Furniture manufacture is an important sector of the economy in the Jepara region of Indonesia but its value can be increased by improving processing and manufacturing methods for locally grown teak and mahogany timbers.
This research is helping small to medium-sized enterprises develop better processing systems that will improve wood quality, minimise waste and establish appropriate workplace safety practices.
A network of industry champions representing furniture manufacturing enterprises in the region has been created. New manufacturing technologies are being developed to produce novel wood designs and products for international markets. Training materials about work practice safety, wood science for saw millers, preserving wood and reducing waste have also been produced for the Indonesian wood processing industry.
A new technique has been developed for protecting sapwood from insect attack, while simultaneously colour-matching sapwood to heartwood. These more efficient processes will increase the value of the manufactured timber in Indonesia. The colour-matching process will also be applied to the plantation hardwood industry in Queensland.
Building the industry’s capacity in management systems as well as technical processes will provide a solid foundation for producing value-added wood products, including furniture from the plantation resource.
This is a collaborative project between the Queensland Government, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the University of Melbourne (Australia), and the Forest Research and Development Agency, Gadjah Mada University, the Technical College of Wood Technology and Bogor Agricultural University (Indonesia).
Source: http://bit.ly/2nVnJ6E