Processing Coconut Trunk Into Timber

Introduction and Advantages

Researchers from Philippine agency have developed a technology for processing coconut trunk into timber or lumber for building and housing construction.

The process, developed at the Forest Products Research and Development Institute, involves the following steps:

• Felling, skidding, cutting and classifying trunks
• Chemical treatment by diffusion or water-borne preservative
• Sawmillng
• Sorting and grading into hard, soft and medium
• Drying to desired moisture content by air drying, kiln drying, dehumidification, forced-air drying, pole drying, conditioning or reconditioning treatment, or combined air and kiln drying
• Machining and finishing
• Equipment required are dryers, bandsaws and other sawmilling tools,
• An initial investment of USD 2,750 is required for producing 30,000 bdft of coco lumber per month.

For more information, contact:

The Director
Forest Product Research and
Development Institute
College, Los Banos
Laguna 4031, Philippines
Tel: (049) 536-2377; 536-3630
Telefax: (049) 536-3630
Website: www.dost.gov.ph

Source: Global Business Oppertunities, May-June 2002