Wood Flour Moulding Technology: Implications for Technical Education in Nigeria

Abstract

The intent of this article is to demonstrate how wood waste called sawdust or
wood flour can be transformed by plastic moulding machine into items of
economic value. Wood flour is wood reduced to very fine particle form. It can
be waste product from saw mills, wood working plants or produced from
selected dry wood by grinding. Interest in this modern industrial practice in
wood anchors around the high level of unemployment among the youths in
Nigeria. This unemployment is attributable to great emphasis placed on
white collar jobs to the detriment of psychoproductive skills. In an effort to
solve this problem, the informal sector has taken up the challenge through
entrepreneurial exploits, and set small scale industries of concern. One such
industry suggested in this article is the wood flour woulding industry which is
yet to gain prominence outside laboratory experience. Wood flour moulding
process converts wood particles or wood flour into functional products like
toilet seats, trays, coasters, tool handles, toys and other novelty items; wood
flour moulding technology minimizes atmospheric pollution, reduces cost of
wood waste disposal and curbs, unemployment among youth.