One of the key aims of the College of Engineering and Technology (CoET), University of Dar es Salaam is to develop, broker and adapt, and disseminate technologies that have direct relevance to the Tanzanian community and which will directly impact on the development of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs. Technology developments carried at the College are those in the area of applied research by academic staff and students. These are usually funded by the government or donors and involve development of new products and/or processes based on basic engineering and scientific principles using improving tools and/or processes. This also encompasses the adaptation of existing technology to local conditions and circumstances.
1. Selected on-Going Technology Development Projects
a. Bio-composite Materials: This project involves utilizing of residues from crops such as sisal, coconut, cashew, coffee wood etc to produce materials/products such as ceiling, roofing materials etc.
b. Medical Waste Incinerator: This project is aimed at processing of unwanted hazardous gas and waste materials before disposing them off. The new technology incorporates the use of fluidization technology.
c. Transient Protection Project: The project involves designing and installation of the transient protection system in various building structures, power and communication networks to protect sensitive equipment from failures caused by lightening and switching surges.
d. Portable Stone Crusher: This is portable manually operated crusher being developed with the aim of assisting small-scale stone crushers involved in the production of construction stone aggregates. A prototype has already been developed and is undergoing preliminary tests.
e. Neem Tree Project: This involves developing a small scale plant aimed on production of essential chemicals and organic products from the Neem tree and seeds.
f. Low Cost Housing technology: The project involves utilization of industrial and agriculture/biological waste products for production of low cost building materials and low cost sanitation systems.
2. Available Technologies
Major technologies available at CoET and are ready for transfer include machines for the following: Soap production, food processing, mining and mineral processing, construction, energy and waste water treatment plant.