research projects.