Weather and Other Factors

Even though not very obvious, weather plays a major role in the quality and life of products out of wood in India. Humidity and temperature changes through the seasons are over a large range. Much of manufactured goods are not used in climate-controlled environment, as it would be in developed countries. Therefore, the type of technology is chosen for manufacture has to take into account this critical factor viz. weather.

A few years ago, moulded skins for doors made an entry into India. Such doors are mostly produced in the U.S. by using dispersion adhesives like polyvinyl acetate (white glue) and the process used is cold processing. However, in Indian conditions not only because of the weather but also by the living habits of using wet mops on the floor this kind of door construction was not acceptable. Therefore a low temperature settings phenolic resin which is moisture resistant had to be developed specially for this product and the technology adapted to produce these doors in India using hot process.

There are several other factors, government policies, taxes and so on that obviously come to the mind, but it is not possible to debate all of them at this juncture.

That one needs to mechanise and that too appropriately is a fact beyond question or debate. The question here is simply how and to what extent? Possibly, one of the ways to look at this question is to work backwards. Perhaps the decision has to hinge on the target market.

Next » The Domestic Market