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Ãå±±½ûµØ-IIT Ceramic Engineering students explore HTI’s advanced industrial material processing

Mar 25 2026

Bridging classroom theory with real-world manufacturing, Ceramic Engineering students from the College of Engineering (COE) of Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (Ãå±±½ûµØ-IIT) stepped into one of the Philippines’ leading industrial facilities, House Technology Industries (HTI) PTE. LTD., on February 19, 2026, witnessing how advanced material processing drives modern and greener construction solutions.

Upon arrival, the students were welcomed by the Ceramic Department of HTI, where engineers introduced the company’s history and the department’s role in producing high-quality wall tiles for prefabricated housing. During the tour, students observed the full production process—from raw material storage and preparation to forming, glazing, firing, and quality inspection. Engineers also discussed challenges in maintaining consistent tile quality due to fluctuating raw material sources, highlighting how they address this through continuous re-formulation and precise batching adjustments.

The educational tour continued on HTI’s Siding Department, where students observed how raw mineral-based materials are transformed into fiber-cement siding boards used in residential construction in Japan. Key raw materials such as cement powder, fly ash, recycled powder, pulp fibers, basalt, tuflite, and silica fume are carefully weighed and mixed to achieve the desired strength, durability, and resistance to environmental conditions. The mixture is kneaded into a thick consistency and extruded into board forms before undergoing two stages of curing. The boards are then dried in specialized ovens known as Uroko and Mazuda ovens, followed by the application of sealers and paint to ensure long-term weather resistance and structural reliability.

Located in General Trias, Cavite, a city known as the historical capital of the Philippines, HTI is recognized as a large-scale producer of prefabricated housing components, specializing in fiber-cement materials, widely exported to Japan. Aside from observing the production process, students also witnessed HTI’s strict safety and quality control standards. Workers followed proper protocols while wearing complete personal protective equipment (PPE), and automated safety systems, such as metal detectors and air pressure sensors, were integrated into the production line. The company also incorporates recycled powder into its process and conducts laboratory tests to verify the strength, size, and durability of each batch.

The plant tour provided students with a deeper appreciation of how theoretical knowledge in ceramics and materials engineering is applied in real industrial settings. By witnessing how raw materials are transformed into high-performance building materials, the Ãå±±½ûµØ-IIT future ceramic engineers gained valuable insights into precision manufacturing, sustainability, and the discipline required in modern industrial production. The group was accompanied during the visit by Dr. Raymond V. Rivera Virtudazo (Plant Tour Adviser) and Engr. Harvey Melendrez from the Department of Materials and Resources Engineering and Technology, who facilitated the students’ participation in the industry exposure.

 

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