Since its founding in 1986, the chief task of the Agricultural Machinery Development Center (CEDEMA), based in the province of Holguín, has been to conduct research and develop technology for the agricultural industry; for which it has outstanding professionals who constantly provide quality and innovation.
“Offering scientific research and innovation services linked to the development of agricultural and industrial machinery; providing training related to the use of agricultural and industrial equipment; repairing and maintaining automotive transportation; and conducting industrial feasibility studies for investment projects, are just a few of the services currently provided by CEDEMA,” stated the Center’s director, María de las Nieves Riverón.
In recent years CEDEMA has supplied Cuban industry with a series of agricultural and industrial machines and equipment, including the CCA-5000 sugarcane harvester (the result of an ongoing collaborative project with China), mechanical furnace shaft conveyors, sand hammer mills, jaw crushers to produce gravel, and seven ton capacity intermediate-sized vehicles used in the rice harvesting process.
Meanwhile, Riverón added, “We have undertaken projects not only for the agriculture industry, such as the design and manufacture of machines to clear reservoirs and canals, and another to clean sea beds. We are also contributing to expanding fitness parks, and producing a lot of the exercise equipment.”
The center also participates in many national and international events such as IBEROEKA (Ibero-American Science and Technology for Development Program), METANICA (International Convention on Engineering, Metal and Recycling Industries), and the Oscar Lucero Moya International Scientific Conference hosted by the University of Holguín, among others.
With the aim of meeting the Center’s social objectives, CEDEMA is currently making investments and developing new devices - such as the rubber-tread sugarcane harvester used for wet fields and 3.5 ton capacity intermediate-sized vehicles for rice harvesting; as well as equipment and devices for the livestock and sugarcane industries.
Riverón noted that the institution has gradually been acquiring multipurpose laboratory equipment for measuring the structural, hydraulic, and usage parameters of equipment, machines and tools developed by the center, a process supported by the facility’s data collection, storage and processing technologies.
CEDEMA will shortly be celebrating its 30th anniversary; committed to continuing to offer service par excellence, by providing know-how with the goal of making an increasingly larger and better quality contribution to Cuban agriculture and industry.
