Client Profile:
The client is a company that covers the entire teak wood value chain in Cambodia, including planting trees on its own plantations, processing solid wood, and manufacturing and selling wood products. The company creates sustainable jobs and brings a product “from Cambodia, for Cambodia, by Cambodians” to the market.
Tasks:
The assignment was to optimise the gluing and drying processes of teak wood for cutting boards at facilities in Phnom Penh and Banlung.
Results:
The central challenges were addressed as effectively as possible within three weeks. A significant breakthrough was the optimisation of the gluing process: instead of using a high-quality but expensive PU adhesive, a more cost-effective white glue with a hardener was identified. This alternative not only offered a qualitative improvement in the feel of the cutting boards but also proved to be both practical and economically viable.
Another success was the conversion of an existing, unused, and poorly designed drying chamber. It now allows for greater planning reliability in wood drying, particularly during the humid summer months. While the chamber’s functionality is now ensured, optimisation of the drying process will take several weeks. Automation should be pursued to enhance wood quality during drying.
