The quality of mouldings, cabinets and furniture manufactured from lesser utilised tropical hardwood species

The lesser-Used tropical hardwood species are now being specified widely for mouldings (Flooring, parquet, and tongue and groove profiles), cabinet and furniture. These items are selected for shops and kitchen fitting, and for living room and office furniture. The familiar tropical species, which were usually specified for these items, are now very expensive and difficult to come by these days.

Some of the problems associated with the processing of the lesser-used species, which have led to poor product image, include: inadequate supply, erratic royalty regulations, inappropriately developed grading rules, and inefficient manufacturing processes.
The quality of products obtained after the manufacturing processes and finishing do not compete favourably with similar products from the Asian and North American countries on the international market. Some European countries like Germany, Italy and the UK patronised wood products such as flooring and parquet manufactured from tropical hardwood species.
In this paper, attempt has been made to present the quality control procedures utilised in the manufacturing of flooring from Afena (Strombosia glaucescens); cabinet, office and living room furniture from Avodire (Turreanthus africanus), and Tongue and Groove profiles from Ofram (Terminalia superba). These three species are among, the numerous lesser utilised tropical species found in the tropical high forest including Ghana and are presently under exploitation.
Proper monitoring and control of the manufacturing processes could improve appreciably, the surface quality of the wood products fabricated for export.