Bussaraporn Pornpaisansak
Managing Director, Oska Holding Company Limited
Oska Holding Company Limited is a company which produces and sells replacement battery packs for IT and portable electronic devices. With a realization that batteries are widely used in daily life and industries and thus is crucial in propelling advancement of the country, the company provides services on battery assembly and design in response to industry requirements for more than 26 years.
The target market of the company can be divided into 2 groups. The first group encompasses projects with government and private sectors, i.e., battery development for maneuver by Naval Communications and Information Technology Department, batteries for food and document delivery robots, battery for E-motorcycle, E-bike and E-tuk-tuk, as well as batteries for equipment used for security purpose including the technology that has been transferred from National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The second group is for lifestyle and entertainment industry, i.e., batteries used in camera and IT devices.
Bussaraporn Pornpaisansak, Managing Director of Oska Holding Company Limited, said that “Over the past 26 years, the company is cognizant of capability enhancement in battery technology in accordance with an advancement in science for specific purposes, e.g., higher energy density to increase the running duration of equipment, improved durability and life time for cost saving, reduction in charging time to meet customer’s need, improved safety to increase customers’ confident and sustainability in the industry.”
“Holding on to the concept of sustainable development with maximum efficiency and keeping up with technologies, the company was interested in battery pack project of NSTDA. The research project conforms to the concept of sustainable development and promotes products developed in Thailand. The research product possess higher energy efficiency than those of imported ones. Thus, Thai people can use products developed by Thai researchers, as well as promoting the technology for commercial uses.”
When asked how the project increases productivity and innovation of the company, Oska managing director responded that the company has received technology transfer from NSTDA, thus promoting the technology development of Royal Thai Armed Forces. Not only the technology was developed by Thai researchers, but also the products are manufactured by Thai private company for commercialization.
“The company has received technical knowledge for battery pack production from NSTDA researchers who have the highest expertise in battery technology in Thailand. Thus, the company has been upgraded to the international level, thus improving the quality of the products, as well as reducing manufacturing waste. These advantages lead to products with higher standard and safety. After receiving the technology transfer, OSKA has been able to apply various techniques to enhance the product efficiency, productivity and service of the company.”
“The company would like to expand battery research used in defense industry to other security organizations. This effort helps save the budget for international procurement and maintenance cost. The product quality has been developed with more efficiency and lower price than the imported products, as well as achieving higher safety with local and international standards. The company would like to play a role in promoting research developed by Thai researchers to commercialization.”, said Oska director
Regarding the obstacles in promoting industrial application of the research, the director said that “the government lacks necessary policies to turn battery research into commercialization with local private companies. Promoting innovation networks in local battery industry can strengthen technology, energy security, and economy of the country.”
“This problem causes battery research to be specific for some tasks, not for general commercial applications. It is also quite difficult to get technology transfer. In addition, the government has no strategies to drive the battery research into a full-blown commercialization. Even though the research is of high quality, the company still has to make a feasibility study in business. The end users have low awareness of the local technology. Since the technologies from aboard are more perceivable through various communication channels, it turns out that the local technology may not be worthy of investment due to small markets.”
Ms. Pornpaisansak suggested that “the National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC) could act as a center for technology development that meets the needs of various sectors, as well as provide technology transfer to manufacturers. ENTEC needs to convince government and private sectors who have potential to apply the technology. ENTEC could help promote recognition of the technological of companies who have received technology transfer, thus increasing in the likelihood for technology development success. These efforts could help private sectors to expand the markets and run business through the knowhow received.
“The center can create collaboration, either before or during research. Once the research and development has successfully been achieved, ENTEC can reach out to companies who have potentials to license and bring the technology to the market. This effort can benefit all parties involved because all processes can be done promptly, as well as promoting the technology to industrial-scale applications and to a larger group of users.”, concluded Oska managing director, Bussaraporn.