Bengaluru Seminar Industry Veterans Discuss Wood in Manufacturing
- December 26, 2022
- By: Editorial Team
- NEWS
Canadian Wood from British Columbia (BC) offers endless possibilities. With India poised to be a global hub for wood-based manufacturing and furniture industry, a fruitful collaboration between Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt. Ltd and the Indian woodwork industry could be a game changer for both the parties and the industry.
The British Columbia (B.C.) provincial government's crown corporation, Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt Ltd, popularly known as Canadian Wood, hosted a seminar on ‘Wood in Manufacturing’ in Bengaluru on December 15, 2022.
The seminar put forth insights into the growth of India as a manufacturing hub for the woodworking industry and also the possibilities for bespoke furniture with sustainable wood. The session began with a welcome note and message by Mr. Pranesh Chhibber, Country Director of Canadian Wood, followed by presentations from distinguished speakers.
Mr. Bram Rouws of Bram Woodcrafting Studio, Mysore spoke about his experiences in creating custom-built furniture with Canadian Wood. Mr. Thomas Markose, Kelachandra Veneer Industries, Bengaluru spoke about climate change and how we should be more responsible, and Anil Tiwari, of Tec Workshop Interiors, showcased some of his past projects of ITC hotels, and Taj Hotels and an ongoing project of Wood NIIDO with Canadian wood. The Seminar was moderated by Dr. Jimmy Thomas, Assistant Director, Technical Services, and was closed by Mr. Ritesh Kumar, Assistant Director of Business Development.
Speaking about wood in manufacturing, Mr. Pranesh Chhibber, Country Director, Canadian Wood, said: Wood industry in India was highly fragmented and unorganised. Fortunately, things are evolving now at a fast pace and it's getting more organized as people have become conscious of the application of legally harvested wood from certified forests. As of today, the wood industry is in the process of moving from a small and medium scale to an organised manufacturing sector. It will probably take another 5-10 years for the industry to commence on its own and be able to compete with other large furniture manufacturing nations, such as China and Malaysia. It requires a catalyst from the government to help the industry and SOPs to prepare the industry to create world-class, cost-effective products. India has the talent and workforce to deliver, all that requires is a bit of the catalyst to make this happen.
Praising the species of Canadian Wood, Bram Rows of Bram Woodcrafting Studio said, “The species of Canadian Wood are very functional, sustainable, and certified. It also imparts an elegant and natural finish to the end product. Additionally, it’s easy to maintain and long-lasting.”
Thomas Markose, of Kelachandra Veneer Industries, observed, “Sustainable timber is one of the most important species of wood in the industry. Owing to climate change, we need to be more responsible from our end to ensure that this industry sustains for the next 100 years.”
Echoing the observations of Bram Rows and Thomas Markose, Anil Tiwari, of Tec Workshop Interiors, said, Though we have light metals, such as aluminum and PVC that are cheaper than wood, the latter is more durable, eco-friendly, and sustainable. It also adds panache and looks elegant.
FII largely promotes five wood species in India sourced from the sustainably managed forests of B.C., Canada. These five species, namely, Douglas, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, and Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF), are recommended for different applications each. Through a strong network of 40+ stockists, these species are available in 23 cities across India.
Forestry Innovation Consulting India Pvt Ltd (Canadian Wood)
FII India is a crown agency of the government of British Columbia (B.C.), the westernmost province of Canada. Its mandate is to promote wood products from the province in the offshore markets and to position it as a global supplier of quality, environmentally responsible wood products from sustainably managed forests, by creating awareness, and spreading education through information and technical support on the wide variety of timber products available from B.C. Canada. Its brand/logo, Canadian Wood, was established in 2013 to reach out to the ease of understanding its activities by its target audience globally.
India Poised to be Global Hub for Wood-based Manufacturing and Furniture Industry
Significantly, India is poised to be a manufacturing hub based on wooden products. There is an increasing trend in the country for manufacturing based on wooden products. India is poised to be a global hub for wood-based manufacturing and the furniture industry. The country’s woodwork industry is highly versatile, specialises in architecture, and manufactures furniture in traditional and ultramodern styles.
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