Application of Automatic Feeder Technology for the Natural Dyeing Process of Jengkol Skin-Based Written Batik at the Asyafa Batik Center Lampung

Abstract

The handwritten batik industry faces challenges in the efficiency of the production process, especially in natural dyeing which is still done manually. This coloring process often causes color inconsistencies, waste of dye materials, and reduces the productivity of craftsmen. To overcome this problem, this study applies automatic feeder technology in the natural dyeing process of jengkol leather-based written batik at the Asyafa Batik Center, Lampung. This technology is designed to improve production efficiency, maintain color consistency, and reduce dye waste. The method used in this activity is  the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach  which involves batik craftsmen in every stage of technology implementation. The process begins with socialization and training, followed by the application of automatic feeders in the coloring process. The effectiveness evaluation was carried out by measuring parameters such as time efficiency, color consistency using a spectrophotometer, as well as the level of reduction of dye waste. The results show that automatic feeder technology is able to accelerate production time by up to 80%, improve color consistency by reducing coefficient of variation (CV) from 15.3% to 5.8%, and reduce dye waste by up to 35%. The application of this technology not only provides benefits in increasing the productivity and competitiveness of batik products, but also supports the principle of circular economy by using organic waste as a dye.