Ian Tailyour (left), one of the American management team members at Glentruan Furniture Ltd., located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, meets with Celebrity Chef Bobby Chinn. The renowned chef recently contracted with Glentruan to purchase handcrafted solid Walnut tables, using No. 2 Common 4/4 with a matte finish.
GLENTRUAN–A Vietnam-based Quality Furniture Manufacturer Specializing In American Hardwoods
By Michael Buckley
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam–Glentruan Furniture Ltd. specializes in custom manufacturing of fine furniture, accessories and decorations. Headquartered here, the company is a 100% foreign-owned factory - led by British and American businessmen, and thought to be staffed by some of the finest craftsmen and craftswomen working in Vietnam today.Its philosophy is based on the belief that there are four elements that add up to customer satisfaction: quality, consistency, on-time delivery, and competitive pricing. No surprise there, but it is hard to believe that such quality furniture is mass produced in this highly competitive country.
Established in 1999, as many foreign investors arrived to set up mass production furniture in Vietnam, Glentruan has positioned itself with a reputation for “very well made” furniture, most of which is produced for quality buyers. The emphasis is on solid wood, made in high value species with American hardwood as the main material.The company focuses on Black Walnut, Ash, White Oak, Hard Maple and some Red Oak.
Glentruan purchases North American Black Walnut, Ash, Red and White Oak, and Hard Maple. Pictured is a piece of furniture made of American Black Walnut.
“We have recently made a range of children’s school furniture for the high end market of Japan using American White Ash,” said Ian Tailyour one of the American management team – of Scottish descent. “We have found that the Japanese market appreciates U.S. Hardwoods; especially White Oak, Walnut, and Ash. Our products are also featured in some of the finest hotels, resorts and restaurants around the world. We use a lot of solid American Black Walnut for hotels, restaurants and resorts which have included the famous Raffles Hotel in Singapore and Bryant Park in New York City.”
Tailyour confirms that, in the 13 years since its establishment, Glentruan has custom made furniture for clients almost all over the world.Recently the company made solid Walnut tables for TV celebrity chef Bobby Chinn using No. 2 Common 4/4 Walnut with a matte finish.
Another exciting furniture range is Glentruan’s solid ‘Wood Stool’ crafted from solid American White Oak from precision milled components.These include a cupped, moulded seat using edge-glued laminated boards, produced by an overhead router, with parts screwed, dowelled and glued.The ‘Wood Stool’ comes in various heights - some with brushed stainless steel treads - and is hand finished with natural wax.
A Glentruan craftsman handworks American White Ash.
Glentruan buys hardwood material direct at source and sells mainly ex-factory, thus helping to minimize all costs.The company is always willing to consider new products but avoids the lower end markets for which Vietnam is now well known with Rubberwood, and some other plantation species.Glentruan is confident that American hardwoods, naturally grown, sustainably managed and selectively harvested for the past 100 years can be relied upon as legally harvested and conforming to increasing government legislation in American, European and Australian markets designed to eliminate illegal logging.
The pre-production process at Glentruan, involves working side by side with clients beginning with the client’s raw materials – producing drawings, renderings, and pictures and then through close collaboration developing the client’s product in Auto CAD and/or Solid Works 3D renderings. After design approval, a prototype is produced which can be sent air freight, or the client may inspect onsite. Finally, upon client approval, the production is run, by pairing modern machinery and advanced adhesives with time-tested traditional woodworking techniques. For example, drawers are made with full dovetail drawer boxes, with side runners, to standards acceptable in discerning markets such as Japan.
Handcrafting at Glentruan pairs modern machinery and advanced adhesives with time-tested traditional woodworking techniques.
The plant, which currently employs 60 staff, starts with superior grades of hardwoods harvested from sustained and managed forests.Glentruan is FSC certified and does buy some tropical species such as Teak and Jatoba. The timbers are kiln dried to correct moisture levels and then run through precision machinery before assembly by hand.An additional feature is the packaging to exceptionally high standards. The entire process is monitored by a strict in-house quality control program that begins with the receipt of each order.
For more information about this company, visit its website at www.glentruan.com.
In inventory: 4/4 No. 2 Common White Ash
Pictured is American hardwood material stocked at Glentruan.
