Grading and Standardization: An Introduction

Abstract

Imports of tropical hardwoods into Europe began more than a century ago. Originally, these imports were confined to high value timber for cabinet-making. Later, Teak was imported for shipbuilding to supplement locally available timber for this industry. By the end of the nineteenth century, logs for the manufacture of plywood and furniture also began to be imported. The quality of imported logs was then judged by highly subjective means and as a batch. Early this century, logs began to be judged individually for quality. But grading rules (mostly unwritten) and practices varied widely in different countries. Between the two World Wars, sawmills began to be established in the tropical producing countries and limited quantities of timber sawn in these countries began to be exported. Soon after World War II, imports of both logs and sawn timber from those countries began to burgeon. The need for standardization of the various grading rules and specifications for both logs and sawn timber began to be increasingly felt.