SLEMAN, YOGYAKARTA – Having completed an engine test bench (ETB) for the Komatsu SAA6D107E-1 common-rail diesel engine, the Heavy Equipment Management and Maintenance Engineering (TPPAB) study programme, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada (DTM SV UGM), has begun preparing the facility for wider use, developing modules, SOPs and a training of trainers programme to be held this semester. The ETB, located at the Industrial Machine Maintenance Laboratory of DTM SV UGM, serves as a student trainer, a platform for further research, and a training facility with the industry partner PT United Tractors Tbk.
Dr. Eng. Ir. Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto Prayitno, S.T., M.Eng., IPM., known as Dr. Ade, Head of the TPPAB programme and leader of the research team, said the ETB was designed from the start to be more than a research tool. He emphasized that the SAA6D107E-1 is the same engine that powers the Komatsu PC200-8 excavator, so students can train directly on technology they will meet at work.
In teaching, the ETB is used as a trainer in the Diesel Engine Practice 1 and Diesel Engine Practice 2 courses (Praktik Mesin Diesel 1 and 2), and it also supports the theory courses Diesel Engines 1 and 2 (Mesin Diesel 1 and 2). Students learn pre-start inspection, engine start-up, reading parameters on the web dashboard, and the effect of a disrupted fuel supply on engine performance. With the fuel flow velocity (FFV) valve set to four openings, low-power symptoms that were previously explained only in theory can now be observed directly and safely. The facility has also been used in Project Based Learning across courses of the Mechanical Engineering Technology programme, in capstone projects, and in TPPAB final-year projects.
In research, Dr. Ade explained that the FFV study is the gateway to in-situ measurement based on Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT). The technology is being developed to make it easier to monitor air bubbles and sludge inside the fuel line in real time, without dismantling components. The work follows the roadmap Advanced Monitoring System for Green Manufacturing Equipment toward an in-situ hydraulic monitoring system in 2027. In addition, exhaust heat from the engine will be studied for recovery with a thermoelectric generator (TEG), continuing the diesel exhaust heat recovery research previously published by the DTM SV UGM team.
He added that one facility creates a multiplier effect: practical teaching material, topics for final-year and capstone projects, scientific publications, international collaboration with Xi’an University of Technology, China, and stronger skills for lecturers and laboratory technicians in common-rail technology and IoT-based monitoring.
On the industry side, the ETB is expected to be used extensively with the industry partner PT United Tractors Tbk for a training of trainers (ToT) programme. The programme aims to align the TPPAB curriculum and training materials with UT School Semarang, so that instructors from both institutions share the same competency standards in maintaining and diagnosing heavy-equipment common-rail engines. The collaboration builds on existing ties, including TPPAB students’ capstone projects at PT United Tractors Tbk Semarang, supported by Mr. Galih Wicaksono.
Dr. Ade hopes the ETB will become a model vocational facility that links learning, research and industry needs, so that TPPAB graduates not only understand the theory but are ready to handle real problems such as low power in heavy equipment.
The activity supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 4 (Quality Education): a common-rail engine trainer for practicals, PBL, capstone and final-year projects in vocational education.
- SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): better fuel efficiency and recovery of exhaust heat with TEG.
- SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): ERT-based in-situ measurement technology for heavy-equipment diagnosis.
- SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): condition-based maintenance to cut fuel waste and emissions.
- SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): partnerships with PT United Tractors Tbk, UT School Semarang and Xi’an University of Technology.
This research is funded by the Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada, through the Research and Publication Grant Program (Program Hibah Riset dan Pembuatan Artikel Publikasi) 2026.