Market assessment and product development - Objective 1.1
High quality and high density coconut veneer and veneer-based product are new to the marketplace. Their likely acceptance can only be estimated from observation of the material’s properties, the performance requirement of potential applications, and the acceptance of similar (or competitor) products in those applications in the market.
Market assessment and product development (PDF 2.1MB)
Coconut Veneer Value-Chain Proposal - Objective 1.2
Many palms in coconut plantations in the South Pacific Islands are of an older age and are only providing low nut yields. These palms and have been identified as senile and ready for replacement, or the conversion of the plantations to alternative land use. A rotary peeled coconut veneer product industry is being investigated as an option for the use of logs that will be extracted when senile palms are harvested. If this option proves attractive, it will be essential to determine the most efficient way to establish a coconut veneer product industry, so opportunities for providing access to finance, markets and technology can be realised.
Coconut Veneer Value-Chain Proposal (PDF 2.1MB)
Guidelines for Harvesting Coconut Palms in South Pacific Island Countries - Objective 2
Many palms in coconut plantations in the South Pacific Islands are old and have lost much of their vitality and productivity. Known as senile coconuts, these palms provide only low nut yields. For example, a 25-year-old coconut may produce up to 35 nuts a year while a 60- year-old senile coconut may only provide 4 nuts. In reality, senile coconut plantations are ready for replacement, or conversion to alternative land use.
Guidelines for Harvesting Coconut Palms in South Pacific Island Countries (PDF 975KB)
Guide to Community Development of Estate Coconut Renewal Plans in South Pacific Island Countries - Objective 2
Coconut plantations are a valuable economic and social resource from many communities and private estates in South Pacific Islands. There are established and growing markets for coconut oil health products and goods manufactured from the coconut husk. While future markets for coconut wood veneer are yet to develop, increasing demand for all coconut products is likely (PARDI, 2011) and the present area of coconut plantations will need to be maintained to supply domestic and international markets into the future.
Assessing the potential of a regional trial and demonstration program - Objective 3.2
This report presents the result of a feasibility study that assessed the potential of conducting a regional trial program to demonstrate the use of spindleless lathes to peel coconut logs. It is part of the ACIAR funded CocoVeneer project: Development of advanced veneer and other products from coconut wood to enhance livelihoods in South Pacific communities.
Assessing the potential of a regional trial and demonstration program (PDF 743 KB)
Assessment on the use of Coconut wood harvesting and processing residues for by-products - Objective 6
In South Pacific Island countries many coconut palms are of an older age and now provide only low nut yields. Identified as senile, these palms are ready for removal to be either replaced, or the land converted to alternative use.
DAF report - Cocoveneer product development (Report 2)
April 2016
The Pacific’s senile coconut plantations have the potential to provide a significant volume of feedstock for the manufacture of wood products. Until recently, wood processing options for coconut stems was largely limited to sawmilling with traditional rotary veneer approaches being mostly unsuccessful. However, rotary-veneer processing using spindleless lathe systems has been demonstrated as an alternative and attractive method of conversion.
Cocoveneer Product Development Report 2 Structural products (PDF 5.2MB)
DAF report - Susceptibility of cocowood to lyctid beetle and bamboo borer infestation
March 2016
Five exposure trials (a combination of “outdoor” and laboratory trials) were undertaken to assess the susceptibility of cocowood, of varying densities, to attack by lyctid beetles (Lyctus sp. and Lyctus brunneus) and bamboo borer (Dinoderus minutus). Both insect groups are significant pests when considering timber, bamboo and other similar products. Published information of the susceptibility of cocowood to lyctid beetle and bamboo borer infestation is limited.
Cocowood - lyctus and bamboo borer report (PDF 4.6MB)
DAF report - Coconut palm stem veneer processing (Trial 4)
March 2016
A coconut stem rotary veneer processing trial (Trial 4) was undertaken at the Valebasoga Tropikboards Ltd. (VTB) commercial plywood mill located in Labasa, Fiji. The trial was designed to further advance processing protocols developed within earlier research and semi-industrial scale processing trials, and apply them within an industrial environment. A supply of coconut palm logs believed to be about 60 years- old were sourced from a planting near the Naidi Village, Savusavu on Vanua Levu, Fiji.
Veneer Processing And Quality Report (PDF 2.7MB)
DAF report - Cocoveneer product development (Report 1)
August 2015
Identifying suitable products and markets for cocoveneer and cocoveneer based products will be critical for the successful development of a profitable cocoveneer industry in the South Pacific region. To assist with the identification of some potential products and to increase the understanding on how cocoveneer may appear and perform, a range of product samples using either entirely cocoveneer or cocoveneer blended with other materials have been manufactured.
Cocoveneer product development (PDF 2.3MB)
DAF report - Cocoveneer product development (Report 2)
April 2016
The Pacific’s senile coconut plantations have the potential to provide a significant volume of feedstock for the manufacture of wood products. Until recently, wood processing options for coconut stems was largely limited to sawmilling with traditional rotary veneer approaches being mostly unsuccessful. However, rotary-veneer processing using spindleless lathe systems has been demonstrated as an alternative and attractive method of conversion.
Cocoveneer Product Development (PDF 2.2MB)
Producing rotary-peeled coconut veneer
July 2015
This manual describes best practice for the production of rotary veneer. The manual is focused on the production of coconut palm rotary veneer (or cocovener), however also presents general information on rotary veneering from more traditional forest resources. These technical guidelines are based on the research outcomes of the ACIAR project Development of advanced veneer and other products from coconut wood to enhance livelihoods in South Pacific communities.
Producing rotary-peeled coconut veneer (PDF 4.1MB)
DAF report - Coconut palm stem veneer processing (Trial 3)
July 2015
A coconut stem rotary veneer processing trial was undertaken using newly installed experimental veneer processing equipment at the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Timber Utilisation and Research Division facility (TUD) in Nasinu, Fiji. A component of the trial included testing and comissioning of the equipment suite.
Coconut palm stem veneer processing (PDF 2.5MB)
Experimental investigation on rotary peeling parameters of high density coconut wood
Bailleres, H., Denaud, L., Butand, J.C., McGavin, R.L. (2015) bioresources
Substantial quantities of senile coconut palms are present in plantations within the Asia-Pacific region. Once coconut palms become over-mature, their production of traditional products, such as coconuts, significantly decrease, resulting in profitability challenges for farmers. This paper examines the optimal settings for peeling coconut wood with cutting forces and veneer quality analysed.
Experimental investigation on rotary peeling parameters of high density coconut wood (PDF 896KB)
Experimental approach of coconut peeling process
Bailleres, H., Denaud, L., Butand, J.C., McGavin, R.L. (2015)
A substantial area of senile coconut palms exists within the Asia-Pacific region. Once coconut palms become over-mature and senile, thier production of traditional products, such as coconuts, significantly decreases, resulting in profitability challenges for farmers. Due to some of its unique characteristics, a processing system able to recover wood from the high-density zone near the stem periphery is desirable. A series of rotary veneer laboratory trials were undertaken to establish fundamental benchmark lathe settings and veneering characteristics for coconut palm stems.
Experimental approach of coconut peeling process (PDF 513KB)
Coconut Biochar: Taveuni field trial
2015
This report demonstrates the feasibility of converting the soft central cores of senile coconut palms into a soil amendment called biochar. This study examined the potential of biochar produced from cocowood to alleviate soil health problems.