Trip to a Vietnamese Plywood Factory

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timberbits

timberbits

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp9VNVjSyd0

(How do you embed the video?)

Like this: :biggrin:

[ytmini]rp9VNVjSyd0[/ytmini]

I was asked by a friend to go with him to Vietnam because he couldn't work out why they could supply plywood cheaper than the Chinese.

Well this is the plywood plant.

As you can see, it like going back into the stone ages.

Logs are loaded in by hand, machines are crude and parts of the machine are homemade. The machine has no guards or safety devices. Notice the open chain and sprockets. If you accidently put your finger in there, kiss it goodbye, no microsurgery in Vietnam.

I hope you find the video entertaining. I certainly found the visit to the factory an eye opener.

Timberbits
 
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Its amazing how people still work like that. Thank you for the video....its a eye opener for us living in the current times.
 
You embed like this "[yt]" then the code at the end of the URL. In you case it starts with rp9. Then a /yt in brackets.

Hope that helps
 
Video not all that shocking overall to me. I have seen some unusual work things even here in the US, much less in countries with less laws in place. However, it is pretty scary when you see that - and to see a young child running around in that much danger is really bad.

PS. Why on earth did you logo/slogan at the beginning and end of that video? If it was me there is no way I'd want my company name attached to that video in any way!
 
Honestly, I was expecting far worse than what I saw in the video, based on the comments. I also agree with Dean in that I've seen much more dangerous operations right here in the US, including children being in proximity to an unsafe machine. That being said, it's not as if the child was doing anything that suggested that she was in imminent danger. She simply was delivering her father's cigs, remaining well clear of the machine.
 
I visited a friend here who uses plywoods in his turnings for clients. The plywood has a lot of layers but what was amazing ios he could run this through a belt sander or planer and take off what he needed to and the layers were still even. He showed me some plywood he bought from asia that was in essence pure garbage, layers uneven, large gaps between the joints etc and he said he would not even use it because of how weak it looked, total waste of money he said and now I see why.
 
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU PUT YOUR COMPANY LOGO ON A VIDEO LIKE THAT! ARE YOU NUTS!

But overall not that surprising to see those type of conditions in a factory like that in Asia
 
animefan said:
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU PUT YOUR COMPANY LOGO ON A VIDEO LIKE THAT! ARE YOU NUTS!
Click to expand...

I know how you can be anonymous on the web, but I was taught early on in life to put your name against everything you do. Things that your ashamed of putting your name against, you should simply not do it.

I don't sell plywood so I have no reason to hide. I would never buy any product from a factory like this because I would need to put my name on the product I sell.

I travel around Asia a lot and see some amazing stuff.

I like to share experiences of some good factories and some not so good factories.

As a buyer of product from Asia, you really have to put on the hiking boots and go into the back blocks to see how product in Asia is getting manufactured.

Some bury their heads in the sand and choose not to go, others like me like to go out and make a conscious decision to decide to buy from the better manufacturers.

For the record, my friend quickly changed his mind about buying ply from this factory.
 
Hmmm...Looks like the floor of my shop, guess I should clean up huh.:biggrin:

Those folks are probably very happy to have the job. If they complained about safety there are probably many who would take their place. And people wonder why unions exist.
 
I actually thought it would be much worse. Other than the lack of automation and missing machinery guards, it isn't really as bad as I expected.

If you want to REALLY get freaked out, watch how they cut briar burl into pen and pipe blanks - that'll curl your toes! (and some of that happens in Europe!)

http://www.theitalianpipe.com/make/briarcut.htm

Andrew
 
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