Rubwood: creating a lasting
impression
| Rubberwood is relatively less expensive than other varieties of wood.
And one company has been coming up with an array of rubberwood furniture
packages. |
CATCHING ON: The demand for rubwood furniture is on the rise.
It is to tap the high potential of the market for rubberwood
that Kerala State Rubber Cooperative Limited (RUBCO), entered the business of
making furniture with treated rubberwood. Rubwood, as it is called, has created
an impression in the market, but has yet some way to go in changing market
preferences significantly.
But with its own classy style, rubberwood furniture has been
able to make an entry to homes and offices. RUBCO, which entered into a
technical and financial collaboration with Long Huat Berhad, Malaysia, started
producing rubberwood for commercial purposes in 2001, setting up a furniture
manufacturing unit in Thalassery.
With a team of interior and furniture designers, RUBCO is
able to come out with new designs every six months, said C.K. Mohan, general
manager (Marketing), RUBCO. It has a dealer in most of the major cities in the
country, Mr. Mohan said.
Treated rubberwood is costlier than plywood but it gives a
good finish, said an interior designer. It is being used extensively in sprucing
up office décor, he said. The factory-finished products have a better appeal
compared to conventional furniture, he said. Rubwood does not have a cost
advantage over good quality plywood and maybe costs almost as much as jackwood,
it is much less expensive than say teak or mahogany.
A half-inch marine plywood board would cost about Rs.30 a
square foot while rubwood would cost about Rs.65. Rubberwood, however, scores
over other woods in being available in boards of 6x4 ft, which is a definite
advantage.
The factory finish for rubberwood gives it strength and has
the advantage of being less heavy too. Rubwood has high potential in the market,
according to Mr. Mohan.
`Home
Series' package
Apart from the single items that are available off the shelf
from the 130-strong dealer network throughout the State, RUBCO has come out with
`Home Series' packages. Starting with a package of almost a lakh, called the
Rubco Viceroy, which has 23 items to Rs.29,999 for a package of kitchen cabinets
called Rubco Honey Comb, there are quite a few to choose from.
A package generally has a sofa set, a dressing table, a
wardrobe, dining table with chairs, a study table and chair or a computer table,
double or single cots, display racks and so on.
A Rubco Executive package with just five items costing
Rs.29,999 comprises an office desk along with a separate computer table, a
display rack, and executive chair and a book or magazine holder. A Rubco
Marshall package costing Rs.49,999 has 14 items comprise a sofa set a double bed
cot, a tea-table, a dining table with four chairs, a computer table and chair, a
dressing table and television stand and a telephone stand. There are other
packages called the Rubco Chancellor with 17 items at Rs.59,999, Rubco Welcom
with seven items costing Rs.39,999, Rubco Explorer with 9 items costing
Rs.34,999, Rubco Home Nest with nine items at Rs.49,999, Rubco Captain with six
items at Rs.39,999 and Rubco Elegance with 13 items at Rs.49,999.
SHYAMA RAJAGOPAL
Courtesy: Property Plus, The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/pp/2007/03/25/stories/2007032500170600.htm
