Wood Products

Rubber plantations have existed for hundreds of years in tropical countries. The most important product from the rubber tree was its latex and efforts to improve the tree concentrated upon increasing the latex yield. After the economic life of the rubber tree, which is generally 30 years, the latex yields become extremely low and the planters then fell the rubber trees and plant new ones. This eco-friendly Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) is an excellent timber to use.

Hevea Brasiliensis, the natural rubber tree, native of Brazil, is the most important commercial source of natural rubber and it is grown in about 9 million hectares in the tropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. With over 5,30,000 ha under rubber, India is now the third largest producer of natural rubber in the world. Rubber trees grow to a height of 25 m and generally have straight trunks. At the time of felling, the girth varies between 100 to 110 cm at a height of 125 cm from the ground and gives 0.62 m3 of stump wood and 0.4 m3 of branch wood: normally 180 to 185 trees will be available per hectare.

Rubberwood is a light hardwood. When freshly cut, its color ranges from very pale yellow to white and seasons to a creamy shade with a slight tinge of pink. The presence of growth rings produces attractive patterns along planed longitudinal surfaces. Its texture is moderately coarse but even and its grains are straight to slightly wavy. Rubberwood is easy to work with and is extremely versatile. It is a sustainable timber, which enables us to operate an environmentally friendly business.

Strong research and aggressive marketing have contributed towards making rubberwood one of the most important Southeast Asian export timbers. It remains to be seen whether the increasing plantation area in Southeast Asia will be sufficient to meet the growing demand for rubberwood products