Incorporated on 5 December 1962, Seng Peng Sawmills Sdn Bhd is headquartered in Kuantan, in the state of Pahang. Its production facilities are spread over 50 acres of industrial land in Gambang, also in Pahang.

Says company founder and MD Dato’ Loo Swee Thing: “Our company runs four areas of operations, namely, sawmilling, kiln- drying, moulding and logging.”

Its sawmilling section, comprising a breakdown bandsaw, an auto pony saw and 13 band saws, has a production capacity ofabout 3,000 tons monthly. Its kiln-drying facilities, consisting of six chambers of 70 tons and five chambers of 50 tons, can kiln- dry up to 600 tons of timber per shift.

Under its moulding section, there are three units of finger- jointing machines, four spindle moulders, two jump saws, three rip/multiple/circular/arm saws and a set of opticut software. The company is producing timber flooring as well as door and window frames for the Japanese and European markets.

Adds Dato’ Loo: “Besides Japan and Europe, our other major export markets are Thailand and the Middle East, which account for 80 percent of our overall production. The balance of 20 percent is supplied to the local market.”

Its raw materials are sourced from its 5,000 hectares of forest concessions where sustainable forest management practices are strictly adhered to. This is to provide assurance to buyers that their products are produced in timbers from sustainable sources.

Kempas, Keruing, Meranti and Ramin are the major species sourced from these concessions. Some of its timbers are also sourced from plantations such as Durian and Rubberwood.

To add value to residue such as saw dust and woodchips from its sawmills and moulding plants, the company is in the process of setting up a pellet-manufacturing line. These pellets can be exported to several markets including South Korea, Japan, Singapore as well as supplied locally.

Come December 2022, Seng Peng Sawmills Sdn Bhd will be marking the 60th year of its establishment in the timber industry. Besides its anniversary celebration, the company is looking at realising its aim of becoming an integrated timber organisation for upstream to downstream production.

“Our expansion plans include going further downstream into the production of fully finished products such as furniture for our existing Japanese and European markets,” says Dato’ Loo.