Capitalizing on Latin America’s Hardwood Markets
Farmfolio is currently working on the construction of a hardwood sawmill to process and commercialize the teak that is grown at Ganaderia Pietrasanta (GP) and throughout the region. Farmfolio’s sawmill will be located some 10 kilometers outside the city center of Monteria, within the designated industrial development zone. This location is ideal due to its proximity to the departmental capital, Monteria; proximity to up to 70% of the country’s teak producing farms, including GP; and paved roads all the way to the ports of Uraba and Cartagena. Furthermore, the area where the sawmill will be located is a solid, flat terrain with three-phase electricity, which will ensure that the structural needs are properly met.
Capitalizing on Latin America’s Hardwood Markets
Once completed, Farmfolio’s sawmill will do the bulk of its work through an assembly line conveyor, which is managed by five operators. First, the round wood logs will enter through an inclined feeding deck and make it to the first table of entry. Once there, the first operator passes the log through an SDH 320 multiple saw utilizing an automated chain system. After this first processing step, the raw log has been divided into three different types of wood in up to eight different cuts. The central block or paddock goes on to the multiple saw VC 700, where up to 10 cuts are made to create high-quality teak planks ready to be commercialized. The specific dimensions as well as the selection and subsequent stowing of these finished planks is done by the fourth operator. Meanwhile, the long planks with rough edges go into the VR 800 Corundum saw managed by the third operator. Lastly, the second operator uses a forklift system to dispose of the bark and excess wood material.
Once the cutting process is completed, the processed planks are sanded, dried, and packaged to be ready for long distance shipping. Overall, the advance assembly line conveyer at the heart of Farmfolio’s Monteria sawmill will bring in raw teak and hardwood logs from throughout the region in order to prepare them for bulk sale as high-quality finished planks. Given the large variety of uses given to hardwoods, including the building of outdoor decks, flooring, and furniture, the global demand for processed teak has been growing rapidly throughout the last decade. Therefore, the construction of Farmfolio’s Monteria sawmill comes at an opportune moment for both the regional and international hardwood market. Moreover, the project has a solid financial model and is on a steady economic footing with boundless potential for growth and expansion.
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