In the meantime, IRPC has also supported Sirindhorn Hospital in Khon Kaen Province to implement the Carpenter Project: The 3D Printed Hand Prosthesis for Carpenters and Others, is a training program to transfer 3D printing technology skills for the production of prosthetic hand and fingers to public health personnel involved in care for disabled persons. IRPC also donated 10 3D printers to hospitals and education institutions in Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Phitsanulok, Petchabun and Uttaradit provinces, with disabled persons who work as carpenters at Carpenters Cooperative in Ban Kluai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Sukhothai Province as case study in the skill training project held on August 29-31, 2022 at Ban Mor Resort, Sukhothai, with 36 participants who produced prosthetic fingers for 12 disabled carpenters and prosthetic hands for 8 others. Project to produce orthotics from recycled plastics At present, Polypropylene is one of the main raw materials used in the production of prosthetic legs for amputees as well as other prosthetic components for persons with disabilities and patients. The production process of prosthetics generates a lot of plastic waste, creating problems for prosthetic production workshops which are required to properly dispose of such waste or recycle them. This poses a daunting challenge as such plastic waste materials tend to be chunky and hard, making it difficult to find junk buyers who will take them. Recycling such waste is also complicated. Such wastage and environmental problems need to be addressed. To solve the problems, IRPC took the initiative to create a project to produce orthotics from recycled plastics in collaboration with Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Institute, Department of Medicine, Eastern Polypack Co., Ltd. (an IRPC customer) and other network partners, to pursue the following objectives: 1. To reduce the huge quantity of waste materials that would otherwise be disposed of. 2. To alleviate the problem of plastic waste which could adversely affect the community and the environment. 3. To create social products taking advantage of IRPC’s quality products, innovation, and knowhow. 4. To help improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and patients who would not otherwise be able to afford costly prosthetics. In 2022, IRPC took delivery of PP plastic scraps from the prosthetic production process from its network partners, namely Sirindhorn Institute, Sirindhorn School of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Prostheses Foundation and Veterans Hospital, for recycling. The recycled plastic pellets were sent to Eastern Polypack Co., Ltd. for the production of 3 mm thick plastic sheets and donated them to Sirindhorn Institute for usability testing as raw materials to test the production of Ankle, Foot Orthosis (AFO), or braces for ankle/foot for people with disability or patients with abnormal foot structure, foot deformity, muscle weakness of the lower leg, stroke patients, patients with congenital cerebral palsy, etc. In addition, IRPC also delivered recycled PP sheets to the Prostheses Foundation to test production of orthotics for a young patient who has congenital deformity in the left foot. According to testing results, the orthotics produced from recycled plastic are functioning and effective. The Prostheses Foundation also experimented with the recycled PP sheets producing artificial limb for a dog whose leg has been amputated. The dog was sent to the foundation from the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chiang Mai University. Thanks to the artificial limb, the dog was able to walk again. LamSai YongModel Project/IRPCSmart Farming Lam Sai Yong Model Project was established in mid-2014 in Lam Sai Yong Subdistrict, Nang Rong District, Buri Ram Province, with the objective to apply water resource management knowledge to provide solutions for droughtstricken communities. Under the project, water storage areas were developed and effectively managed to increase water supply for irrigation during the dry season. IRPC has since introduced the Lam Sai Yong Model water resource management project to other areas, such as Ubon Ratchathani, Uttaradit, Sisaket, and Udon Thani provinces. IRPC learned that water shortage is a huge and complex problem that cannot be resolved by piecemeal measures. The company then relaunch the Lam Sai Yong Model with a new integrated management approach, encompassing the Water-Food-Energy Nexus, to bring about positive change and mitigate impact of the seasonal water shortages that tend to have knock-on effects on other aspects of the company’s business directly and indirectly. In 2021, IRPC launched IRPC Smart Farming, developed and expanded from the Lam Sai Yong Model Project by applying appropriate agricultural technology in combination with innovations in an area of 35 rai at the Center for the Development of Persons with Disabilities, Udon Thani Diocese, designated as IRPC Smart Farming project in 142 56-1 One Report 2022 IRPC PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED
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