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A Sustainable Cycle
that Drives our Industries

Gum resin extracted from pine forests is the main raw material of the Grupo RB, a natural product that supplies our industrial units, where rosin and turpentine, the main derivatives of gum resin, are produced.

In your daily life, you have probably used many products derived from gum resin, employed in the chemical, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Examples include paints, varnishes, adhesives, chewing gum, depilatory waxes, perfume essences, ointments for muscle pain, camphor, and many other products.

But for you to have access to these products made from gum resin, years of research and much effort were required.
fieldwork.

Currently, the traditional method of extracting gum resin in the forests is done manually, a practically artisanal process, performed on each pine tree individually.

The Grupo RB has achieved market leadership in natural resins through significant investment in its resin extraction teams.
We are currently the largest employers in the sector.

The entire resin extraction process is carried out by a specialized field team, constantly trained to properly conduct the procedures for streaking, collecting, and storing the resin gum.

The quality of the gum resin produced by the Grupo RB has earned market recognition due to the development of the best extraction and transportation techniques in its resin production operations.

Aiming to optimize this process, in addition to the traditional drum removal method, our resin extraction process is pioneering in collection.
Mechanized transport, known as transshipment, is done using hydraulic buckets to transport the collected resins to the factories.

Next, learn about resin tapping operations:

What is Resin Extraction?

Resin tapping consists of extracting gum resin from trees of the genus Pinus, through small periodic incisions on the outside of their trunk. Generally, the activity begins in stands with an average diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 18 cm. The species with the greatest productivity potential in Brazil are Pinus elliottii, Pinus caribaea-hondurensis, Pinus caribaea-caribaea, Pinus caribaea-bahamensis, Pinus oocarpa and hybrids of Pinus elliottii.

Each face produces approximately 4.5 kg of resin per year.

However, some plants selected in the breeding program produce more than 10 kg of resin per year, thus demonstrating great potential for selection and genetic improvement for this trait.

Productivity is influenced by genetic and edaphoclimatic factors specific to each region.

Our Difference

  • With a long-standing tradition in the market, our resin extraction method is already operationally well-established and recognized by several companies in the forestry sector.
  • By boosting the local economy, resin extraction generates revenue from the forest earlier, resulting in profits equal to or even greater than those obtained solely from selling the timber.
  • Sustainable Planted Forest, does not generate any type of waste or environmental liability at the gum resin production site;
  • It prevents rural exodus and helps keep people in the countryside.
  • Each face produces approximately 4.5 kg of gum resin per year;
  • It boosts the local economy; resin extraction brings forward forest revenues, generating results equal to or even greater than those obtained solely from the sale of timber.

Forest Cycle

In summary, the forest cycle consists of the following steps:

Forest implementation

Area preparation and planting of pine seedlings. After planting, it is essential to carry out cultural practices such as mowing and ant control.

Preparation for Resin Extraction

To ensure optimal performance in resin extraction, forest maintenance should be carried out during the first 7 years. Ideally, branches should be above the height of the tapping panel at this stage. Depending on the planting spacing, thinning is recommended, and pruning is also essential.

Start of Resin Extraction

Around the tenth year, the forest is already in ideal conditions to begin the first resin extraction season; generally, gum resin extraction can be carried out for 10 consecutive years (seasons).

Madeira Harvest

At the end of the resin extraction process, the forest will be approximately 20 years old, ready for harvesting and planting of pine seedlings, initiating a new forest cycle.

Estimates per hectare in the cycle: 500 – 700 m3 of wood and 30 – 50 tons of gum resin.

Are you familiar with the resin extraction process?

Learn about our resin tapping process in a simple and straightforward way.

Installing the Bag

The method uses a tool called a scoring tool, which creates a horizontal groove in the tree, resulting in a base for positioning the bag. At this point, a groove is made, a plant-based stimulating paste is applied, and the bag is placed.

Stretch mark

The resin tapping season begins in October and extends until September of the following year. During the spring, summer, and autumn seasons, the tapping and collection of the resin gum takes place; and in winter, the finishing and preparation for the next harvest occurs. As the harvest progresses, the tapping advances on the panel one after another, requiring changes in the shape and tools used. Usually, the width is maintained between 2 and 2.5 cm and the length 20 cm.

NORMAL

Following from the first striation up to a height of 1.40m

MACHETE OR DIAGONAL

Following from 1.40m to 1.60m

In "V"

Following from 1.60m to 2.20m

Collect

This activity involves collecting the resin stored in the bag. This collection can be semi-mechanized or manual. It is carried out 2 to 4 times a year on each tree, maintaining a continuous flow of collection.

• Semi-mechanized collection: Used in large areas with teams specifically trained for this activity, where the terrain's topography allows for mechanization;

• Manual collection: It is used in smaller areas or areas with irregular topography.

Sack climb

This activity is performed whenever the strip is far from the panel. It usually occurs during the harvest season, and the panel is raised to a maximum height of 1.2 meters.

Forest Transport - Factory

In addition to the traditional transport of drums, our group is a pioneer in the transshipment and transport of gum resin in containers using the "Roll-On-Roll-Off" system to manufacturing plants. 

In our logistics operations, we utilize various modes of road transport, all in compliance with Law No. 9.503/97 of the Brazilian Traffic Code.
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