Yield improvement in Rubberwood sawmilling through the saw, dry and rip (SDR) technique

The volume recovery, product quality and process economics of Rubberwood sawmilling using the conventional live sawing process and the saw dry and rip (SDR) process is described. The results showed that the SDR process, together with high temperature drying resulted in higher volume recovery and product quality compared to the conventional live sawing process.     

Drying quality of rubberwood: an industrial perspective

In this study, the kiln drying yield of 30 mm Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) used for the furniture manufacturing industry in South East Asia was evaluated. The results showed that the average yield loss was 10%, and end-checks, splits and warping were the most common drying defects. It was found that sawn timber from older trees (> 21 years) were less prone to drying defects, and the use of stress relieving treatments significantly reduced the incidence of drying defects.     

Particle Size Distribution of Wood Dust in Rubberwood (Hevea Brasiliensis) Furniture Manufacturing

The study evaluated the concentration and particle size distribution of air-borne wood dust in the Rubberwood furniture manufacturing industry. Air quality samples were measured at routing and hand-sanding work stations in furniture factories using the micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) air-quality measuring instrument. It was found that less than 25% of the air-borne wood dust particles at the two work stations were less than 10 μm in size, which in turn did not pose major respiratory health hazards. However, the high wood dust concentrations at the two work stations is a matter of concern, and efforts must be taken to minimize the air-borne wood dust exposure levels workers are subjected to in the Rubberwood furniture manufacturing industry.     

An assessment of Malaysian wooden furniture manufacturers’ readiness to embrace chain of custody (COC) certification

Although Malaysia is a major producer and exporter of wood products in the world, the status of wood products certification in the industry is relatively unknown. Therefore, a study was carried out to assess the status of chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers using a structured questionnaire to interview firms who had participated at the annual Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF). Results collated indicate that the readiness to adopt chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers was low. The lack of price premiums, limited market potential and high cost was cited as the primary reasons deterring furniture manufacturers from adopting chain of custody certification. Furthermore, the use of plantation wood resources, such as Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis), perceived to be certified wood resources, reflects the lack of understanding among the manufacturers. This study shows that an increasing adoption of chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers in Malaysia can be realized in the market organisation, especially with regards to price premiums and market requirements.     

Dust-generation characteristics of hardwoods during sanding processes

A study of the factors that influence dust-generation during the sanding process of Malaysian hardwoods was undertaken. It was found that the amount of wood removed during the sanding process predetermined dust-generation, although the wood density and abrasive grit used also played a role. Consequently, low density wood species produced higher dust-concentration due to its relative ease of sanding, and vice-versa. The results of the study suggest that minimizing dust-generation during the hardwood sanding process could be achieved by ensuring minimal amount of wood removal as well as the use of the coarsest possible abrasive grit in the process.     

Green manufacturing practices among wooden furniture manufacturers in Malaysia

The adoption of green manufacturing practices by the Malaysian wooden furniture industry is limited as is shown by a questionnaire-based survey of wooden furniture manufacturers. The lack of price premium for green furniture products and the high cost involved in adopting such practices have been identified as the major restraints. Currently most green manufacturing practices are related to the use of environmental-friendly materials.     

Yield studies of rubberwood lumber during rough milling operations

The study evaluated the processing yield of furniture-grade rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) sawn lumber in rough milling operations. It was found that the average rough-milling yield was 69%. Therefore, rubberwood is not a low cost material as widely perceived since its processing yield is low.     

Optimizing the abrasive sanding process of rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis)

The abrasive sanding process is the most labor-intensive operation in the Rubberwood furniture manufacturing industry. Although the machining properties of Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) are well established, information on its abrasive sanding characteristics is sparse. This study was carried out to establish the optimal abrasive sanding regime for Rubberwood. The results suggest that the abrasive sanding process can be optimized when well machine-planed Rubberwood stocks are used. Further, it was found that when the machine surface quality was good, abrasive sanding with a two-level sequence of grit sizes was sufficient to produce an acceptable surface smoothness. The improved surface smoothness also minimized the coating film spread on the wood surface. This finding will serve as a useful benchmark for machine-planing and abrasive sanding processes in the high-volume Rubberwood furniture manufacturing industry.