Hang Tuah Furniture Sdn Bhd started way back in 1961 when it was then known as Hang Tuah Sawmills Bhd sitting on a 5.7-hectare industrial land in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan. At the time, its main business revolved around processing tropical hardwoods into sawntimber and its main market was the local industries in Malaysia as well as Singapore.

In 1997, in a move to diversify its operation with more downstream activities, Hang Tuah Furniture was established. The company started manufacturing wooden garden furniture, mouldings, doors, frames, flooring, and decking while still actively keeping to its sawntimber processing business.

“We produce a wide range of sawntimber from Balau, Chengal, Giam, Merpauh, Sepetir, Keruing and Kembang Semangkok,” said Hang Tuah Furniture Sdn Bhd Director Mr. Goh Yen Song.

The company’s products are exported primarily to the UK, US, the Netherlands, Japan, and Germany.

Having faced a shortage of skilled workers with the lack of interest shown by the younger generation in the sawmilling industry, Hang Tuah Furniture decided to take part in the Malaysian Timber Council’s Retrofitting of Sawmill programme to automate its production line.

“I was a member of MTC’s Working Group on Sawmilling. I knew this was a way forward for my company as we were tasked to generate new ideas and work towards modernising sawmilling processes,” said Mr. Goh.

With about 200 workers in its furniture factory and only 100 employees in its sawmill, using less labour-intensive measures was the only way to keep the business viable.

“We are in the midst of testing out an automatic sawmill size side fence (version 2.0) to help workers adjust the side fence faster with more accuracy and lower the learning curve of becoming a head sawyer,” said Mr. Goh.