As a country blessed with lush tropical forests, it is a given that there would be quite a number of furniture manufacturing companies. Despite popularity of foreign furniture brands, it is worth noting still that furniture manufactured locally are comparable, if not superior, to foreign manufacturers, and here is the list of local furniture manufacturers to get them.
A - F
A M-Office Group Industries Sdn Bhd
Avontech Furniture Industries Sdn Bhd
Blue Power Office System Sdn Bhd
Bm Furniture Industries Sdn Bhd
Boston Office Furniture Sdn Bhd
Ching Kwang Furniture Manufacturer Sdn Bhd
Coco Industry Sdn Bhd
Comfort Furniture Sdn Bhd
Dps Industries Sdn Bhd
Dl Sofa Sdn Bhd
En Son Chair Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd
Euro Chairs Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd
Euro Dome Sdn Bhd
Fair Production Sdn Bhd
Fella Design Sdn Bhd
Feng Yuan Industries Sdn Bhd
G - L
Gatherwood Industries (M) Sdn Bhd
Golden Tech Furniture Industries Sdn Bhd
Heavenpac Sdn Bhd
Hin Lim Furniture Manufacturer Sdn Bhd
Hing Tai (Twenty Twenty) Sdn Bhd
Homely Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
Ib Sofa Sdn Bhd
Inspiwood Furniture Sdn Bhd
Inter Multi Furniture Sdn Bhd
Jb Wood Industries Sdn Bhd
Jonfong Wood Products Sdn Bhd
Kaadee Furniture & Renovation Works Sdn Bhd
Kien Lip Furniture Trading
Kin Heng Timber Industries Sdn Bhd
Latitude Tree Furniture Sdn Bhd
Luan Huat Industries Sdn Bhd
M - S
Mau Sin Bentwood Industry Sdn Bhd
Mawood Industries Sdn Bhd
My Home Furniture Sdn Bhd
Nada Impian Sdn Bhd
Natwood Industries Sdn Bhd
Oasis Furniture Industries Sdn Bhd
Partner Furniture Sdn Bhd
Pelly Furniture Trading Sdn Bhd
Perabut Chip Hong Sdn Bhd
Redstar Furniture Industries Sdn Bhd
Regajaya Furniture Sdn Bhd
Safari Chairs System Sdn Bhd
Sang Fatt Seng Furniture Sdn Bhd
Sen Lih Furniture & Decoration Sdn Bhd
Seng Yip Furniture Sdn Bhd
T - Z
T.K. Take Furniture Industries (M) Sdn Bhd
Tai Kim Furniture Sdn Bhd
Tch Metal Furniture (M) Sdn Bhd
T-Home Furniture Industry Sdn Bhd
U-Panel Industry Sdn Bhd
U-Trend Industry Sdn Bhd
Vey Trading Co
Virtual Couch Industries Sdn Bhd
Wasaniaga Sdn Bhd
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Comparison of wood types, engineered or solid, for furniture crafting
Wood is one of the oldest materials used for constructing just about anything, including furniture. Despite availability of other materials like metals, plastics and artificial composites like carbon fiber, wooden furniture still enjoy a high demand.
However, due to technological advancement and needs like lower cost and more efficient use of materials, wooden furniture nowadays are hardly crafted with solid wood only. Engineered wood emerged from the past several hundred years due to aforementioned need and have currently displaced solid wood as mainstream furniture-manufacturing wood materials.
There are more than a dozen types of engineered wood for different purposes, with plywood and fiberboards being most used for furniture-manufacturing. Here is the comparison between solid wood, plywood and fiberboard.
Solid wood
This is the type used for furniture construction for centuries. Cut directly from lumber without further artificial treatments, furniture of solid wood is touted for its natural beauty, and having durability proven for centuries of crafting and use, is touted to be the most durable compared to furniture crafted from engineered wood and can easily last centuries. Repairs if needed can also be easily done.
However, due to worldwide shortages, solid wood-only furniture has become very expensive. Due to inherent high density, solid furniture is also typical heavier than those crafted from engineered wood of the same size. Due to its premium status, it is recommended for buyers to watch out for the term ‘solid wood’ used in advertising of furniture, as it might turn out to be nothing more than play-of-words.
Plywood
Plywood is a type of engineered wood panel created by gluing several thinner boards of wood to create a thicker board. With the boards being arranged in such a way that the grains runs against each other, called cross-graining, the end result is a material with great resistance against expansion, shrinkage, warping, twisting and breaking, as well as heightened overall strength and stability across all dimensions.
Characteristics depend on the type of wood panels used in manufacturing, but plywood furniture is overall considered as very strong and very stable. Due to being less expensive compared to solid wood furniture in general, plywood is the mainstream wooden material used for furniture-manufacturing, where price is not too much of a priority. Due to plywood furniture being made less than 200 years ago, long term durability is still being debated.
Fiberboards
They are created as cheaper alternatives to solid wood and plywood, where cost is a greater concern than strength and durability. Fiberboards are created using wood fibers, chips, shavings and even dust, compressed and bonded with adhesives into boards. There are three subtypes of fiberboards – particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard or high-density fiberboard (HDF), differentiated by density.
Characteristics vary greatly according to density, but fiberboard furniture are generally considered inferior alternatives to solid wood and plywood, as with the exception of hardboard, they are known to have poor screw and nail retention, as well as poor resistance against the elements and tendency to split and crack.
However, due to technological advancement and needs like lower cost and more efficient use of materials, wooden furniture nowadays are hardly crafted with solid wood only. Engineered wood emerged from the past several hundred years due to aforementioned need and have currently displaced solid wood as mainstream furniture-manufacturing wood materials.
There are more than a dozen types of engineered wood for different purposes, with plywood and fiberboards being most used for furniture-manufacturing. Here is the comparison between solid wood, plywood and fiberboard.
Solid wood
This is the type used for furniture construction for centuries. Cut directly from lumber without further artificial treatments, furniture of solid wood is touted for its natural beauty, and having durability proven for centuries of crafting and use, is touted to be the most durable compared to furniture crafted from engineered wood and can easily last centuries. Repairs if needed can also be easily done.
However, due to worldwide shortages, solid wood-only furniture has become very expensive. Due to inherent high density, solid furniture is also typical heavier than those crafted from engineered wood of the same size. Due to its premium status, it is recommended for buyers to watch out for the term ‘solid wood’ used in advertising of furniture, as it might turn out to be nothing more than play-of-words.
Plywood
Plywood is a type of engineered wood panel created by gluing several thinner boards of wood to create a thicker board. With the boards being arranged in such a way that the grains runs against each other, called cross-graining, the end result is a material with great resistance against expansion, shrinkage, warping, twisting and breaking, as well as heightened overall strength and stability across all dimensions.
Characteristics depend on the type of wood panels used in manufacturing, but plywood furniture is overall considered as very strong and very stable. Due to being less expensive compared to solid wood furniture in general, plywood is the mainstream wooden material used for furniture-manufacturing, where price is not too much of a priority. Due to plywood furniture being made less than 200 years ago, long term durability is still being debated.
Fiberboards
They are created as cheaper alternatives to solid wood and plywood, where cost is a greater concern than strength and durability. Fiberboards are created using wood fibers, chips, shavings and even dust, compressed and bonded with adhesives into boards. There are three subtypes of fiberboards – particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard or high-density fiberboard (HDF), differentiated by density.
Characteristics vary greatly according to density, but fiberboard furniture are generally considered inferior alternatives to solid wood and plywood, as with the exception of hardboard, they are known to have poor screw and nail retention, as well as poor resistance against the elements and tendency to split and crack.
Johor - The State in Malaysia best known for furniture manufacturing
Due to renown of foreign furniture manufacturers right here in Malaysia, most people would find it startling that the furniture industry in Malaysia is highly export-oriented. More than 90% of its production exported to, as of 2011, more than 180 countries, with the United States of America (USA) being the largest importer of Malaysian-made furniture. Other prominent importers of Malaysian furniture include Japan, Australia, Singapore, United Kingdom (UK), Canada, India, Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Sitting at the center of this highly export-oriented industry, which made Malaysia the 8th largest exporter of furniture in the world, is Johor – one of the most developed and industrious states in Malaysia. Being one of the largest manufacturer and exporter of furniture in Malaysia, it goes without saying that it is impossible to talk in length about furniture manufacturing in Malaysia without including Johor.
Anyone involved with the furniture industry in Malaysia at any level, be it locals or foreigners, would definitely know of the southernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia, and Muar Town, the second largest city in Johor after Johor Bahru and the internationally known furniture manufacturing industry hub in Malaysia. As of 2011, total export of furniture was worth RM7.67 billion, with Johor contributing RM4.2 billion or 54.76 per cent.
The significance of furniture manufacturing industry to the state is fully reflected in Johor’s furniture manufacturer association. While these associations are present in all states of Malaysia, Johor is the only state in Malaysia with a furniture manufacturing association consisting of five district associations. The ‘Federation of Johore Furniture Manufacturers and Traders Association (JFA)’ consists of: -
1. Johore Bahru Furniture Industry Council
2. Kluang Furniture Association
3. Batu Pahat Furniture Association
4. Segamat Furniture Association
5. Muar Furniture Association
The association currently has approximately 700 members in its ranks, out of around 2,000 throughout the country. The most prominent of the five listed, Muar Furniture Association, stated that it contributed RM3.6 billion out of RM8 billion of total furniture export in Malaysia in year 2012. Being the furniture manufacturing hub, its 700 factories also accounted for 45 to 50 percent of Malaysia’s furniture export.
Despite hurdles like economic downturn and increasingly strong competition from other countries like China and Vietnam, the furniture manufacturing industry in Malaysia continues to stay strong, by holding steadfast to principle of manufacturing premium quality and durable furniture, as well as acquiring strong government backing in the form of tax exemptions and allowances. Johor as a whole, and especially Muar Town, will continue to play a role in sustaining the furniture manufacturing industry.
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| Statistics courtesy of Malaysian Furniture Promotion Council (MFPC) |
Sitting at the center of this highly export-oriented industry, which made Malaysia the 8th largest exporter of furniture in the world, is Johor – one of the most developed and industrious states in Malaysia. Being one of the largest manufacturer and exporter of furniture in Malaysia, it goes without saying that it is impossible to talk in length about furniture manufacturing in Malaysia without including Johor.
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| The reason behind 79.4% shown in the statistics figure above |
Anyone involved with the furniture industry in Malaysia at any level, be it locals or foreigners, would definitely know of the southernmost state of Peninsular Malaysia, and Muar Town, the second largest city in Johor after Johor Bahru and the internationally known furniture manufacturing industry hub in Malaysia. As of 2011, total export of furniture was worth RM7.67 billion, with Johor contributing RM4.2 billion or 54.76 per cent.
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| Peninsular Malaysia, and state of Johor in red |
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| The city that is the furniture hub of Malaysia |
The significance of furniture manufacturing industry to the state is fully reflected in Johor’s furniture manufacturer association. While these associations are present in all states of Malaysia, Johor is the only state in Malaysia with a furniture manufacturing association consisting of five district associations. The ‘Federation of Johore Furniture Manufacturers and Traders Association (JFA)’ consists of: -
1. Johore Bahru Furniture Industry Council
2. Kluang Furniture Association
3. Batu Pahat Furniture Association
4. Segamat Furniture Association
5. Muar Furniture Association
The association currently has approximately 700 members in its ranks, out of around 2,000 throughout the country. The most prominent of the five listed, Muar Furniture Association, stated that it contributed RM3.6 billion out of RM8 billion of total furniture export in Malaysia in year 2012. Being the furniture manufacturing hub, its 700 factories also accounted for 45 to 50 percent of Malaysia’s furniture export.
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| Headquarters of Muar Furniture Association, the most prominent of the five |
Despite hurdles like economic downturn and increasingly strong competition from other countries like China and Vietnam, the furniture manufacturing industry in Malaysia continues to stay strong, by holding steadfast to principle of manufacturing premium quality and durable furniture, as well as acquiring strong government backing in the form of tax exemptions and allowances. Johor as a whole, and especially Muar Town, will continue to play a role in sustaining the furniture manufacturing industry.
Wooden furniture vs. Metal furniture
Wood has been the mainstay furniture material for millennia due to abundance and cost-effectiveness. However, technological advancement had enabled more materials to be commonly used for manufacturing of a lot of things, including furniture. The foremost competitor of wooden furniture would be metal furniture, typically made from either steel or aluminium, and here are some factors to consider before taking sides.
Cost
No one can deny that cheap metal furniture, steel or aluminium, are near non-existent, but in the case of wooden furniture, solid wood and particle board can mean that a single piece of furniture can worth less than RM100 or more than RM1000. With that said, prices of higher end wooden furniture can easily rival that of metal ones, and if cost is a problem, metal furniture is out of the question.
If you are into antiques or interesting in making your furniture antiques or passing them down as heirlooms, note that antique furniture are almost exclusively made of wood.
Lifecycle
One cannot talk about lifecycle without touching recyclability, and but metal ones are easier to recycle. Durability-wise, furniture made from whichever type of materials can be durable or flimsy depends on factors like quality of make and material use, and despite popular perception, higher end wooden furniture, with fair amount of solid wood thrown in, or used higher grades of plywood or fiberboards, have fair chances of outlasting metal ones.
Wooden furniture, at least higher end ones, boost an advantage of typically being more repairable, whereas metal ones would usually go to the trash when they are broken.
Feel
Wood furniture, unless finished in such a way to look neutral and professional ala office furniture, generally project warmth and gives a more natural feel to the place. Metal furniture on the other hand, generally project coolness and gives a more modern, even futuristic look unless worked extensively to look organic.
As with art in general, preference is subjective and none is universally acclaimed to be better than the other. Here it all comes to what kind of feel you want for your place.
Health
It’d be puzzling to many why health is a concern in this case, but anyone with knowledge in modern furniture manufacturing that glues, paints, varnishes and adhesives used in the process may contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) like formaldehyde, which can cause a variety of health problems like asthma, headaches, sore throats and even chronic organ damages.
Both metal and wooden furniture have fair chances of containing harmful VOCs, the cheaper they are, the more toxic they likely are. Wood or metal, always be sure to check for any labels regarding toxicity before purchase.
No one can deny that cheap metal furniture, steel or aluminium, are near non-existent, but in the case of wooden furniture, solid wood and particle board can mean that a single piece of furniture can worth less than RM100 or more than RM1000. With that said, prices of higher end wooden furniture can easily rival that of metal ones, and if cost is a problem, metal furniture is out of the question.
If you are into antiques or interesting in making your furniture antiques or passing them down as heirlooms, note that antique furniture are almost exclusively made of wood.
Lifecycle
One cannot talk about lifecycle without touching recyclability, and but metal ones are easier to recycle. Durability-wise, furniture made from whichever type of materials can be durable or flimsy depends on factors like quality of make and material use, and despite popular perception, higher end wooden furniture, with fair amount of solid wood thrown in, or used higher grades of plywood or fiberboards, have fair chances of outlasting metal ones.
Wooden furniture, at least higher end ones, boost an advantage of typically being more repairable, whereas metal ones would usually go to the trash when they are broken.
Feel
Wood furniture, unless finished in such a way to look neutral and professional ala office furniture, generally project warmth and gives a more natural feel to the place. Metal furniture on the other hand, generally project coolness and gives a more modern, even futuristic look unless worked extensively to look organic.
As with art in general, preference is subjective and none is universally acclaimed to be better than the other. Here it all comes to what kind of feel you want for your place.
Health
It’d be puzzling to many why health is a concern in this case, but anyone with knowledge in modern furniture manufacturing that glues, paints, varnishes and adhesives used in the process may contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) like formaldehyde, which can cause a variety of health problems like asthma, headaches, sore throats and even chronic organ damages.
Both metal and wooden furniture have fair chances of containing harmful VOCs, the cheaper they are, the more toxic they likely are. Wood or metal, always be sure to check for any labels regarding toxicity before purchase.
Wood commonly used for manufacturing furniture
Any wood can be used in manufacturing of furniture, but as with other types of materials, some wood are more used and preferred than others. However, this did not stay constant throughout the ages due to technological advancement and more importantly, uncontrolled deforestation in the past. Regardless, here are some wood commonly used for furniture crafting today.
Ash:
Widespread much across Asia, Europe, and North America, it is known to be dense, very strong yet elastic, and also easy to work with. It is used extensively for furniture where strength matters. Coupled with moderate pricing, furniture made from Ash are commonplace.
Beech:
This is yet another common wood for furniture crafting due to its density, strength and flexibility. While usually pale and not very attractive, its inherent durability, ability to be stained and finished well yet inexpensive nature made it popular nonetheless.
Cedar:
The softwood is contrary to popular perception, very durable despite not being very dense. Its distinctive scent enabled it to repel insects, as well as having decent fungal and bacterial resistance. Due to being known for low flame spreading rating as well, it is moderately expensive.
Hickory:
Its combination of hardness, stiffness and toughness are rarely found in other kinds of wood. The inherent grain patterns and wide colour variations in from white to dark brown allows end products to stand out, as such the popular wood is priced at moderate premium ranges.
Oak:
This hardwood, red or white, is one of the most common to be found in any kind of crafting, due to being widely known for its strength, toughness and attractive grain. Despite being moderately expensive, the wood is used to craft all manners of solid furniture. White oak is usually more expensive than red.
Rubberwood:
It’s known first and foremost for being eco-friendly, due to being chopped down after the tree can no longer produce latex. The hardwood can be easily worked with and finishes well. However, due to moderate strength and durability, it is inexpensive, which coupled with the eco-friendly characteristics, is commonly used for manufacturing furniture in Asia.
Pine:
This softwood is mostly chosen for its natural beauty, in the form of its distinctive light and dark grain pattern, than for usual strength and toughness. It is used in nearly all manners of furniture, primarily for unfinished ones, as it’s inexpensive.
Poplar:
The light cream to yellowish brown softer hardwood is moderately strong and durable. Its closed grained nature enables it to stain well and it is easy to work with. Its inexpensive price due to such characteristic combinations, results it being commonly used for furniture manufacturing.
Teak:
This hardwood is a modern day favourite, due to its strength, durability, exceptional rot resistance and rich golden-yellow to dark brown colours yet easy to work with, especially for outdoor furniture manufacturing. As such, despite widespread cultivation, it is very expensive.
There are many other woods like mahogany, ebony, rosewood, cherry, elm, walnut more sought after for manufacturing furniture. However, inherent scarcity and unsustainable logging has caused furniture made from such woods to range anywhere from very to prohibitively expensive. While they are still popular, they certainly are no longer common.
Ash:
Widespread much across Asia, Europe, and North America, it is known to be dense, very strong yet elastic, and also easy to work with. It is used extensively for furniture where strength matters. Coupled with moderate pricing, furniture made from Ash are commonplace.
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| Ash bedside cabinet |
Beech:
This is yet another common wood for furniture crafting due to its density, strength and flexibility. While usually pale and not very attractive, its inherent durability, ability to be stained and finished well yet inexpensive nature made it popular nonetheless.
 |
| Beech sideboard |
Cedar:
The softwood is contrary to popular perception, very durable despite not being very dense. Its distinctive scent enabled it to repel insects, as well as having decent fungal and bacterial resistance. Due to being known for low flame spreading rating as well, it is moderately expensive.
 |
| Cedar table |
Hickory:
Its combination of hardness, stiffness and toughness are rarely found in other kinds of wood. The inherent grain patterns and wide colour variations in from white to dark brown allows end products to stand out, as such the popular wood is priced at moderate premium ranges.
 |
| Hickory bench |
Oak:
This hardwood, red or white, is one of the most common to be found in any kind of crafting, due to being widely known for its strength, toughness and attractive grain. Despite being moderately expensive, the wood is used to craft all manners of solid furniture. White oak is usually more expensive than red.
 |
| Oak desk |
Rubberwood:
It’s known first and foremost for being eco-friendly, due to being chopped down after the tree can no longer produce latex. The hardwood can be easily worked with and finishes well. However, due to moderate strength and durability, it is inexpensive, which coupled with the eco-friendly characteristics, is commonly used for manufacturing furniture in Asia.
 |
| Rubberwood table and chairs |
Pine:
This softwood is mostly chosen for its natural beauty, in the form of its distinctive light and dark grain pattern, than for usual strength and toughness. It is used in nearly all manners of furniture, primarily for unfinished ones, as it’s inexpensive.
 |
| Pine wardrobe and drawers |
Poplar:
The light cream to yellowish brown softer hardwood is moderately strong and durable. Its closed grained nature enables it to stain well and it is easy to work with. Its inexpensive price due to such characteristic combinations, results it being commonly used for furniture manufacturing.
 |
| Poplar buffet |
Teak:
This hardwood is a modern day favourite, due to its strength, durability, exceptional rot resistance and rich golden-yellow to dark brown colours yet easy to work with, especially for outdoor furniture manufacturing. As such, despite widespread cultivation, it is very expensive.
 |
| Teak outdoor table and chairs |
There are many other woods like mahogany, ebony, rosewood, cherry, elm, walnut more sought after for manufacturing furniture. However, inherent scarcity and unsustainable logging has caused furniture made from such woods to range anywhere from very to prohibitively expensive. While they are still popular, they certainly are no longer common.
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