Malaysian Updates: FRIM offers world class chemical-free wood treatment (20 Jun 2013)

FRIM offers world class chemical-free wood treatment

20 June 2013 (Thursday)- Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has successfully developed and patented a world class green technology for treating rubber wood using high temperature drying (HTD), which eliminates the use of chemicals, enhances the timber stability and reduces the processing time.

From left: Rahim, Accad, Abd Latif, Lee, Sik and Choo posing for picture at the HTD treatment plant during the media visit.

The HTD technology is the solution to the concerns of the country’s rubber furniture manufacturers and timber trade industry over the increasingly stringent requirements for environmentally-friendly products imposed by various developed countries.

FRIM has obtained the patent for the HTD technology from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in March 2013 and it has also filed for patent in Malaysia and six other countries, namely Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China and India.

The FRIM DG speaking to reporters at the ALPS HTD treatment plant.

“This is our contribution to the country’s timber and furniture industry. This technology will ensure that our products are of high quality, chemical-free and safe for use, in compliance with international environmental and safety regulations and standards. It will help to enhance the competitiveness of our rubber wood products; strengthen Malaysia’s dominance as a major supplier; and set the benchmark for quality wood processing,” said FRIM Director General Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod during a media visit to the HTD treatment plant in Telok Gong, Klang.

He said FRIM will also conduct further research on the use of the HTD system on other timber species such as Acacia and oil palm lumbers.

“The HTD system can also be applied for treating other low- to medium-density wood such assesendok, jelutong, yemane and pine species,” he added.

Choo (second from left), Sik (second from right) and research assistants checking some wood samples in FRIM.

The HTD system was developed and refined over the past 10 years by FRIM researchers, Choo Kheng Ten and Dr Sik Huei Shing, who embarked on the project in response to the European Union’s (EU) call for certain types of wood treatment chemicals, particularly borates, to be assigned to the “Repro-toxic Category” under the Dangerous Substance Directive 67/548.

The Institute is working with Advanced Low Pressure System Sdn. Bhd. (ALPS) on the commercialisation of the HTD technology and the company has set up two units of the HTD system in Telok Gong.

Also present during the media visit programme were Sik, Choo, FRIM Intellectual Property and Innovation Management Branch Head Dr Woon Weng Chuen, FRIM Forest Products Division Director Dr Rahim Sudin, FRIM Corporate Management Unit Head Norhayati Nordin, ALPS Chief Executive Officer Andre Accad and ALPS Technical Director Richard Lee.

The quality of the HTD-treated lumber is excellent and has superior dimensional stability.

Rubber wood must be kiln-dried before being converted to furniture and/or its components. This is to ensure the timber remains dimensionally stable before being used in downstream manufacturing.

Over 90% of the drying mills in this region use the conventional steam-heated system at temperature below 80°C, and the wood has to be treated with preservatives such as borates to prevent fungi and pest attacks.

The HTD system not only eliminates the use of the preservatives, the processing cycle time is reduced by more than 75%. In addition, the quality of the HTD-treated lumber is generally good and has better dimensional stability compared to lumber produced by conventional methods.

Rubber wood furniture account for over 80% of Malaysia’s furniture export, and rubber wood constitutes nearly half of all timber used in the manufacturing of furniture in Asia.

For more information: http://www.frim.gov.my/?p=10117