Imperial Exotic Hardwoods
Founded in 2008, Imperical Exotic specializes in the harvest, milling, and export of fine Costa Rican hardwoods. We are headquartered in Cóbano, Costa Rica on the Nicoya Peninsula.Our vertical integration allows us to control all aspects of our FSC-certified production process, from land acquisition, to plantation design, selection of improved genetic stock, planting, stand maintenance, harvest, hauling, milling, veneering, marketing, and wholesale. We also perform important ancillary operations, including road grading, residential and commercial construction, and the design and manufacture of wood furnishings in our fully equipped and staffed prototype woodshop.
The heart of Imperial’s operations is its Cóbano milling complex. Construction of our flagship facility was completed in 2013, utilizing cutting-edge workflow design and US- and European-built milling machinery and kilns. Our newly installed Marunaka veneering system allows us to significantly increase the commercial yield of our hardwood stock.
Our fully-staffed woodshop has served as a proving ground both for future mill workers and for industrializable value-added products. The feedback relationship between our Cóbano milling facility and our prototype shop has allowed Imperial to progressively orient its industrial timber production toward the existing end-use markets and to contribute to the development of new markets for tropical hardwoods.
Imperial has a large fleet of heavy machinery and tractor-trailers to grade roads, prepare planting sites, and haul logs, portable milling equipment, crew, and other equipment and supplies. We currently run eight tractor-trailers and heavy trucks, six tractors, two backhoes, and a bobcat, as well as various four-wheelers, light duty trucks, and personal vehicles.
Our staff has been a fundamental element of our success. Imperial currently employs 26 full-time workers, including portable and stationary sawmill crews, a planting and plantation maintenance crew, three carpenters, a sawfiler, three heavy equipment operators, three mechanics, a general manager, two licensed foresters, and an accountant. Each of our staff members has many years experience in their field and all have been extensively trained in FSC-compliance.
Imperial also has exclusive relationships with local municipal and regional governments for the reclamation and milling of otherwise protected exotic hardwoods. The Nicoya peninsula is heavily forested, and rare, old-growth trees frequently fall to storm, erosion, and other natural sources of attrition. Many trees, in particular, wash ashore from surrounding regions. These trees often provide Imperial with large-dimension, exquisitely figured old-growth timber suited for application like custom furniture and architectural accent features.
Imperial is ideally situated to take advantage of the rebounding international market in exotic hardwoods. Growing environmental concerns in Europe and North America, aided by development of the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) certification regime, are greatly increasing the global demand for sustainably harvested, premium hardwoods. Imperial’s full-service, FSC-certified milling facilities, state-of-the-art siting and design of new plantations, and talented, knowledgeable, and experienced staff insure its long-term ability to profitably supply this growing and lucrative market.