Home

/

Timber Species & Specifications

Timber Species & Specifications

Our Timber Species & Basic Specifications

GM ECO SDN BHD supplies a wide range of Malaysian tropical hardwood species suitable for structural, industrial, and manufacturing applications. All timber is sourced from Malaysian tropical forests and processed to meet industrial and export-grade requirements.

Timber SpeciesDensity (kg/m³)Main Applications
Membatu (Red Balau)880 – 1,050Heavy construction, structural timber, decking, ship and boat components
Kulim820 – 1,000Roof truss, door and window frames, fencing, greenhouse structures
Kempas800 – 960Flooring, roof truss, lorry body, staircase components
Mengkulang640 – 880Pallets, furniture, logistics skids, construction materials
Bintangor480 – 800Swiftlet house, pallets, furniture components, industrial timber
Merbau800 – 1,040Flooring, staircase boards, solid wood tables, premium interior use
Meranti400 – 750Door and window frames, furniture, construction timber
Penaga880 – 1,100Heavy-duty construction, beams, industrial support timber
Melunak500 – 700Furniture components, interior construction, general timber use
Merawan770 – 980Structural timber, industrial applications, construction
Kelat650 – 900Construction timber, furniture, industrial applications
Durian Batu600 – 750Furniture, interior use, general construction
Tualang640 – 880Structural timber, construction, industrial applications
Balau850 – 1,100Outdoor decking, marine structures, bridges, heavy construction
Chengal915 – 1,040Premium outdoor structures, marine works, heavy-duty construction
Mixed Hardwood500 – 900Pallets, export packaging, construction support, logistics skids

Membatu (Red Balau)

Scientific Name: Shorea spp.
Density: 880 – 1,050 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Heavy hardwood with high strength and durability
• Moderately durable under exposed conditions
• Moderately fine to slightly coarse texture with interlocked grain
• Suitable for heavy-duty structural and industrial applications
• Smooth to moderately smooth finish after machining
• Logs are generally free from major defects

Common Sizes
• 1" × 1" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 1/2" × 3" and wider
• 1 5/8" × 3 5/8" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 4" × 4" and wider
• 6" × 6"
• 8" × 8"

Common Applications
• Heavy construction under cover
• Beams, posts, joists and rafters
• Heavy-duty pallets and industrial structures
• Vehicle bodies and flooring boards
• Ship and boat building components
• Heavy-duty furniture and flooring
• Door and window frames
• Staircase components
• Railway sleepers and transmission posts when treated
• Cooling tower structural members

Kulim

Scientific Name: Scorodocarpus borneensis
Density: 820 – 1,000 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Medium hardwood with good strength properties
• Moderately durable under Malaysian conditions
• Moderately fine and even texture with interlocked grain
• Resistant to powder post beetle attack
• Possesses some resistance to marine borers
• Suitable for structural and outdoor applications, especially when treated

Common Sizes
• 1" × 1" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 1/2" × 3" and wider
• 1 5/8" × 3 5/8" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 4" × 4" and wider
• 6" × 6"
• 8" × 8"

Common Applications
• Door and window frames
• Posts, beams, joists and rafters
• Medium construction under cover
• Bridges and structural members
• Ship and boat building components
• Flooring
• Tool handles

Kempas

Scientific Name: Koompassia malaccensis
Density: 800 – 960 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Heavy hardwood with very high strength and load-bearing capacity
• Moderately durable under Malaysian conditions
• Coarse and interlocked grain texture
• Suitable for heavy-duty structural and industrial applications
• Easy to treat with preservatives for long-term outdoor use
• Strong mechanical properties with good structural performance

Common Sizes
• 1" × 2" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 5/8" × 3 5/8" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 4" × 4" and wider

Common Applications
• Heavy construction works
• Posts, beams, joists and rafters
• Bridges, wharves and marine construction
• Railway sleepers and transmission posts
• Heavy-duty pallets and industrial structures
• Vehicle bodies and flooring boards
• Door and window frames
• Flooring, panelling and mouldings
• Plywood manufacturing
• Structural and outdoor applications when preservative treated

Mengkulang

Scientific Name: Heritiera spp.
Density: 640 – 880 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Medium hardwood with good strength and workability
• Slightly to moderately coarse texture with straight to shallowly interlocked grain
• Produces a smooth finishing surface
• Fairly rapid seasoning and drying properties
• Good nailing properties
• Suitable for interior and medium structural applications
• Can be preservative treated for improved durability

Common Sizes
• 1/2" × 2" and wider
• 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 1/2" × 3" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider

Common Applications
• Furniture and cabinet manufacturing
• Interior finishing and decorative works
• Door and window frames
• Panelling and mouldings
• Flooring and decking
• Staircase components
• Vehicle bodies and framework
• Ship and boat building components
• Medium construction works
• Glulam and structural timber applications
• Heavy-duty pallets and industrial timber use

Bintangor

Scientific Name: Calophyllum spp.
Density: 480 – 800 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Light to medium hardwood with good workability
• Moderately coarse to coarse texture with interlocked or wavy grain
• Easy to machine, resaw and cross-cut
• Produces smooth to moderately smooth finishing surfaces
• Suitable for light construction and interior applications
• Moderate natural durability depending on species
• Generally sound timber with minimal defects

Common Sizes
• 7/8" × 6" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 6" and wider

Common Applications
• Light construction works
• Furniture and cabinet manufacturing
• Flooring and decking
• Panelling and mouldings
• Joinery and decorative doors
• Door and window frames for internal use
• Ship and boat building components
• Plywood manufacturing
• Wooden pallets and packaging
• Ornamental and decorative timber products
• Scaffolding, bridge work and structural support applications

Merbau

Scientific Name: Intsia spp.
Density: 800 – 1,040 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Heavy hardwood with excellent strength and durability
• Attractive deep brown to reddish-brown appearance
• Durable under exposed conditions
• Rather coarse but even texture with interlocked grain
• Smooth finishing surface with good machining properties
• Low shrinkage with good dimensional stability
• Suitable for both premium interior and heavy-duty structural applications

Common Sizes
• 1" × 2" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 2" × 12"

Common Applications
• Premium flooring and strip flooring
• High-end furniture and antique reproduction furniture
• Interior finishing, panelling and mouldings
• Cabinet making and superior joinery
• Staircase components
• Door and window frames
• Heavy construction and structural works
• Decking and outdoor structures
• Railway sleepers and power transmission poles
• Heavy-duty pallets and industrial applications
• Musical instruments, carvings and decorative wood products

Meranti

Scientific Name: Shorea spp.
Density: 400 – 750 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Light hardwood with good workability and machining properties
• Coarse but even texture with interlocked grain
• Easy to saw, plane and process with smooth finishing surfaces
• Suitable for interior and general utility applications
• Fast to moderate drying performance with minimal seasoning defects
• Good nailing properties for most species
• Generally not durable for exposed outdoor or ground contact applications

Common Sizes
• 1" × 4" and wider
• 1/2" × 2" and wider
• 1" × 2" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 2" and wider

Common Applications
• Furniture and cabinet manufacturing
• Interior finishing and decorative works
• Panelling, partitioning and mouldings
• Shop and office fittings
• Flooring and light decking
• Door and window frames
• Staircase components
• Pallets and packaging materials
• Vehicle body planking
• Plywood manufacturing
• Light construction and general timber applications
• Boat and ship planking applications

Penaga

Scientific Name: Mesua spp.
Density: 880 – 1,100 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Very heavy and extremely hard hardwood
• High strength and load-bearing performance
• Fine and even texture with interlocked or spiral grain
• Moderately durable under exposed conditions
• Produces smooth finishing surfaces after machining
• Suitable for heavy-duty structural and industrial applications
• Very high density with excellent wear resistance

Common Sizes
• 1" × 2" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 4" × 4" and wider

Common Applications
• Heavy construction works
• Heavy-duty furniture
• Flooring for heavy traffic areas
• Posts, beams, joists and rafters
• Joinery and cabinet making
• Heavy-duty pallets and industrial timber applications
• Staircase components
• Structural columns and support timber
• Tool handles and impact applications
• Telegraphic and power transmission posts
• Railway sleepers and infrastructure timber applications

Melunak

Scientific Name: Pentace spp.
Density: 500 – 700 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Light hardwood with good workability and machining properties
• Moderately fine and even texture with interlocked grain
• Moderately durable under exposed conditions
• Produces generally smooth finishing surfaces
• Good nailing properties
• Fairly stable timber with moderate shrinkage
• Suitable for interior, decorative and light construction applications

Common Sizes
• 1/2" × 2" and wider
• 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider

Common Applications
• Furniture and high-class furniture manufacturing
• Interior finishing and decorative works
• Panelling and mouldings
• Cabinet making and superior joinery
• Flooring and ornamental wood products
• Staircase components
• Plywood manufacturing
• Railway sleepers
• Light construction works
• Light-duty pallets and industrial timber use
• Joists and general structural applications

Merawan

Scientific Name: Hopea spp.
Density: 770 – 980 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Medium hardwood with good strength and durability
• Moderately fine and even texture with interlocked grain
• Moderately durable under exposed conditions
• Good resistance to fungal infection under normal conditions
• Smooth finishing surface with good machining properties
• Suitable for structural, interior and industrial applications
• Stable timber with moderate shrinkage characteristics

Common Sizes
• 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 2 7/8" × 3" and wider

Common Applications
• Rafters, joists and light structural works
• Door and window frames for internal use
• Furniture and joinery
• Panelling, mouldings and partitioning
• Flooring and decking
• Staircase components
• Plywood manufacturing
• Vehicle bodies and framework
• Ship and boat building components
• Railway sleepers and cooling tower structures
• Light-duty columns and covered construction works
• Tool handles and general industrial applications

Kelat (Red & Yellow)

Scientific Name: Syzygium spp.
Density: 650 – 900 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Medium hardwood with good strength properties
• Moderately fine and even texture with interlocked or wavy grain
• Moderately durable under Malaysian conditions
• Smooth finishing surface with good machining properties
• Suitable for structural and industrial applications
• Strong timber with good load-bearing capability
• High shrinkage and slow seasoning characteristics

Common Sizes
• 7/8" × 2" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider

Common Applications
• Posts, beams, joists and rafters
• Medium-heavy structural construction
• Telegraphic and power transmission posts
• Staircase components
• Vehicle bodies and framework
• Ship and boat building components
• Light-duty structural columns
• Bridges, wharves and railway sleepers when treated
• Agricultural implements
• General industrial and construction applications

Durian Batu

Scientific Name: Durio zibethinus
Density: 600 – 750 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Medium hardwood with relatively high hardness compared to common durian timber
• Moderately coarse texture with straight to slightly interlocked grain
• Good machining and workability properties
• Smooth to moderately smooth finishing surface
• Good nailing properties
• Suitable for general structural and industrial applications
• Commonly selected for stronger and harder utility timber applications

Common Sizes
• 1/2" × 2" and wider
• 1" × 2" and wider
• 1" × 4" and wider

Common Applications
• Lorry fencing and vehicle body structures
• General construction works
• Door and window frames
• Flooring and planking
• Furniture and cabinet making
• Panelling and mouldings
• Joinery and partitioning
• Light structural and industrial applications
• Pallets and general timber products

Tualang

Scientific Name: Koompassia excelsa
Density: 640 – 880 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Medium hardwood with high strength and load-bearing capacity
• Moderately durable under exposed conditions
• Coarse but even texture with deeply interlocked grain
• Good machining and planing properties with smooth finishing surfaces
• Easy to treat with preservatives for outdoor durability
• Good nailing properties
• Suitable for heavy-duty structural and industrial applications

Common Sizes
• 1" × 2" and wider
• 1 3/8" × 3" and wider
• 1 5/8" × 3 5/8" and wider
• 1 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 4" × 4" and wider

Common Applications
• Heavy construction works
• Posts, beams, joists and heavy-duty columns
• Piling and railway sleepers
• Power transmission poles
• Heavy traffic flooring
• Heavy-duty furniture
• Panelling and mouldings
• Office and shop fittings
• Fender supports and industrial timber applications
• Tool handles and impact applications
• Plywood manufacturing and structural timber use

Balau

Scientific Name: Shorea spp.
Density: 850 – 1,100 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Heavy hardwood with very high strength and durability
• Naturally durable and highly resistant under exposed conditions
• Fine and even texture with deeply interlocked grain
• Suitable for heavy-duty structural and marine applications
• Smooth to moderately smooth finishing surfaces
• Excellent long-term performance for outdoor and industrial use
• Extremely resistant to preservative treatment due to dense structure

Common Sizes
• 1" × 4" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 4" × 4" and wider

Common Applications
• Heavy construction and structural works
• Marine construction and boat building
• Piling, bridges and wharves
• Heavy-duty beams, columns, joists and rafters
• Railway sleepers and transmission posts
• Heavy traffic flooring and decking
• Door and window frames
• Staircase components
• Heavy-duty pallets and industrial timber structures
• Vehicle body flooring and framework
• Cooling tower structures
• Heavy-duty furniture and tool handles

Chengal

Scientific Name: Neobalanocarpus heimii
Density: 915 – 1,040 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Premium heavy hardwood with exceptional strength and durability
• Naturally resistant to termites and fungal attack
• Fine and even texture with interlocked grain
• Excellent long-term outdoor and marine performance
• Smooth finishing surface with good machining properties
• Low shrinkage with good dimensional stability
• Suitable for heavy-duty structural and high-value applications

Common Sizes
• 1" × 4" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider
• 4" × 4" and wider

Common Applications
• Heavy construction and structural works
• Bridges, piling and marine construction
• Boat building and railway sleepers
• Heavy-duty flooring and decking
• Heavy-duty furniture and laboratory benches
• Telegraphic and power transmission posts
• Staircase components
• Door and window frames
• Vehicle body framework and flooring
• Cooling tower structures and fender supports
• Tool handles and carving works
• Premium outdoor and industrial timber applications

Mixed Hardwood (Mixed Species)

Scientific Name: Mixed tropical hardwood species
Density: 500 – 1,000 kg/m³

Characteristics
• Combination of various Malaysian tropical hardwood species
• Wide range of strength, density and durability characteristics
• Suitable for both structural and general industrial applications
• Good availability and cost-effective for bulk supply
• Can be supplied in rough sawn, air-dried or kiln-dried condition
• Suitable for general construction, manufacturing and packaging use
• Flexible sizing and grading based on customer requirements

Common Sizes
• 1/2" × 2" and wider
• 7/8" × 3" and wider
• 1" × 2" and wider
• 1" × 4" and wider
• 2" × 2" and wider
• 3" × 3" and wider

Common Applications
• Pallet and crate manufacturing
• Export packaging and logistics skids
• General construction and temporary structures
• Industrial support timber
• Furniture and woodworking applications
• Flooring, framing and planking
• Vehicle body structures and fencing
• General joinery and manufacturing use
• Agricultural and plantation structures
• Light to medium-duty structural applications

Note:

• Density values are approximate and may vary depending on species, origin, grading and moisture content

• Timber can be supplied in rough sawn, air-dried or kiln-dried condition upon request
• Custom sizes and export specifications are available upon request
• The timber information, characteristics and applications stated above are compiled