What is wood moulding? It is a detail of architectural design - a decorative strip of wood, milled with a planed or curved narrow surface which is continuous throughout its length - its continuous uniform shape appears to have been mould casted. To put it simply, moulding means ".... adding profile to rough sawntimber".

It is often a misconception that the impression of charm, beauty and grace of wood mouldings can be found in higher-value construction only. On the contrary, wood mouldings are versatile building products and can be used in all types of building and lifestyles. Wood mouldings are essential for decorative features such as wainscoting, decorative ceiling, trellis work, room dividers, and with creativity, moulding can be used in fabricating picture frames, toys, lamps and endless other possibilities. Whilst wood mouldings are extremely popular for modern social decorative uses, they are an essential part of complete structure.

The development of mouldings has been phenomenal over the years as it has graduated from a craftsman's individual hand-carved profile to mass production employing sophisticated high-speed production process.

The development of the moulding and joinery sector in Malaysia is somewhat recent, it has gained prominence through the concerted efforts of the government and the policy shift from a raw material export-oriented timber industry towards downstream processing activities for higher value-added products for export.

Since the early '60s, this sector has progressed rapidly from a small-scale manufacturing operation to highly organized, technology - oriented industry. Technology upgrading has enabled this sector to achieve greater efficiency, productivity and cost savings. The shift from labour intensive to high technology processing is evident as the sector continues to develop and modernise its production capacity.

Today, many manufacturers have installed high-speed planer moulders capable of handling timber up to 300mm wide and 200mm tick at speed of 200m/minute. In upgrading moulding production, some manufacturers have installed Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) profile grinders. Upgrading of technology and use of sophisticated machinery increases recovery by as much as 20 percent.

The utilisation if off-cuts and finger-jointing technology now widespread as this sector strives to optimise and add further value to available resources. Many manufacturers have further diversified into related technologies such as veneer wrapping of mouldings. This has set the pace for greater diversification of product mixes from general mouldings to superb quality finished products, capturing a niche in many of the world markets.

In 1996, there are 275 moulding plants in Malaysia, of which 105 mills are located in the peninsula, 149 mills in Sabah and 21 mills in Sarawak. Majority of the factories are of small - to medium - size. In peninsular Malaysia, this sector is heavily concentrated in the west coast states.

Malaysian woludings come in vatious sizex and profiles. Amongst them are casings, architraves, skirting (base) boards, door frames, flat jambs, bevel jambs, split jambs, door stops, door lippings, thresholds and other door components as well as louvre components such as louvre blades.

Other products include stair treads from glue-laminated and solid timbers; panel boards, high quality window frame components and drawer components such as drawer guides and drawer sides. Joinery and turned products range from balcony rails, table legs, aprons, dowels and wall panellings/ claddings.

In the past, moulding and joinery sector was heavily dependent on neutral forest timber as raw materials. Meranti, Keruing, Nyatoh, Merbau, Ramin, Bintangor and Jelutong were the commom species used. Today, increasing volumes of Heveawood (Rubberwood) are used to manufacture a wide variety of moulding products. Heveawood, a versatile and environment-fiendly material, is produced from sustainably managed platations. It enjoys wide market acceptance and is an ideal timber to catalyse the future growth of this sector. In addition, a wide variety of lesser-known timbers are also utilised.

Malaysian mouldings are renowned for its quality and market acceptance worldwide. From the time the tree is fell up to the stage when the logs are cut into sawntimber, kiln-dried and processed, every effort is made to ensure that stringent quality control is exercised on the manufacturing process. Each factory implements its own quality control system to ensure that only high quality products reach the consumers.

Sawntimber meant for moulding manufacturer is kiln-dried to a moisture content of 10 - 12 percent or according to customers' requirements.

Preservative treatment is also carried out when required by the customers. MOulding profiles are produced in random lengths or set lengths from a wide array of carefully preselected Malaysian timbers in accordance to buyers' specifications.

The moulding sector has developed and established a strong base in traditional markets of Europe, USA, the Far East and Australia. At the same time, new markets and products are being developed to strategically place this sector to meet the increasing challenges in global marketing.

Moulding production is becoming increasingly value-added and product specific. Value-added activities include finger-jointing, overlay profiling, solid moulding and processing of value-added products such as spiral staircases incorporating American technology. These value-added activities also broaden raw material utilisation from normal hardwoods to lesser known species.

The moulding industry has high synergy with the important furniture sector and hence its continued viability is important to the wood-based sector as a whole. Towards this end, the government, through the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) is committed towards promoting the wood related industry as one of the strtegic industries under the Seventh Malaysian Plan. MTIB will continue to play a catalytic role in providing the necessary support and conductive environment for the development of this sector.

Nothwithstanding, the Malaysian Wood Moulding & Joinery Council (MWMJC) has been instrumental in the development of the moulding industry. Since its establishment has grown in strength, from a mere 12 to 130.

Malaysian moulding and joinery products are positively one of the finest in the world in quality and standards. We are proud of our products' long heritage of beauty and design as we utilise the only renewable natural resource - WOOD.