In the current upholstery market, the biggest dominants are synthetic fiber materials. But behind those names, natural plant-based fiber such as Kapok is still one of the best options you should consider. But why? because the material is made using non-toxic manufacturing and by trusted kapok fibre suppliers. To convince you about it, here is how this fiber is made.
The Source
The first question that many people ask about is the source of kapok. Like Cotton that 100% comes from the plant, kapok is also harvested from the kapok tree. This particular tree is very indigenous in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. However, the originality of the tree is actually from Africa with the name of the Silk cotton tree.
But for fiber and cushion filling manufacturers, Kapok is mainly cultivated in Asia. For your information, the kapok tree is a gigantic tree that has a huge trunk that grows upward with spreading branches with its narrow leaflets. Most of the time, the tree can grow up to 50 meters tall and shed numerous flowers or fruits where the Kapok fiber is taken from.
The three can produce up to 4,000 fruits that consist of over 200 seeds of loosely embedded fibers. The manufacturer will harvest the fruits and process to get the kapok fiber. In this case, kapok fibre suppliers will take the silk cotton that has yellowish-brown color. At this stage, the 100% pure material has a lustrous and lightweight feature.
The Manufacturing Process
Most of the time, the harvesting method is done by a human. They will cut down those seeds that are left on the branches or gather those who fall. After that, the pod will smash open using mallets to expose the pale kapok fiber. As it opened, people will separate the seed and the fibers by hand. This process is done manually because it can ensure quality.
After the seed and the fibers are separated, the two substances will be stirred in a basket. The special basket or anting, will drop the seed and leave the fiber on it. The kapok fiber that has been separated from the seed will be dried up under the sun for around 3 – 5 hours. The drying also consists of turning over kapok until all the fiber is completely dried up.
After that, to make sure that each of the seeds (klentheng) is separated, the manufacturer will use a milling machine. This machine is to ensure that there will be no seed left, and the kapok will be 100% dried. After that, the material will be packed or used as the filling for many items. Mostly it is used for cushion, pillow, mattress filling, etc.
As one of the natural fibers, there is no doubt that Kapok holds dear the health aspect. In this case, you can conclude from the long process that there is no toxic substance. With that in mind, you can say that a 100% Kapok Fiber Filling will come with high-quality features and products. So, get your quality kapok from the trusted supplier in Indonesia through kapokfibersuppliers.com/.