Cocowood As Source of Timber in Indonesia
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Cocowood as Source of Timber in Indonesia By Peter R Biwer The Coconut Palm As A Timber Resource On the Indonesian islands palms provide a vast number of products both for subsistence as well as cash income, the latter mainly as copra. The products derive from the coconut palm tree are: copra, oil and butter from the nut, coconut milk for drinking and cooking, and the leafy heart as vegetable, coco-based beverages, charcoal, ropes, sacks, mats, baskets, roofing material, brooms, fuel, timber and others. this fact, in 1990, the Indonesian For this reason, the coconut Replanting programmes were Agency for the Assessment and palm is commonly known in developed and the question of Application of Technology (BPPT) Indonesia as the "tree of life". economic and ecological disposal in cooperation with the GTZ Since the end of the 19th century of old palms arose. The disposal (German Technical Cooperation) huge plantations for copra of semlc palms is necessary' in order carried out a study on "Utilization production were established all to make room for new plantations. of Cocowood". The results of this over Indonesia. The varieties Due to the rhinoceros beetle, study, which was supported by the planted were the "Tall Varieties" which starts to breed in the Indonesian Minister of Science and which reach a height of decaying stems if they were left to Technology, were published in approximately 25 meters and an rot in the plantations, and therefore 1992. age of up to 90 years. Once the the risk of its attack to the young palms reach 60 years, the copra plantations, it is important to The Utilization of Coconut Palm yield declines and the palm trees remove the old palms from the Wood should be replanted. Indonesia is plantation. Fortunately when the ranked first in the world as palms are over 60 years of age, The most significant regards the estimated hcctaragc of or when the copra yield declines , differences between coconut timber "Tall Variety" coconut plantations, enough wood is built up to be of and the commercial types of timber which totals to some 3,560,000 ha. interest to timber producers and are the lack of annual rings, As with many other coconut palm wood processing companies. branches, sapwood of heart wood. plantations throughout the tropics, Also, the density in the cross a high percentage of the palms There is a huge potential for the section and the longitudinal section are overmature or senile. utilization of cocowood as a source of the stem are a significantly of timber in Indonesia. According to difference from other types of COCOINFO INTERNATIONAL . VOL. 4 NO. 1. 1997 19 timber. These differences are Market Opportunities for manufacturing parquet, door biological in origin and depend Coconut Palmwood handles, laminated boards, on the increasing concentration of furniture, and broom handles water in the vascular strands from It is not easy to introduce were mterested m using cocowood the inside to the outer part of the "new" products in the market instead of usual commercial stem. In practical terms this means especially when these products are timbers, trying to find alternatives that one has to take into made out of a "new material". In in their business sector. These few consideration three different the case of coconut palmwood, examples show that there are classifications of bulk density in the the problem is even more undoubtedly interesting and cross section of the trunk. The areas distinctive, since the material sustamed opportunities, not only on of the highest bulk density with requires special considerations the European market, but also for values over 0.72 g/cm3 are found during the various steps of the Asian and Indonesian market. at the outer cylinder of the trunk, processing due to its different For Indonesia aiming to establish the areas with low bulk density properties. The domestic a new development policy goal, this with values under 0.48 g/cm3 are marketing of coconut palmwood would mean undertaking as many found at the centre of the trunk. has only Just got started in possible processing stages as The bulk density has a big influence Indonesia, and in the most parts of possible in the country to achieve on the utilization, as well as on the country coconut palmwood is the highest possible level of net drying and processing conditions. not yet a commercial timber. product m the country. Despite this, During all these processes, Despite this, in the past years the presentation of appropriate classifications have to be made in already three Indonesian samples and constructions made accordance to the "bulk density". companies, specialized in the out of cocowood and an To carry out these classifications manufacturing of cocowood appropriate information system several methods can be used, such furniture, joined international concerning the utilization of as grading by the position of the furniture fairs in Europe. During coconut palmwood would lead to a board within the trunk (visual these fairs the European customers broader establishment of grading), grading by weight, and consumers showed a very cocowood manufacturing grading by deflection and grading positive response to the "new" companies on the local and with technical instruments. cocowood material and the products international market. One support made out of it. to reach this goal is the Cocowood The drying of coconut Research and Utilization Project palmwood can be done most Several European companies based m Padang, West Sumatra. successfully by air-drying the working in the fields of This project which runs under the timber in a sheltered place, followed by kiln drying. The processing of coconut palm wood, such as sawing, planing, drilling, turning, grounding, laminating and sanding is similar to those used in the processing of heavy tropical timber. For the layout and design of the machinery, consideration must be taken since cutting high density timber requires high cutting forces and with a high degree of wear and tear on the knives. Therefore the machinery should be well dimensioned and the knives should be stellite-tipped or better, carbide-tipped. 20 COCOINFO INTERNATIONAL, VOL. 4 NO. 1, 1997 scope of cooperation between the the manufacturing of cocowood palm plantations, and the fact Universitas Bung Hatta - Padang furniture. that cocowood as a raw material, and the Fachochschule Hildesheim which as an agricultural - Germany, supported by DAAD Corollary to this, some 200 by-product is not a part of the (German Academical Exchange Architecture students of the Bung tropical timber discussion, joined Service) aims to disseminate the Hatta University were taught efforts of all concerned actors arc theoretical and practical knowledge theoretical and practical needed to achieve rapid of coconut palmwood utilization. knowledge concerning the development of this timber source. During the first year of this project, utilization possibilities in the field Nevertheless, it is worth all the which started in February 1996, of timber constructions and inside efforts to promote this attractive, several w'ood processing finishings. The teaching of valuable and presently companies, governmental and non cocowood utilization to the future under-utilized raw material.□ governmental organizations have architects shall secure a Peter R. Biwer is a researcher at been visited, informed and propagation and a direct transfer of Cocowood Research & Utilization, instructed in the utilization of their knowledge to present and Universitas Bung Hatta. Padang. coconut palmwood. At present, future building proJects. Keeping in Indonesia. one local company has already mind Indonesia’s leading position shifted its production completely to in the amount of existing coconut (From page 17) Remaining vinegar will serve as manufacture, storage and Throughout history vinegar starter for the next batch of distribution. Iron is easily has been ascribed a medicinal alcoholic coconut water The attached and eventually value. Hippocrates, the ancient procedure is repeated to have a dissolved and may cause Greek physician, known as the semi-continuous process. clouding and browning of father of medicine, is believed vinegar. Zinc may produce an to have prescribed it to his The composition of vinegar undesirable flavor in the product patients. Hippocrates was born depends largely on the nature and in addition, form a around 460 B.C. Nowadays and characteristics of the raw poisonous zinc acetate. Copper vinegar is found to be almost a materials used . A good vinegar and brass should not also be universal preservative and a contains a minimum of 4% used. Care should also be taken cure all. It also can kill acetic acid. that all fermentation containers infections, soothe coughs, ease are either made of plastic or the pain of throats, calm nausea, Coconut water vinegar as stainless steel. relieve varicose veins, ease analyzed by the Food and arthritis, fade headache away, Nutrition Research Institute Uses of vinegar treat burns, soothe aching feet, (Philippines) consists of 98% cool sunburn, reduce itch of moisture, 0.1% fat, 1.4% total Vinegar is a common welts and hives, stop hiccups, carbohydrates, 0.3% ash, 24 condiment in every household. treat bee sting, remover corn mg% calcium, 34 mg% It is used for seasoning meat, and calluses, protects the skin phosphorous; 0.1% mg% iron, fish and vegetables. In the other from ravages of the sun, fade 0.01 mg% riboflavin and traces food field, it is used in the age spots, minimize memory o f protein, thiamine and niacin. manufacture of pickles, catsup, loss,etc. The food energy value is 3 mayonnaise, mustard dressing, calories per gram. sauces and additives in With so many uses from a manufactured foods to enhance waste product, what more could As vinegar is highly their flavor. It contains one ask for9 ,□ ______________ corrosive, containers made from essential amino acids and The author is a staff of the Asian & iron, zinc and some other metals helpful vitamins, minerals and Pacific Coconut Community should be avoided in its enzymes.