TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two students from the North Sumatra University (USU) successfully won 3 gold medals in the 22^nd Moscow International Inventions and Innovative Technology Salon “Archimedes” held in Moscow, Russia, on March 26-29.

USU’s Wahid Nurhayat and Winelda Mahfud Zaidan Haris under the Team Schneider USU banner managed to outperform participants from more than 50 nations with their brake canvas made out of candlenut.

“From 5 Indonesian delegates, Alhamdulillah (thank God) Team Schneider USU won 3 gold medals,” said Wahid Nurhayat when Tempo reached him on Monday, April 1.

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Wahid recalled the initiation of the team’s participation in the competition, which initially was sparked by a similar-themed competition held by Honda Astra. After participating in that competition, the team was recommended to pitch their proposal and innovation to the Russian competition committee.

The team offered an innovative take on an organic brake canvas made out of candlenut. This innovation was picked because of its role as an environmentally-friendly alternative to the harmful asbestos-based brake canvas.

“We received the best innovation in the field of new materials in the transportation industry. Maybe because this type of brake canvas is minimally researched in the world or Indonesia,” said Wahid who was on his way to Kuala Lumpur in a transit flight home from Russia.

The gold medals were handed by the government of Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Russia. The team plans on continuing to propose the candlenut brake canvas to other international competitions.

IIL ASKAR MONZA (CONTRIBUTOR)