Evaluation of a portable watermelon juice extracting machine

A small-scale machine for extracting watermelon juice was developed with locally available materials and evaluated to determine its best extracting operating factors. The machine slices a whole watermelon and extracts its juice. This machine operates on the principle of compressive and shearing force which exerts through an auger. Component parts includes feeding hopper, conveyor shaft, auger conveyor housed in a cylindrical chamber, juice sieve, juice collector, seed and pulp outlet, gear and main frame. It was powered by a 1 hp electric motor, coupled to a gear reduction speed to operate at 46.67 rpm. In operation, watermelon fruits introduced via the hopper were squeezed and transferred to the auger conveyor. The auger presses and squeezes the watermelon fruit to extract the juice. The juice extracted is filtered through the juice sieve into juice collector while the seeds and pulp are discharged through another outlet. Performance evaluation was carried out using different sizes of watermelon fruit (2.3 kg, 2.6 kg, 2.8 kg, 3.1 kg and 3.3 kg) to determine juice yield, extraction efficiency and extraction loss. Results revealed maximum juice yield of 86%, extraction efficiency of 92.6% and extraction loss of 18% respectively. The machine has a capacity of 49.04 kg hr-1. The portable watermelon juice extracting machine is simple to operate and maintain, therefore it is recommended for small scale farmers and local fruit juice processors. Keywords: watermelon, juice, extraction, small scale, evaluatio

RELEVANCE OF SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION ON ORGANIZATION& ITS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: WHAT MANAGER’S SHOULD KNOW

The objective of this article is to determine the relevance of sustainable innovation on the business environment in Nigeria. The research focused on the top management to find out about the benefits of innovation to the relevance of the company over the past century. Feedback from a few of their final customers was taken in order to review sales and customer-product loyalty. Then, we conducted a series of multiple regression models using the data we obtained. Overall, it’s interesting to note that the rate of increase in profit due to sustainability rose by 23% and 37% But perhaps most important: Averagely about 50% of businesses have improved on their corporate models due to sustainability in managing opportunities hence the effect of 20% increase above that of the previous and also majority of the respondents believe that the marketing strategies of P and G are very effective. This study will serve as a practical tool to investors and shareholder of organizations as they work towards increasing their worth in their organization. This article delivers valued input in advancing knowledge in expounding relevance of sustainable innovation on the business environment using Procter and Gamble Nig. PLC as a case study, also recognising the measurable impact positively and otherwise of these dimensions of innovative involvements