In line with its efforts to upgrade the capability of the furniture industry in producing quality furniture products, the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office-IX (DOST IX) provided technology interventions to Rockwood Sash and Furnishings located at Coron, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Rockwood Sash and Furnishings is an offshoot of the reforestation project of the Gargollo brothers that started in 1990. With the 16 hectares mahogany trees ready for gradual and selective harvesting, Rockwood Sash and Furnishings was established to convert these wood products into fine and quality sash and furniture products.
Mr. Nestor Gargolio, proprietor of Rockwood, saw a greater demand of furniture products not only in Zamboanga Sibugay but also in its neighboring cities. Thus, upgrading the facilities of the furniture shop was a timely move to take advantage of a fast growing market.
Through the DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program, in collaboration with the Forest Products Research and Development Institutes, the firm has managed to upgrade the existing production facilities with the construction and installation of a 3000 bd. ft. furnace-type lumber kiln dryer (FTLD) facility, and acquisition of most needed processing equipment.
With DOST’s assistance, the company is expected to improve the quality of materials for furnished products, reduce drying time, increase monthly production volume from 16 units of doors per month to 48 units; reduce rejects and back jobs on repairing cracks by about 80 %, improve acceptability and reliability of products in both the local and foreign markets, and provide kiln-dried lumber and kiln-drying services to other local furniture shops.
Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro, DOST Secretary, together with other officials from DOST central office, research and development institutes and councils in Manila, visited Rockwood Sash and Furnishings on September 26, 2009. Mr. Gargollo personally expressed his profound gratitude to the DOST Management for the assistance provided.
Aside from Rockwood, DOST-IX has supported other two (2) firms for the kiln-dryer project: the Pierce Furniture in Polo, Dapitan City with capacity of 1,500 bd. ft. and recently the Wood Tech Builders in Motosawa, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur with 20,000 bd. ft. capacity. These two (2) companies were also part of the Secretary’s 3-day project site tour to the different projects of DOST-IX. (DOST-IX PRESS RELEASE)
