Metalworking is a very important process that is used in working with different kinds of metals. It is essential in many industries because it plays a significant role in the whole production process of certain goods. It has been around for millions of years and has undergone a lot of modifications and improvements over the years. A long, long time ago, the ancient men were not aware of the existence of metal. They used to utilize stones and wood for cutting or hunting for their food. When they discovered metals, they began to replace their tools and weapons. Those that were made of metals turned out to be more durable and long lasting than those that were made out of wood or bones. That was when metalworking was born.

The process started out as something simple. No sophisticated equipment or technology was available at that time yet, so it was up to the men to learn how to make their lives easier and more comfortable. They used metals to hunt and cook for food. They also used them to make weapons. As time went on, metals were made into decorative ornaments for their homes and bodies. Religious artifacts, memorabilia and jewelry have started popping up. Metalworking has become a process that covers a very broad area.

In no time, several types of tools and machineries were invented to keep up with the continuous progress of metalworking. Manual labor was not enough to meet the demands anymore, so the addition of more modern innovations became apparent. Simple machineries such as presses, rollers and benders came out and proved to be extremely useful in metalworking. They made everything faster and more efficient. Nowadays, metalworking is not only treated as a science. It is also a job and a hobby. More and more people have become interested in learning this process because of the different kind of fulfillment it gives once you see the end products of your hard work. Metalworking has indeed contributed a lot not only to the people in this industry but to the rest of the society as well.

The history of the export of Thai silk during the twentieth century has been one of great ups and downs, and is often clouded by inaccurate of nonexistent data. For instance, export figures for finished silk do no exist until the post-war years, but earlier data concerning export of raw silk will suffice to illustrate the industry’s plunges. While in 1990, raw silk worth 141,468 baht was exported, in the 1930′s this figure fell to less than 500 baht. Similarly, the export of Thai silk has undergone similar fluctuations since it began to figure prominently around 1950, when half a million baht was earned in foreign export.

During the 1950′s, Thai silk followed a rather steady upswing and then leaped in the early 1960′s into the 20 to 30 million baht per year rang. This can be attributed to promotion of the fabric by Her Majesty the Queen, who included dresses fashioned of Thai silk in her world tour wardrobe in 1961. By the following year, 1962, export of Thai silk was earning 26.6 million baht per year. This figure further increased in 1963 to 34 million baht, a gigantic leap from the figures of the 50′s -all considerably below ten million baht.

Apart from earning much-needed foreign exchange for the country and aiding in decreasing Thailand’s overall trade deficit, the export of Thai silk figures prominently in other areas. It is, for instance, instrumental in the development of the underdeveloped and underemployed Northern region, where very limited sericultural techniques and little marketing knowledge are gradually being eradicated by technical programs and instructional aid. The growing demand for Thai silk throughout the world can not help but improve the methods and lives of the individual growers and weavers throughout Thailand.

Undoubtedly one of the most stunning and unique textile products available in the world, it has been said the Thai silk is one of Thailand’s most effective ambassadors of goodwill abroad. Carried by most of the leading department stores in America and Europe, and gaining acceptance in other areas of the world, Thai silk implants the name Thailand in the minds of those who choose to wear it and women in over 50 countries of the world correctly do. It also introduces the country itself in the great fashion centers of the world, since leading designers – including Pierre Balmain and Elizabeth Arden- feature it in their collections.

With the efforts of the Government, including the Silk Promotion Committee, and the great strides being made at sericultural research centers such as the one at Korat, improved worm strains and eradication of disease do indeed point to a bright future for the export of Thai silk. As tourism is now the number two industry in Thailand, the “invisible export” of the approximately 180 million baht worth of Thai silk bought annually by tourists must not be neglected either. All these factors combined indicate a sound future for the industry, increased earnings for the nation, the enhancement of the Thai reputation world-wide,- and perhaps most important of all – the economic development of the underprivileged Northern and improved standard of living for the tens of thousands involved in sericulture throughout the region.