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TA K I N G

STOCK

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

TIME IS FREE BUT IT’S PRICELESS

Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. Street Address: 225 Hanrick Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3317 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 Telephone: 334-834-1170 Fax 334-834-4525

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Publisher David H. Ramsey Chief Operating Officer Dianne C. Sullivan

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Editor-In-Chief Rich Donnell Senior Editor Dan Shell Senior Associate Editor David Abbott Senior Associate Editor Jessica Johnson Associate Editor Patrick Dunning

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Publisher/Editor Emeritus David (DK) Knight

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Production Manager/Art Director Cindy Segrest Ad Production Coordinator Patti Campbell Circulation Director Rhonda Thomas Online Content & Marketing Manager Jacqlyn Kirkland

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Advertising Sales Manager David H. Ramsey • (334) 834-1170

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES SOUTHERN U.S. Kathy Sternenberg • (251) 928-4962 ksternenberg@bellsouth.net Classified Advertising Bridget DeVane • (334) 669-7837 • 1-800-669-5613 bdevane7@hotmail.com MIDWEST USA, EASTERN CANADA John Simmons Mar-Tech Communications 32 Foster Cres.

Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1R 1W1 (905) 666-0258 Fax: (905) 666-0778 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com WESTERN USA, WESTERN CANADA Tim Shaddick 4056 West 10th Ave, Vancouver BC Canada V6L 1Z1 604-910-1826 Fax: (604) 264-1397 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca Kevin Cook (604) 619-1777 E-mail: lordkevincook@gmail.com INTERNATIONAL Murray Brett 58 Aldea de las Cuevas Buzon 60 03759 Benidoleig (Alicante), Spain Tel: +34 96 640 4165 +34 96 640 4048 E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net

oyOMartin supplied a short article in this issue on its 25th anniversary celebration since the startup of its softwood plywood mill in Chopin, La. The mill produced its first press load in March 1996 and yours truly visited the mill and wrote the cover story that appeared in the November 1996 issue of Panel World. Jonathan Martin, who passed away in September 2019, walked me through the plant that day.

I remember that Martin was jovial as he showed off the new mill, and why not? Greenfield softwood plywood plants were rare indeed (and still are) and the newness of everything there made it a can’t miss opportunity for the two Nikon cameras and Sunpak flashes that dangled around my neck. Why two? One for the black & white film, one for the color film. Indeed the photos and article turned out well, in looking back at that November issue. But what also struck me was all that was going on in the pages of our magazine 25 years ago.

The Martco story carried the cover, but inside the same issue was an article a staffer had written on the new Weyerhaeuser OSB mill in Heaters, W. Va., which had started up that August, processing mostly low grade hardwoods.

The mill ran a 12x24 ft. Washington Iron Works press.

That issue of Panel World also had a story on the new OSB mill built by Norbord Industries at La Sarre, Quebec, this one with a Siempelkamp multi-opening press.

Here are some other developments that showed up in the issue. If you’re at least 50 years old today, they may jog your memory: —APA held its 60th annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., with a lot of discussion about the path to quality.

R

—Forest Service agents raided a blockade put up by preservationists in the Willamette National Forest.

—Temple-Inland announced it would build a cement fiberboard plant near Dallas/Fort Worth.

—Plum Creek announced the purchase of 538,000 acres, a sawmill and a plywood mill at Joyce, La. from Riverwood International.

—Sunpine Forest Products and Dieffenbacher announced they would construct a continuous microwave LVL press line.

—Eagle Forest Products in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Can. produced its first OSB panel.

—Kenneth Ford, founder of Roseburg Forest Products, at age 88 received the Harry A. Merlo Award administered by the World Forestry Center in Portland, Ore. The presenter was Harry himself.

Some of the advertisers in that issue, such as DurandRaute, Electronic Wood Systems, Con-Vey and Texpan, are advertising in the issue in your hands.

And, 10 people listed in our magazine staff box are still working hard for us today.

So maybe 25 years ago isn’t really that long.

P.S. The headline for this column is a PW quote of author Harvey MacKay.

RICH DONNELL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Ph: 334-834-1170 Fax: 334-834-4525 e-mail: rich@hattonbrown.com

PanelWorld • MAY 2021 • 3

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(Founded as P l y w o o d & P a n e l in 1960—Our 508th consecutive issue) VOLUME 62 NO. 3

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MAY 2021

Visit our web site: www.panelworldmag.com

28

QUALITY CONTROL Be On The Lookout

MAN OF EXPERIENCE Tarlok Kainth

TAKING STOCK 25 Years Ago

PROJECTS Worldwide

WHAT’S NEW Safety Boots

UPDATE RoyOMartin

CLIPPINGS Chambord OSB

GEO DIRECTORY Veneer/Panel Suppliers

PANEL REPAIR Swanson Group

SUPPLY LINES WMF On Tap

EVENTS Coming To Life

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58 59

54

COVER:

Egger’s timing couldn’t have been better as its new particleboard production complex in North Carolina hits its stride. Story begins on PAGE 12. (Dan Shell photo)

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Panel World (ISSN 1048-826X) is published bimonthly by Plywood & Panel World, Inc., P.O. Box 2268, Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 (334) 834-1170, Fax (334) 834-4525. Subscription Information— PW is sent free to owners, operators, managers, purchasing agents, supervisors and foremen at veneer operations, plywood plants, composite products plants, structural and decorative panel mills, engineered wood products plants and allied exportimport businesses throughout the world. All non-qualified U.S. subscriptions are $50 annually; $60 in Canada; $95 (Airmail) in all other countries (U.S. funds). Single copies, $5 each; special issues, $20 (U.S. funds). Subscription Inquiries—TOLL-FREE 800-6695613; Fax 888-611-4525. Go to www.panelworldmag.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe or renew via the web. All advertisements for Panel World magazine are accepted and published by Plywood & Panel World, Inc. with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Plywood & Panel World, Inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses, or other liability resulting from any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. Plywood & Panel World, Inc. neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Panel World. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reject any advertisement which it deems inappropriate. Copyright ® 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Printed in USA. Member, Verified Audit Circulation Managed By Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc.

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UPDATE

25TH BIRTHDAY FOR CHOPIN PLYWOOD

RoyOMartin commemorated 25 years of operations at its plywood manufacturing facility in Chopin, La. with a ceremony featuring a look back at the beginning stages of the plant and the impact it has had on the company and community since its inception.

Construction began in August 1994 on the Natchitoches Parish mill, which continues to be one of the largest of its kind in North America. Its first press load of southern yellow pine plywood panels was produced on March 8, 1996. The mill was the cover story for the November 1996 issue of Panel World.

Actually then president, the late Johnny Martin had drawn up a new pine sawmill to take advantage of the company’s substantial pine timberland coming of age, but the more Martin and his team looked at the situation, the clearer it became that a softwood plywood plant was the answer. “We felt in the long term that

35 current employees experienced the original startup at RoyOMartin’s plywood facility.

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UPDATE

plywood had some inherent advanyears, but none of that makes this tages over solid wood, mainly from a history worth celebrating until we wood utilization standpoint,” Martin add the dedication of the men and told Panel World in 1996. The plant women who have stood through the at startup boasted a little more than good and not-so-good times. We are 400,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing the best because of them.” space. “We really wanted to put forth Also honored at the event was a first class facility,” Martin said.

Joe Mackay, who served as vice In the past 25 years, employment president of plywood for nearly 20 has more than doubled, leading to a years. “Joe has made an invaluable substantial economic impact on the impact on the organization,” said region.

Martin as he presented Mackay The 24/7 operation manufactures with the Leadership Award. “He is a variety of SmartCore branded plya true industry leader.” wood panels, as well as timbers, Regarding the anniversary, Vice boards, and specialty products—all President of Plywood Jeremy Bursold throughout the U.S. and, in RoyOMartin has continually upgraded and expanded ford stated, “What we are most operations at Chopin. some cases, around the world. proud of is our reputation in the “We didn’t want to build a plant wood products industry for taking that made rated sheathing like everywe have two lathes, 720 people, a timcare of our people through world-class body else,” stated Chairman, CEO and ber mill, and a forestry office. That’s safety and wellness programming, unCFO Roy O. Martin III during the ceresome growth.” matched employee benefits, and our mony in March. “We decided, way back Thirty-five current employees from the self-directed advancement program. then, we were going to build a state-oforiginal startup team were honored for The entire plywood team continues to the-art finishing end to make the kind of their 25 years of service to the company. demonstrate its commitment to working products that are built to last. We startCOO E. Scott Poole commented, “We safely, operating at top efficiency, and ed with one lathe and 330 people. Now may have added equipment through the satisfying customers every single day.”

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AUTOMATION, INNOVATION HIGHLIGHT NEW EGGER PLANT AS IT RAMPS UP PRODUCTION North America’s newest particleboard and TFL plant makes big splash in North Carolina.

BY DAN SHELL

LINWOOD, NC roduction continues to ramp up at Egger Wood Products’ new facility here, the Egger Group’s first U.S. particleboard and thermally-fused laminating (TFL) plant that features state-of-the-art automation and technology as part of a three-phase $700 million investment in the North American market.

It’s a big step for the family-owned Egger Group, founded in 1961 and based in St. Johann in Tirol, Austria.

The company operates 20 forest products manufacturing facilities in nine countries. Products include laminates, MDF, edge banding, OSB, lumber and particleboard. The 2.83 billion (Euro)

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company employs more than 10,000 worldwide.

Featuring 850MMSF (3⁄8 in. basis) capacity, the plant and its facilities create a compelling showcase for Egger and its products. Highlights include: ● The latest in composite board manufacturing technology. With Egger’s first North American plant, the company sought to apply best practices developed at other Egger facilities and incorporate them in the new North Carolina operation. ● Almost complete automation as Egger board products are manufactured and laminated. A fully automated warehouse serviced by crane systems is used to store panels between the board plant and laminating plant, bringing stacks of board to the laminating lines as needed.

In fact, the only forklifts on site are used exclusively for truck loading. ● The full service Design Center showcases Egger products and includes several “rooms” that highlight Egger panels and TFL products in various applications. The facility allows Egger to more closely connect with customers at a higher level, working with architects and furniture designers as well as wholesalers and industrial accounts.

The facility includes walls full of product samples and also working and meeting areas. The showroom area features a studio for remote meetings and video production if needed. ● A technical apprentice program begun in 2018 to train personnel for the new plant has now expanded to other employers as well and also involves

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Egger Project Manager Bernhard Vorreiter, left, and Plant Manager, Technics and Production Bernhard Ebner

Laminating plant features two shortcycle presses.

local community colleges.

According to Bernhard Ebner, Plant Manager, Technics and Production, the plant is at about 70% capacity since its first board was produced in September 2020. He expects the facility to be at full capacity by mid summer.

PROJECT, DESIGN Egger Project Manager Bernhard Vorreiter notes the company explored several options, including buying an established plant, but decided the best way to meet Egger’s objectives was to build their own.

Two key players in the project are Professional Engineering Associates in Greenville, SC and Gray Construction in Lexington, Ky. “Building and con-

Innovative apprenticeship program helps grow future work force.

struction are very different here,” Vorreiter says, praising the two firms for their work.

Professional Engineering Associates did a great job handling unfamiliar building code and regulatory requirements, he says, and Gray was able to translate many of Egger’s European building designs and techniques—the use of glulam beams in the ceiling rafters, for example—into the new facility.

Vorreiter says the design incorporated equipment and processes to handle the predominant 4x8 and 5x9 with some x10 panel sizes for the U.S. market, but to also produce different panel sizes, particularly larger, and introduce them into the North American market. “We believe it’s an added value for customers, allowing them to use the materi-

al more efficiently,” he adds.

With such a variety of sizes, “This led to a high automation level, plus an impact on the general layout of the plant,” Vorreiter says, adding that the facility “is the most advanced plant we have.”

The facility consists of four main areas: particle preparation, board production, board cutting and storage, and the laminating plant. All raw material entering the site is handled by conveyor systems, from the particle intake and drying, sizing and prep area, to the particleboard plant where raw board is produced, finished and shipped. Raw board destined for the laminating plant is transferred to the automated warehouse where it’s stored until needed at the laminating plant.

Product retrieval and schedul- ➤ 16 PanelWorld • MAY 2021 • 13

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Plant currently utilizes hardwood and softwood mill chips and sawdust.

“It was a new level of commissioning,” Vorreiter says of the process that in some cases included on-site electricians and PLC technicians doing inputoutput checks while remotely-connected vendor reps looked on.

PEOPLE INVESTMENT

Quality control is a major emphasis for Egger particleboard and TFL production.

13 ➤ ing from the warehouse is controlled by the plant’s ERP system from SAP. Personnel enter work orders into the SAP system detailing the board packs needed for the TFL product being manufactured, and a crane system retrieves the board packs and deposits them on a conveyor that feeds into the laminating facility.

Vorreiter says Egger likes the idea of having the laminating plant so close to the board plant for efficiency and quality reasons. The warehouse board feeding system also keeps production at a high and consistent level. “Maximum productivity raises efficiency,” Vorreiter says. “The smaller the production level the lower the efficiency.”

STARTUP As final decisions were made about the project’s scope in early 2017, the company built a timeline for the new plant. Eventually, despite two hurricanes and related flooding issues after the decision was made to build at the

North Carolina site near Lexington, Egger was impressively three months ahead of its internal project timeline as of early 2020—and then the COVID pandemic hit.

The onset of the pandemic greatly slowed much of the economy, and the group of contractors, suppliers and vendors worked through issues to get the job done. The goal was to be started up and running by the end of the third quarter, maybe early fourth quarter 2020—and that goal was met nevertheless.

Vorreiter says the work of all involved is to be commended, from the Egger personnel and contractors on site who worked through historically tough conditions affecting personnel and supply chains to vendors in the U.S. and Europe and also Egger’s home office in Austria.

“Our suppliers were very supportive,” Vorreiter says, noting that travel restrictions were loosened in July 2020 that allowed some technicians to return to the U.S. to complete work in the sixto seven-week period leading up to the first board produced in early September.

Investing in people is a key Egger philosophy. Ebner says that well before startup, the second major step undertaken after the design-build phase began was to establish an apprenticeship program in 2018.

The four-year program develops maintenance technicians, electricians and mechanics. Currently involving around 25 students, Ebner says he hopes to expand it in the future.

“We’re very proud of it,” Ebner says.

In partnership with the local DavidsonDavie Community College, Egger has seen the program also expand to other manufacturers in the area. The program is now known as the Davidson-Davie Apprenticeship Consortium, and additional partners include the BMK Group, Ingersoll-Rand, Mohawk Industries and others.

On site, Egger built a large classroom and accompanying machine shop for students to apply their training and newfound skills in real-world situations.

“We try to train and invest a lot in people,” Ebner says. “We believe that sets us apart from a lot of our competitors in the industry.”

FLOW, SUPPLIERS Raw material for the plant is procured within a 100 mile radius as the plant sources a variety of wood, including hardwood and softwood sawmill chips and sawdust, most of the material within an hour’s drive.

Incoming loads are accepted to the mill with two Bruks truck dumps. Chips feed to a Bruks radial stacker and on to

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Emissions control includes wet ESP and this fourchamber Dürr RTO.

Egger’s first North American plant has big goals.

Plant structure includes European touches like these glulam ceiling beams above the continuous press line.

Pallmann ring knife flakers. Sawdust is moved via push floor system to a series of storage silos, passing under a metal detector and PAL screening system along the way. Larger particles are routed to an EcoPulser.

The plant operates separate silos for hardwood and softwood sawdust and chips. Each features SHW silo storage and discharge systems. The plant is constantly monitoring chip-dust ratio to ensure proper board density and overall quality.

After leaving the silos, the material is sent to two Büttner direct-fired rotary dryers, one for core material and one for face material, bringing moisture content to 5% and less. The dryers are fired with natural gas and dust. Plans call for eventually accepting roundwood at the facility, and adding a biomass boiler once that phase is in place.

Dryer exhaust gases are handled by an EWK wet ESP system and a four module CleanSwitch RTO system from Dürr Systems. The two chamber, singlevalve design with 260,600 ACFM rated design flow features a single, patented switch valve that greatly reduces maintenance and almost eliminates pressure spikes associated with valve changes.

The plant features extensive safety and suppression systems, including GreCon spark detection at three designated areas (chip preparation and drying with more than 50 zones; forming and press; and short cycle press in the lamination facility). In addition, there are conveyor sprinklers from American Fire, an explosion protection system from ATEX and a Minimax foam suppression system on the press.

Following dry chip preparation, the primary production line features an Imal

glue and blending system (using urea formaldehyde glue along with catalyst and wax mixture), and four CMC Texpan formers (two face and two core).

Sawdust-based particles are used for the face material, and chip-based particles are used for the core.

A Siempelkamp ContiRoll 10 ft. x 43.7 m continuous press pressed the first board at the new facility in September 2020, Egger now operates 15 Siempelkamp ContiRoll presses across its 20 plants. The new press operates with Berndorf belts and is heated by a Ness hot oil system.

Exiting the press, boards pass through GreCon board measuring and scanning equipment for blow detection and thickness control. GreCon also provided an inline continuous board weight measurement system, plus moisture measurement systems in the dryer area and at the forming station.

The master panels, as large as 10x18, go to a Kontra flying saw, then to three Kontra star cooling stations. Sanding is handled by a Steinemann unit. The master panels are stored in a Brunnhuber crane warehouse before they are sawn into various formats, including 4x8 and 5x10 panels, and readied for shipping with an Orgapak shipping station.

Or, boards are conveyed to the high bay warehouse, where they are lifted and placed into storage by an LTW crane system that also delivers boards to a conveyor feeding into the laminating plant. The building stores laminating papers and films as well.

The laminating plant currently features two short cycle Wemhöner press lines, heated by an additional Ness hot oil system. The facility uses impregnated laminating papers that are produced at other Egger plants. Plans are to add an impregnating line at a later date.

Panels are edged and trimmed after laminating and are prepared for shipping PW at an Orgapak packaging station.

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QC EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted these editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements placed elsewhere in this issue. All statements and claims are attributable to the companies.

ALTEC Altec introduces electric servo motor driven rolls. Back up rolls are crucial to the peeling operation; we already control the position of the rolls during the peel but now we can very accurately control the speed and torque of each roll. When used in conjunction with our electric driven roller bar we have accurate and complete control of all points of contact with the block. The system is offered as an option on all of our new back up rolls and is controlled by our lathe controls.

Roll speed must match or slightly surpass surface speed of the block. If not, it will add resistance and cause spinouts and worsen veneer quality.

By using electric servo motors, we have absolute control of the roll speed throughout the whole peel process. Hydraulic roll motors can only run at a constant speed. They are crudely set using a flow control at the pump and a hand tachometer on the roll.

We have the ability to control the amount of torque we put on each Quality improvement through electric driven back up rolls motor. By utilizing the torque feedback, we are be able to dynamically change operator offsets to achieve the best peel quality.

The maintenance of an electric motor to hydraulic will always be less. There are many parts in a hydraulic system that can wear out and there are no diagnostics to show where the issue is. We have extensive diagnostics screens built into our lathe controls to provide real time feedback on what each roll is doing. This system further reduces the need of hydraulics and the energy/ownership/maintenance costs that come with them.

We offer full mechanical and electrical installation supervision and commissioning.

BAUMER Baumer Inspection has successfully commissioned several raw board scanners—ColourBrain RawBoard 4.0—in Asia, including at Green River Panels at Trang in 2020, one of the largest panel producers in Thailand. Officially introduced at Ligna in May 2019, the first system was installed at a world-leading panel producer in Germany in the same month. Currently, more scanners are being commissioned in other parts of Europe and Asia, especially in China.

ColourBrain RawBoard 4.0 is an inspection system that detects typical process errors in the production of chipboards and medium and high density fiberboards. Using automatic optical inspection systems and evaluation statistics, errors such as grinding defects, surface damage, and spots caused by oil, water and dust contamination can be identified for rectification and process optimization.

ColourBrain RawBoard 4.0 automatically differentiates between sporadic and process-related defects, increasing first-choice output and reduces customer complaints. With live production monitoring, the integration of all systems into one control system and a common defect database, extensive customized reports can be generated to troubleshoot process deficiencies.

This also helps in the conservation of materials and manpower.

Available in three compact sizes, this system takes up minimal space in production lines and Inspection system gains momentum. is easy to install, clean and maintain. It can be integrated with any existing transport system, and its predefined interface protocols allows flexible machine-to-machine communication

BIELE Biele Group has been developing and supplying quality control systems for many years in order to provide additional value to complete turnkey lines supplied to the customers. In recent years this activity has been headed by the Biele Artificial Vision & Robotics division, providing these services in various lines in multiple sectors, including: l Door press and trimming lines l HPL trimming lines l Furniture packaging lines l Embossed in Register (EIR) pressing lines for panel and for flooring l Veneer sheets processing lines Moreover, Biele Group is providing customized high-end handling solutions that are installed to maximize the opportunities that the 20 • MAY 2021 • PanelWorld

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QC quality control systems are providing, including automatic outsorting and insorting systems of panels and sorting and stacking of different quality panels.

One of the latest examples is a complete manufacturing line for residential doors, where Biele has included a new quality control technology developed by Biele Artificial Vision & Robotics. This cutting-edge technology integrates in a small form factor vision system (only 750 mm wide) 14 cameras to detect defects in all six sides of the doors.

The artificial vision equipped in this line enables the system to detect up to 40 different type of defects. These imperfections include knot holes, resin pockets, skin delaminating, split timber, glue on face, water marks, trim damage, poor trim, loose lip, open joint, face decoloration.

14 cameras integrated in a small form factor vision system.

The key to this technology is to merge and synchronize in only one vision system what normally would be done by three or four different systems. The other key remains how easily this quality control solution can be adapted to layout restrictions.

Furthermore, Biele Group is able to develop this quality control solution without losing the hallmark that characterizes their engineering—the customization of its production lines. Biele Group adds the feature of advanced customization in all the projects, no matter what product is manufactured and no matter what wood-based raw material is used.

BÜTTNER Büttner Energie- und Trocknungstechnik GmbH, a member of the Siempelkamp Group, has acquired a first-class reputation as a leading international supplier of drying systems, energy systems and burners. Now the company is operating to better meet the customer’s requirements—with the new Büttner Service Center.

Countless Büttner units are operating effectively around the world particularly for production of wood-based materials, in pellet production, in the sugar industry and in the field of biomass fuels, pulp and paper, bioethanol, as well as starch, fruit and vegetable oil.

Büttner provides engineering, delivery, assembly, commissioning and worldwide after-sales service for international industrial clients.

The committed team of Büttner engineers and service personnel New Service Center enhances project satisfaction. also take on modernization work, modifications, performance upgrades, and general service work for existing drying systems, energy systems and burners from any manufacturer.

“Customers remember the service a lot longer than they remember the price,” the company states. The Büttner team has expanded and improved its offered services with the new Büttner Service Center according to this motto. That’s because after the purchase, the customer relationship moves to a new phase where long-term customer satisfaction must be assured.

“Close cooperation with our customers over the entire lifespan of our units is extremely important to us. We are intensifying this dialogue with the new Büttner Service Center. Here we not only want to expand our service, but to systemize and more actively develop it,” according to Christoph Müsgen and Rickard Modling, Heads of the Büttner Service Center. Müsgen leads the business in Krefeld, and Modling oversees the North American market.

The Service Center’s range extends from established field service and spare parts to complete modernization packages and remote service offers. Thus, plant operators receive faster and more targeted support when it comes to optimizing the performance of their drying systems, energy systems and burners.

An academy with training opportunities, webinars and special courses is being planned so that plant operators can take part in customized advanced training. “In addition, we are determining further potentials in service so that we can more directly respond to our customers’ needs,” add Müsgen and Modling.

CMC TEXPAN Throughout the modern industrial era, the automation and control of the manufacturing process has become more and more important. Is it sufficient in itself to guarantee quality?

“Artificial intelligence is quite a popular concept; sometimes it may be even a bit of a cliché,” says Marco Granzotto, Sales Manager at CMC Texpan, the Italian subsidiary of the Siempelkamp group specializing in designing, engineering and manufacturing machinery and equipment for the wood-based panel industry. “However, it must be taken into consideration that quality is a target that requires a multi-sided approach, and the human factor is an essential component of it. Indeed, we are making significant efforts in the field of automated control systems based on machine learning, which will help improve speed and uniformity and will also enhance the interface PanelWorld • MAY 2021 • 21

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QC with operators: nevertheless, they represent a piece of the puzzle. We want to go beyond that, and we aim at a constant and proactive monitoring of our machines throughout their entire service life.”

There is a growing demand for Italian quality, especially in Southeastern Asia, which has become an extremely important destination market for CMC Texpan products, according to Granzotto. At the same time, costs must be kept as reasonable as possible. The core components of CMC Texpan machinery are designed, engineered and fabricated inhouse. To make the best possible use of all the available resources, the company assists its customers in defining the parts that (if needed) can be outsourced to other companies of the Siempelkamp group to minimize the impact of transportation and logistics (what is also desirable in terms of carbon footprint and sustainability). There’s no one-sided deci- The human factor as an effective approach to global quality sion making, but rather transparency and cooperation throughout the development of the project. Furthermore, each step is carefully followed by qualified specialists, who provide remote-based technical consultancy, but also visit the designated fabrication workshop abroad several times during the entire fabrication process, in full compliance with the strict health and safety regulations required by the peculiar scenario that is ongoing.

“Being a competent partner, capable of turning our customers’ ideas into successful, cost-effective and sustainable realities, this is an essential pillar of our philosophy,” Granzotto adds.

CON-VEY As a production professional, you know that quality control is necessary to ensure you’re providing the highest quality product to your customers. However, it can often feel like an inefficient use of time.

Quality control shouldn’t have to cost you in downtime in order to achieve your standards. At Con-Vey, we can help you reduce your downtime by providing an inspection station that speeds up the quality control process.

In the 3D model pictured, you can see how our Con-Vey designed QC station raises the panels above the pass height, which allows you to continue your operation while inspecting the panels. The solution shown has an automatically adjustable fence with a pneumatic rais- Con-Vey panel quality control station ing mechanism. This solution was also designed to have multiple mechanical safety devices combined with a safety PLC in order to allow the operator to inspect the panels without having to lockout/tagout.

Because no two lines are alike, we don’t just offer one solution. Other optional raising mechanisms available are electric (AC motors or servos) and hydraulic. What’s more, these inspection stations can be implemented in both existing and new lines.

As a leading equipment manufacturer and integrator, our team at Con-Vey excels at integrating quality control equipment such as thickness and blow devices, moisture detection devices, metal detectors, and QC stations. We have implemented inspection stations on saw, sanding, laminating and many other processing lines. Our priority is to work with you to create a solution that fits your budget and your specific needs. Let us know how we can help make your quality control process run more smoothly.

ELECTRONIC WOOD SYSTEMS Suitable methods for measuring system analysis are not prevalent in the wood industry. It is therefore commonplace that the results of measuring systems are questioned without foundation or, on the other hand, their qualification is over-estimated. Furthermore, there are no agreed procedures for acceptance tests. Beyond the measuring systems, the total production process capability and performance is commonly qualified on the basis of a (too) small number of samples, with tests on specimens from the lab-cuts.

Statistical methods in process management for capability and performance analysis are common practice in other branches, such as the automotive industry. The same applies to capability analysis of measuring systems as a pre-condition of the process qualification. However, their application in the wood industry is not straightforward and requires adaptations to the special conditions of materials and processes. ➤ 24 22 • MAY 2021 • PanelWorld

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Capability analysis of a thickness measuring system by means of repeat measurements on ceramic gauge blocks and calculation of the ratio of measuring uncertainty and panel tolerance

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QC

22 ➤ When evaluating in-line measuring systems, corresponding references are often not available; and questionably-defined comparative measurements do not provide reliable results. Even the capability analysis of hand-held and laboratory measuring devices is not common practice in the wood industry. Therefore, the guideline VDI 3415-2 (Woodworking machinery – Statistical methods) is currently being created in order to provide suitable capability analysis methods that consider both process and material conditions.

The fundamental approach of measuring system capability analysis is to evaluate the relation of measuring uncertainty and process variation (tolerance of the measured parameter). To this end, the gauge capability index or, more importantly, the quality indices and (ISO 22514-7), which consider the measuring system or the measuring process, respectively, are common figures. The calculated indices, or ratios, are compared to respective reference values in order to qualify the capability.

However, in-line measuring and inspection systems in the panel industry require further consideration: The performance test procedures must be suited to the versatile measuring tasks and conditions. Therefore, practice-oriented procedures have been developed by EWS for capability analysis of in-line measuring and inspection systems, based on statistical methods and suitable approaches from existing standards and guidelines. These are available to customers as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

For acceptance tests, reasonable comparison tolerances and individual guarantee values are calculated taking into consideration the uncertainties of both the measuring process and the respective reference method, as well as relevant influence parameters from the process and material. Ultimately, the user receives an instrument for evaluating existing, and assessing new, equipment.

The use of capable measuring and inspection systems helps the customer to improve the process performance.

GRECON The ultrasonic measuring system GreCon UPU 6000 works in-line detecting non-homogeneities in panel-shaped materials, such as wood based panels. Size and location of defective areas are recorded and visualized. Thus, defective panels can be identified and sorted out timely.

The measuring method supplies results for both thick panels of up to 2.16 in. (55 mm) thickness and light panels of a density of < 34.3 lbs/ft³ (550 kg/m³). Depending on the required quality, different defect types, such as blows, that allow a graded quality sorting can be configured.

Key Benefits: —Complete blow detection; detects blows reliably and in time —Early warning system to ensure optimum quality —100% measuring of the complete board width including the edges —Reveals optimization potentials in the production process; automatic recipe optimization —Reduction in pressing time —Faster product changes —Early detection and localization of hidden defects —Higher output by increase in production speed —High availability and operational reliability of the system —CT frame —Calibration without stopping production UPU 6000 CT in-line early blow detection —Maintenance while running production In the CT design, the frame construction is divided in the center. The right and left measuring frames can be separately triggered and moved pneumatically. Thus, maintenance work can be conducted without production interruption. Even escape runs are possible, if required, to protect the channels against damage.

The inspection channels required for measurement are mounted on a steel frame. The design of the system is individually adapted to the material to be measured and the local conditions. The frame can be equipped with a maximum of 128 inspection channels.

The closed frame concept protects all components, such as cable and air channels, transmitter electronics or compressed air lines, against surrounding environment. A hinged mechanism protects the channels against damage from big blisters.

GRENZEBACH Producing with consistently high quality and being able to intervene quickly in case of deviations and non-conformity—this is a need in veneer drying that Grenzebach successfully tackles by offering two sophisticated measuring technologies. These systems excel upstream and downstream of the drying process with their significant contribution to an efficient process control, preventing rejects and re-drying processes as far as possible. If the moisture level is too high, this can be instantly countered during the drying process. Furthermore, if there are deviations from the specifications of the veneer thickness, this can be directly readjusted during the peeling process.

Grenzebach’s VIL (Veneer Inspection Line) measuring system minimizes the risk of producing rejects with its line-integrated detection system for veneer thickness and moisture level. A clear and tangible additional benefit of the VIL measuring system is the possibility to measure moisture level, density and thickness of the veneer either individually or simultaneously.

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This measuring system provides valuable data for a precise process control and is preferably installed before the drying or after the peeling process. Even very high moisture levels can be reliably shown with the measuring system. By measuring the moisture levels prior to the drying process, the energy supply can be optimally controlled. Overdried or too moist veneer is thereby prevented.

This contactless measuring system can also be used directly after the peeling process. By accurately measuring the thickness at this process station, it is possible to ensure at an early stage that final products feature an optimal overall thickness after gluing.

Customers benefit from additional statistical analyses of the measured data thanks to Grenzebach’s VIL measuring system. The system allows the display of trends and supports different types of veneer. Grenzebach’s groundbreaking system is already preconfigured to support the major wood types such as beech, birch, oak, spruce or poplar.

In-line inspection system VSP The VSP (Veneer Scan Panel) line-integrated scanner detects all defect criteria for the quality grading of the veneer in a continuous process. The precise optical scanning technology detects and analyzes defects such as holes in the veneer sheet and even rough surface areas. Due to the simultaneous measuring of moisture levels, the veneer is also checked for precise drying. Within a second, the exact stacking position for the scanned veneer sheet is determined, based on the optical quality and moisture level.

HYMMEN With the JUPITER digital printing lines by Hymmen, you are able to print decors digitally in a reliable constant quality. Up to now, this was not possible for 80% of the decor variants. The new development of Automatic Color Calibration (ACC) by Hymmen guarantees this sustainable quality even for most complex decors with a high proportion of plain colors.

With ACC, Hymmen offers a completely integrated system for optimizing digitally printed pictures—all inline at industrial production level. The industry-proven, compact and maintenance-free line scan bar ensures highest precision on image registration. In a number of phases the analytic software “Picture Enhance” adjusts inconsistent print density and nozzle errors. It ensures the global and decor-specific optimization of the digital print image. The Digitally printed stone decor without (left) and with seamless integration into the user interface of the Hymmen digital printing (right) Automatic Color Calibration (ACC) lines is guaranteed as well as the fully automatic operation.

You can print even the most complex decors in the desired quality. Each production starts with optimal machine calibration. The color quality is documented in detail. And the highest stability of color and production is sustainably ensured.

IMAL-PAL Imal-Pal Group offers a complete range of online and laboratory quality control equipment: l DYNASTEAM: application mounted at the infeed to the continuous press on OSB, MDF and PB production lines, for injecting steam into the top and bottom of the mat to increase production by as much as 30%. Other benefits include optimized density profile, less porous surface, lower formaldehyde emission and a reduction in resin consumption. More than 120 systems have been installed to date. l FBC200 (Full Blister Control detector): in comparison with current technology that utilizes a limited number of control channels to detect panel delamination, the newly designed FBC is able to control the whole width of the board. A lite version of this system is also available, the LBC100 (Lite Blister Classifier), which does not have as many sensors as Lite Blister Classifier 100 with enhanced detection coverage the FBC system, but its coverage is three times greater than standard channel systems. l Thickness gauging system is highly accurate and reliable for installation at the press outfeed and sanding line. Also supplied in combination with the LBC on the same supporting beam. l CDP700, essential for controlling MDF quality, is a rapid and extremely accurate online density profile analyzer, able to analyze thicknesses from 2 mm to 60 mm. The CDP700 installs both sensors below the board, a technical solution which protects the sensors from the vapors released by the board, hence they last longer and performance is not affected.

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QC l PSD400 (Press Security Device) is designed to protect continuous presses from foreign objects (stones, wire, chunks of resin, plastic) and other dense objects that could damage the belt; particularly important when producing thin panels. The X-ray system provides full mat width coverage and mat density is accurately displayed in 3D. l ISO30X (On-Line X-ray mat density gauge) performs an accurate on-line weight per surface unit analysis and is an essential device for managing and controlling mat formation. l MMW (Millimetre Wave Scanner) controls mat weight distribution online as well as moisture content, thickness and board weight after the press (the details are supplied for each layer in the case of PB and OSB production and not just for the board itself). Extremely accurate, rapid and safe scanning process without the application of X-rays or radioactive sources. l Online moisture meters: UM300, a true thermal weighing scale which applies the loss-in-weight principle; UM700, which utilizes infrared rays to measure moisture content; UM900, a microwave-operated analyzer for determining the amount of moisture present in chips, wood fiber or pellets.

SIEMPELKAMP Commissionings of wood-based material plants are milestones that usually bring together customer and supplier teams on the construction site. But worldwide travel restrictions due COVID-19 impose limits on this direct contact. Siempelkamp supports plant operators with an innovative concept—commissioning in remote mode. The advantage for the customer is a speedy and well-prepared commissioning process in which time gained means budget saved.

The 24/7 remote service of Siempelkamp Logistics & Service GmbH (SLS) is well established. If a plant has failed or if, for example, a plant optimization is pending, the remote system of SLS connects the customer plants to the central Siempelkamp remote server via the Internet and a service router after explicit approval by the customer. In this way, the plant status can be analyzed immediately, swiftly and, above all, securely. Due to the 24/7 service it is possible to provide im- Remote support during commissioning mediate support at anytime in case of a plant shutdown.

SLS relies on an internationally established system that has been specially developed for the stringent requirements governing remote maintenance systems in an industrial setting. Among other things, data security is ensured by a password-protected authentication procedure, a password policy and targeted access to released remote maintenance objects.

Since 2020, accompanied by the pandemic-related strict travel restrictions, Siempelkamp has extended this remote service to commissioning. Essential components are a service camera, data goggles and an Internet connection. After the first plant of a Siempelkamp customer was equipped with this concept in October 2020, 10 more plants have been added.

The service camera can be operated both online connected to the wireless network (WLAN) or offline via a memory card. It creates photos or films of the assembly progress, plant parts or production status. The data goggles can also do this, and much more: They allow working with your hands free while the Siempelkamp employee can follow along. Simultaneous audio transmission and additionally the transmission of images back to the one wearing the goggles can also be realized. Via a so-called conference center, data can be transferred from the plant to Siempelkamp and back again. Chats enable a constructive and descriptive dialogue between Siempelkamp and the customer’s plant network.

All this is possible right after the opening of the construction site and leads over to the remote service of SLS after commissioning.

The integration of the remote IBN into the infrastructure of our customers is designed in such a way that every plant can be equipped or retrofitted with it.

So far, remote commissioning has been targeted at the gluing area, HMI systems and applications, and server commissioning. Despite all the advantages of digital service, at least one Siempelkamp employee is still on site to coordinate the remote work in order to prevent damage to people and machines.

SWEED Sweed’s patented Vacuum Feeder Peel Cups and Smart Pause technology provide an exclusive and innovative approach for feeding green veneer into the dryer. Peel cups have proven to dramatically reduce green veneer double feeds by using their unique custom design.

In a recent study, a plywood mill in Oregon had previously experienced, on average, 15,000 double feeds per month over the course of a year. After installing the peel cups, the mill recorded just over 3,000 double feeds per month during a two-month period, immediately experiencing a 71% reduction in double feeds.

The secret behind the reduced double feeding is the patented peel cup Peel cups on vaccum feeder reduce double-feeds. design, which lifts the veneer sheet, then peels the outside edges from the stack before pulling it into the dryer tipple feeder. The peel cups’ lifting process mimics an operator’s efforts to separate two sheets 26 • MAY 2021 • PanelWorld

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QC from one another if they become stuck. The emulated process of the cup occurs mechanically, therefore not requiring assistance from the operator. Peel cups are adaptable to most existing Sweed feeders and, when installed, drastically reduce double feeds, reduce labor, allow for faster feed speeds, and provide more consistent moisture content levels.

To help increase dryer fill rates even more, Sweed’s Smart Pause technology can be included on a new Sweed feeder and infeed roll case. Smart Pause technology allows the operator additional time for overcoming a misfeed, or to quality check a stack and remove bad veneer before entering the dryer. This technology can provide a mill with a 99%+ dryer fill rate.

USNR USNR’s Automatic Dryer Exhaust Control (ADEC) system significantly reduces the two most critical costs in drying veneer by decreasing energy consumption at the dryer and lowering exhaust treatment expenses. This, coupled with the resulting productivity gains and improved veneer quality, makes the ADEC system a powerful tool in optimizing veneer drying operations.

The ADEC system automatically controls total dryer exhaust volume under all operating conditions and maximizes the thermal efficiency of the drying process. ADEC uses less energy to produce higher quality veneer and reduces the total amount of exhaust vented into the atmosphere while eliminating fire hazards due to pitch buildup 6-deck jet dryer infeed with ADEC single point exhaust system within the dryer.

ADEC improves dryer productivity by maintaining an internal humidity condition that optimizes the veneer drying process. As a result, drying times can be reduced and veneer quality improved due to the more humid condition inside the dryer.

Veneer manufacturers must also comply with national environmental standards, and the volume of emissions directly affects the size and cost of required pollution abatement equipment and air discharge equipment. Because the ADEC system dramatically reduces dryer exhaust volume, these systems can be smaller because they don’t have to treat as many VOC’s and particulates.

The cost of energy for any wood processing operation is a significant component of the cost of doing business. Therefore, it is important to implement effective measures to control energy consumption. The ADEC system improves the thermal energy efficiency of drying veneer and other panel products, thereby reducing a plant’s energy usage.

The ADEC system improves customer processes by enabling producers to manufacture higher quality veneer with a more uniform moisture content, while reducing the amount of energy used in the process. It also contributes to safer working environments by eliminating the buildup of pitch within the dryer thus dramatically reducing the possibility of fire.

WILLAMETTE VALLEY COMPANY

Molecular weight

As an innovation driven company, WVCO brings value-added solutions distribution (top) of two waxes with to our customers across 20+ discrete chemistry/technology platforms. Wax different morpholtechnology is one of these key platforms where WVCO brings innovation, ogy (conceptualquality, consistency and customer support. And keeping with WVCO’s ized: straight vs. commitment to excellence, wax product development is supported by inbranched chains), dustry leading R&D personnel and analytical capabilities. and the correOver the last six years, WVCO has expanded its wax capabilities to supsponding effect on port both internal and external product needs. Wax emulsions are a backcrystallinity bone component in premium WVCO sealers and paints. Externally, slack demonstrated by and emulsified wax products are used in the production of high quality and the melt profile durable wood-based composites. (bottom).

Wax, widely considered a commodity product, is in reality a complex blend of molecules with diverse morphologies. Using polymer characterization techniques such as GC-FID, DSC, DMA, TGA and laser light scattering, WVCO has decoded these heterogeneous systems and identified the key parameters that affect wax performance.

The image shown illustrates how molecular weight (MW) and morphology dictate wax volatility and crystallinity. These core properties directly affect wax hardness, brittleness, hydrophobicity, melt behavior and flash-point. Mastery of these characteristics allows us to engineer and optimize slack and emulsified wax formulas specific to our customer needs.

The WVCO wax program also includes several innovative products beyond conventional emulsions, standard to wood products and coatings industries. Some of the performance attributes include improved wax distribution and decreased wax volatility (flash point elevation). High solids emulsion products paired with in-line, metering dilution equipment allow customer flexibility for variable application rates across different product lines. Functionalized and bio-based waxes are also available.

WVCO takes pride in its growing wax technology and product portfolio. From analytical to production scale, WVCO R&D, manufacturing and business teams work together to provide its customers with innovative and high-performing products and service.

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KAINTH’S EXPERIENCE IN PRESS & PLATEN MANUFACTURING IS UNMATCHED Platen manufacturer Sherdil Precision has strong family foundation.

BY PATRICK DUNNING

he old saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Now if those same lemons are scrap machinery collecting dust in a warehouse, you’ll find Sherdil Precision Inc., of Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada, a major precision platen manufacturer, which has a knack for retrofitting outdated machinery to blend into its operations.

Owner of Sherdil Precision Inc., Tarlok Kainth, 70, has built a reputation in North America for his diverse machining capabilities. His roots go back to the Punjab region of northern India where the name Sherdil originated.

“Sherdil is a common name in India,” Kainth says. “Sher means lion and dil means heart. My son’s name is Dil and my nickname is Sher.”

Kainth describes the Sikhs culture in India as family-oriented and deeply religious with 22 languages spoken. “Steel is definitely in our blood,” he says of his mother and father who built steel cabinets for a living.

After World War II there was a shortage of labor in England and a demand for engineers. “There was nobody to build the roads and immigration was open at this time as long as you had the money for a plane ticket,” he says.

Kainth immigrated to England in 1963 and accepted an apprenticeship in 1968 to study mechanical engineering at City and Guilds of London Institute, Leicester,

T

England. He learned to adapt to a foreign environment.

“When I was in England I thought everything was made by the British,” he laughs. “I didn’t know any English so it was a bit of a culture shock. I remember other students following me home. It seemed like they wanted to see where a brown person lived, as if they’d never seen one before.”

INTO THE INDUSTRY Kainth graduated in 1972 from the mechanical engineering program and married his wife, Surinder, in England the same year. The newlyweds decided to cross the pond and moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1973 where Kainth’s oldest brother was residing. Living in a region known for its booming wood industry but having no income and two small children, Kainth and his youngest brother, Jog, decided to hit the road in hopes of finding an occupation. The two traveled nearly 3,000 miles from Vancouver to Toronto along the TransCanada Highway with only a couple hundred dollars to their name.

“When I was in Vancouver I couldn’t find a job so I rode with my brother for five days on a single road highway. We

drove through the British Columbia mountains, bypassed a rock landslide and almost hit a moose.” Kainth remembers.

“It was quite the journey.”

Kainth responded to an advertisement that press manufacturer Pathex International had placed in a local paper looking to hire a machinist. He was interviewed for the position by Peter West and hired on the spot. “Peter, who is still a good friend of mine, hired me and asked if I could run his Cincinnati planer mill.”

Kainth stayed nine years, serving as supervisor, then plant manager at Pathex.

While at Pathex, Kainth established a professional relationship with Wolf-Gerd Dieffenbacher, principal of the Germanbased press and machinery manufacturer, which was subcontracting to Pathex.

In the early 1980s, Dieffenbacher established a presence in North America and opened a manufacturing facility in Windsor, Ontario.

Wolf-Gerd approached Kainth in March 1986 and asked if he would relocate to Windsor and serve as general manager of Dieffenbacher‘s North America Div. After some consideration, Kainth accepted the offer.

On Kainth’s first trip to Germany, Wolf-Gerd introduced his uncle, Albert Dieffenbacher. To this day Kainth still

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From left: Sonya Cottrell, director of operations; Tarlok Kainth, owner; Reena Kainth, media and marketing manager Sherdil Precision’s MAG U5-1500 machining center produces platens up to 12 ft. wide x 62 ft. long x 6 ft. high.

considers Albert a friend and mentor. “I traveled to Germany several times a year and he showed me the ropes,” Kainth reflects. “I still remember going through a Dieffenbacher plant and a welder asked me to check a weld. As I was looking at the weld Dieffenbacher hit me over the head and said, ‘You didn’t look underneath!’ He was my mentor. You want to work around somebody who’s familiar with the industry.”

FRESH START Kainth and Dieffenbacher parted ways after seven years and after some thought, Kainth decided to build his own company from scratch in 1993. Kainth knew the wood products industry well and didn’t want to be anywhere else.

One trait that rubbed off on Kainth’s two daughters, who are completely involved in the business today, is risk taking. “We learned from our father that you have to take risks,” Sonya Cottrell, director of operations, says. “Sometimes you wonder if it’s the right time but you have to go with your gut. I’ve seen my father take risks so many times, how do I not be inspired by that?”

In the company’s early years Kainth worked alongside his wife Surinder, who

Kainth (pictured) retrofitted the same Cincinnati planer mill he operated at Pathex International in the 1970s.

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focused on administrative dumachining center. “The MAG ties, until Cottrell earned her was one I was saying to myself, Bachelors in Commerce Honhow does he envision that? I ors from the University of was impressed that he took this Windsor and joined the family piece of equipment and not business in 2000. only made it fit in our facility Sherdil worked with local but retrofit it the way he wantcompanies doing smaller maed to.” Cottrell served as prochining jobs shortly after its ject manager during the shop inception. Customers would and office expansion in 2019. approach Kainth with an idea The MAG purchase and instaland ask how to make it work. lation in 2020 required oneThe company came full cir- Sherdil Precision employs 25 and expanded its facility in 2019 to third of the facility’s freshly cle in 2010 after Kainth pur- accommodate for growing platen demands. poured cement to be ripped out chased and completely reto complete the project. designed the same manual Cincinnati Kainth says it was difficult to accurateKainth purchased the planer mill in planer mill Peter West introduced to him ly machine quality platens with the old 1997 and it sat in his backyard for 10 decades ago at Pathex.

Cincinnati planer mill which led to him years before he had enough money to “Siempelkamp purchased Pathex and acquiring the MAG U5-1500. The matransform the planer mill to a CNC operaafter two years they closed the operation. chine was designed for a specific project tion with a higher precision tolerance for All the equipment went up for auction General Electric was trying to get off the platen manufacturing. “Sometimes and the Cincinnati planer mill was purdreams do come true,” he says. ground. Sherdil’s MAG can now produce chased by Coe Manufacturing and stored Kainth’s passion for building precision platens up to 12 ft. wide x 62 ft. long x 6 in Ohio.” Kainth recalls. machines only deepens with time. And ft. high with a tolerance of 0.003 in.

“When I was working at Pathex on the “I changed all the controls to Heidenhis innovativeness is of no surprise to planer mill, I said one day I’m going to hain for the MAG and it’s basically a Cottrell, who says her father is thinking have a machine like this,” he says. “The brand new machine,” he says. “They around the clock especially when a proCincinnati ended up at Coe and I told had 60 tool changers and I changed it to ject is under way. them if they ever want to put that ma30. I’m really happy with the way I put “The MAG is one example,” Cottrell chine back together I know it like the this MAG together.” says about Sherdil Precison’s newest maback of my hand.”

Sherdil Precision sources its steel chine, a Cincinnati MAG U5-1500 CNC

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from multiple steel mills globally with customer material requirements usually ASTM A36 steel.

When material orders arrive after four to five months an independent ultrasonic test is completed to ensure any potential porosity is eliminated before gun-drilling, welding and machining processes. Platens typically take eight to 10 months to complete and popular dimensions include 8 ft. x 24 ft. and 10 ft. x 24 ft. Platens weigh anywhere between 20 and 30 tons each.

OPERATIONS TODAY The most recent 15 platens produced

by Sherdil Precision for USNR are scheduled to be delivered this year to Louisiana-Pacific’s engineered wood siding facility at Swan Valley, Manitoba, Canada. Another 15 precision platens are currently being manufactured for USNR for LP’s siding plant in Houlton, Me. Sherdil Precision refurbished nine press lines for laminate producer,

Wilsonart, for operations in Fletcher, NC and Temple, Tex. Each platen comes with a certificate stating the quality and specs of the final product: size, thickness, finish, number of zones.

Platens are also pressure tested then oil flow tested. “You have to make sure all the zones are working correctly and the temperature is even across the surface,” Kainth explains. Kainth ensures the quality of each platen personally.

Kainth says if platen demand keeps rising he’ll have to add another 10,000 sq. ft. to their manufacturing facility.

Cottrell adds, “As we were talking to the builder during the building expansion, my dad already had in mind that he didn’t want the back of the shop to have any hard permanent structure to it so the panels can come down and we can add more square footage if we need to. He always finds a way to make it happen. He sees things nobody else does and lays it out.”

About 70% of Sherdil Precision’s business is in the wood panel industry with 30% in the automotive industry.

Kainth is one of nine inventors of an aluminum warm forming multi-opening oven that Magna, an automotive technology supplier, patented in 2016. Sherdil Precision has four lines running in Ireland, one in England, and three in the U.S. that are for research and development. “It’s mainly for high-end cars like Mercedes and Audi because a lot of nicer cars in the last 10 years are all aluminum,” he says. “Our equipment and a lot of our heating systems are R&D at universities, researching how different materials react to different temperatures.”

Sherdil’s pre-heating oven heats aluminum to 900-1000 degrees F in 90 seconds for ideal forming. The standard oven is 2 m x 4 m and includes AllenBradley CompactLogix PLC controls.

Sherdil Precision maintains a lean company to remain competitive. Bigger projects require large parts and space but not many people, Kainth says. He has 25 employees and two key players, leaning on his daughters Cottrell and Reena Kainth, who is the media and marketing manager.

“I told Sonya I wasn’t too keen on doing this story, but she asked me why wouldn’t I want my grandchildren to know their grandfather did well,” he says. “I love what I do and I enjoy what I’ve created at Sherdil Precision. I make sure my employees are happy and work as a team. That’s what I enjoy most, PW working with people.”

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SWANSON IMPLEMENTS LATEST PANEL REPAIR TECHNOLOGY AT NEW MILL IN SPRINGFIELD or a company that is “building tomorrow’s future today,” modern and reliable technology and manufacturing equipment are crucial for supplying highquality and competitive products to their market.

When Swanson Group acquired the Springfield plywood production facilities in Oregon in 2007 from McKenzie Forest Products, they were aiming to be one of the largest and most diverse producers of forest products. But in July 2014, tragedy struck when fire consumed the Springfield plant. In January 2015 the company announced it would rebuild the plant using the best technology and make this facility one of their most profitable. The new mill began peeling in May 2016 and was pressing by December 2016. By mid September 2017, the plant was running at full capacity.

The state-of-the-art facility aimed for a new level of technology and quality, and one of the efforts was the implementation of an Argos Panel Repair System (PRS), supported by locally based Con-Vey material handling expertise.

Quality Control Manager Shawn Crager joined Swanson Group in 2016 and worked closely with the Argos team when commissioning the system in late 2018. “The decision to purchase the PRS system was made because we wanted to upgrade our equipment and enhance the quality of our repairs,” Crager says. “The Argos system exceeded by far what the competitors could offer, and the ability to handle such a variety in species, sizes and products was essential to us.”

Argos and Con-Vey built the system, and internal contractors installed it on site. Together with the Argos team from Norway, Crager and the Swanson team

F

Argos PRS scanner and station was installed at Swanson in 2018 to detect and repair faults in the panels.

The Swanson team at the Springfield mill that works with quality inspections appreciates the added value from the Argos system. Left to right, Sierra Franger, Brandon Kofoid, Trevor Farmer, Shawn Crager

commissioned the system, making sure everything ran correctly.

“Part of what makes our company unique is that we handle many different types of hardwood, and the specifications for repairs and grain pattern complexity varies,” Crager explains. “We needed a system that could handle our many requirements. This PRS system is awesome, and the quality of repairs is unmatchable.”

In addition to being a reliable and sturdy system, the cost savings have been remarkable, he adds. The Argos system uses only a fraction of the poly and putty compared to how they ran earlier, reducing costs. “This is a system that truly has given the return on investment.”

In partnership with Con-Vey, Argos delivered an automated PRS with advanced scanner technology. The line was designed with a 14 panels/min

capacity to meet the repair volume needed for the facility. The PRS can repair a variety of panel species and sizes, and for the Swanson production line, the system handles panels up to 4x10 ft. There are multiple stations with routers, putty, and poly heads providing quality repairs.

One of the advantages of that setup is that it ensures smooth and efficient handling of the panels. A forklift transports the panel stacks into the stack turner, before entering the PRS system.

Then the panels are pushed down on the Con-Vey 10 belt vacuum conveyor, which is essential in order to get accurate positioning when repairing the defects detected by the Argos scanner. These images give information to the repair stations, which again do their job with router, putty, and poly tools.

The various repair stations can

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perform several tasks, and it is possible to implement several tools on each station. When the panels are repaired, they are moved to the curing tower, where the patches solidify. If two-sided repairs are required, the stacks are turned and the process is repeated.

PARTNERSHIP For Swanson, Argos has been a valuable partner. “We can rely on their team to make further improvements to our products and system,” Crager says.

Even though Swanson and Argos are based on each side of the Atlantic, they haven’t experienced any communication problems or reduced level of service.

When Swanson wants to try new sorts of wood, they alert Argos, which connects remotely to the Swanson system from Norway and they proceed to the testing. “They help us push the envelope, allowing us to see which possibilities we have within the different segments,” Crager says. “They are a driver for continuous innovation in our production line. The way the market develops, we strongly believe there will be a higher demand for specialty products, and we

Panel repair line was commissioned in late 2018.

are heading in that direction.”

Richard Lepine, General Manager for Argos Solutions in North America, comments, “It is motivating for us to work with a customer like Swanson. They are number one in niche markets, and they make products that very few offer. To be able to contribute to the market leader in specialty plywood products is rewarding and contributes to a strong focus on innovation from our side.”

Swanson now has one of the most advanced repair systems Argos has delivered, a result of Argos’ ability to tailor-make the solution based on the customer needs. “This will also benefit

our other customers in the U.S. market,” Lepine adds.

Based in Kongsberg, Norway, Argos Solutions is a leading technology company that has developed digital inspection systems since 1997. Their core business is engineering, design and manufacture of surface grading systems and panel repair systems for the wood panel and building industry worldwide. Their PRS system is a fast and accurate system for plywood and other wood panels. Argos reports it has delivered more than 300 systems to more than 40 countries across the world.

PW Article contributed by Swanson, Argos and Con-Vey.

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PROJECTS GUARARAPES BEEFS UP MDF

Guararapes site in Caçador, Brazil

Once again Brazilian wood-based materials producer Guararapes Paineis, S/A. has placed an order for an MDF plant with Siempelkamp. For its Caçador location, the company has ordered an almost identical copy of its successfully operating existing plant.

The core component is a ContiRoll Generation 9 continuous press 9 ft. x 48.7 m. The daily capacity of the plant is designed for 1,500 m³ and thus exceeds that of the first Siempelkamp plant, which was ordered in 2014 and started up in 2016.

The scope of supply for Guararapes includes all components from the debarking and chipper line to the packing line. Also included is the EcoResinator glue blending system.

The expanded production range of the company, founded in 1984, will be supplied mainly to the domestic market, but also to export markets. Assembly in Caçador is scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2022.

FINSA GOES AFTER GLUE SAVINGS FINSA, a pioneer in the manufacture of particleboard and MDF on the Iberian Peninsula, is purchasing four gluesaving systems from Dieffenbacher for two production lines in Nelas, Portugal.

Two PROjet systems will help reduce glue consumption in MDF production.

Another PROjet and an EVOjet P will be used in a line that produces boards with a particleboard core layer covered top and bottom by MDF surface layers.

The PROjet will be used in surfacelayer gluing, whereas the EVOjet P will

be deployed for the core layer.

“We’ll achieve high glue savings in both our lines with the Dieffenbacher glue-saving technology, so that our investment will pay off very quickly,” commenbts Sérgio Filipe, Technical Manager at FINSA. PROjet is an MDF blowline gluing system that delivers resin savings of up to 15%. It’s applicable for both UF and MUF resin.

In particleboard production, the EVOjet P will help FINSA reduce glue consumption. Special twocomponent nozzles atomize the glue into fine droplets to create a homogeneous resin distribution.

This enables resin savings of up to 15% in the core layer.

Installation and startup of the four systems are scheduled for late summer.

LOG HANDLER DOES THE JOB

Cameron River found a log handler it can rely on.

Nothing much has changed over the past three years at Cameron River Logistics (CRL) in Taylor, BC, and that is a good thing.

The huge transload facility in BC’s Peace River district still receives up to 50 truckloads a day of 16 ft. CTL spruce logs. Dozens of train cars leave the yard every week, moving the logs to the Dunkley sawmill five hours south.

And the Sennebogen 830 M-T log handler shows up to work every day to keep the wood moving.

Three years ago, though, uptime in the yard was a challenge. Their previous log loader could keep up with the required pace of deliveries, but if the machine had a technical problem, it could cause serious productivity issues. “We had issues with parts availability,” ex-

plains Andrew Moore, President of CRL. “Wire harnesses were taking four to five months to deliver; a steering knuckle failed and we were told it would be three months before they’d have one to ship from the factory.”

When their previous loader was ruined in a fire, Moore and his team thought twice about how to replace it.

In the summer of 2018, they chose to purchase a new Sennebogen 830 M-T from the nearby Fort St. John branch of Great West Equipment.

Sennebogen engineers have always worked to the principle of keeping equipment repairs and maintenance simplified by using readily available parts whenever possible. Local distributors like Great West don’t have to wait for OEM parts from overseas either.

Sennebogen’s 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse near Charlotte, NC maintains a complete inventory of replacement parts for every make and model currently in service. Dealer orders are usually on their way to the customer overnight.

“With Sennebogen, you’re not reinventing the wheel,” Moore adds. “It’s got a Cummins engine, Bosch Rexroth hydraulics; all industry-standard components easily sourced nearby.”

The 830 M-T is a 91,000 lb. (41,400 kg), 225 HP (168 kW) machine built specifically for log handling and trailerpulling applications. A specially reinforced undercarriage features dual transmissions, providing powerful 4wheel traction to handle the stresses of pulling heavy log trailers loaded with up to 64,000 lbs. through muddy yard conditions.

“Going on to three years we have 5200 hours on it now,” Moore reports.

“We do our own preventive maintenance servicing. Great West comes out anytime we need them. About 90% of what has been needed are hydraulic hoses that break in -30° weather. Nothing big. We added a fire suppression system, and we do a structural inspection every year.

With the price of lumber as high as it is, demand for our logs has grown and our Senneobgen is doing the job.”

HOMANIT ORDERS THDF LINE Operating plants in Losheim am See, Germany, and in the Polish cities of Karlino and Krosno Odrza skie, the

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PROJECTS

Homanit Group is a European specialist in the production of thin, value-added wood fiberboard. For its new site in Pagirai near the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, the company has ordered a complete low-emissions THDF plant from Dieffenbacher.

Dieffenbacher will supply all components, from debarking to stacking. The plant will deploy the latest environmental technology solutions in combination with the fiber dryer and a 50 MW energy plant, ensuring that emissions are minimized. The core of the plant features a state-of-the-art thin board forming and press line based on a Dieffenbacher CPS+ continuous press and PROjet gluing system.

The THDF plant is designed to keep emissions to a minimum while producing 1.5 mm to 22 mm thick wood fiberboard. A production volume of 310,000 m³ per year is planned, corresponding roughly to a daily capacity of 950 m³.

Assembly is scheduled to start in the fall of 2021, with plant startup to take place in summer 2022.

FIRST BOARD MEETS DEADLINE

First board was produced safely on schedule thanks to outstanding teamwork.

Kastamonu Entegre produced its first board on a new Siempelkamp particleboard line at the Samsun, Turkey location within the desired time frame. Regardless of all the limitations imposed

by COVID-19, the first board was produced February 27 thanks to the excellent teamwork between Kastamonu Entegre and its German partner.

Following the start of assembly in July 2020 and the completion of the dry run at the end of January 2021, the punctual production of the first board represents a further milestone in the

implementation of the project. In every phase of the project, constructive teamwork was the focus for all those involved.

Thus, the Kastamonu team of staff as well as the Siempelkamp employees from Germany and Turkey perfectly coordinated with each other to quickly and safely make their plant fully operational.

The new particleboard line includes a Siempelkamp Generation 9 ContiRoll continuous press 7 ft. x 37.1 m for a daily output of 2,000 m³. The focus here is on the Turkish furniture industry as a sales market.

The plant is the eighth Siempelkamp plant with continuous press technology which Kastamonu currently operates in Turkey, Russia and Italy.

ing automation, and the confidence and support they showed us in an early development and testing stage of our products was valuable,” says Rune Gotfredsen, Area Sales Manager for Argos Solutions. “The choice to replace an obsolete Argos System with a new and improved vision system strengthens our relationship and confirms their vision to continue to deliver quality products to their end users.”

ONLINE DEMO PAYS OFF

PFLEIDERER ADDS MORE INSPECTION Pfleiderer Group, a leading European producer of high-quality woodbased panels, has installed two Argos melamine faced chipboard grading systems and another one is en route for the production facility in Gütersloh, Germany.

“We are proud to be selected as a supplier to Pfleiderer, who through 125 years has proven to be one of the most innovative and quality conscious companies in this industry. For a Norwegian company like us, this delivery is a great acknowledgment of our competence and ability to deliver modern technology and systems in world class,” comments Torsten Kahl, Sales and Marketing Director at Argos Solutions.

HARDBOARD FIRM UPDATES GRADING Argos Solutions will deliver to Finnish Fibreboard a new Argos Grading System to be installed at Finnish Fibreboard’s hardboard production facility in Heinola, Finland.

Sakari Wallin, Managing Director of Finnish Fibreboard, comments, “With more than 15 years of experience with the Argos system, we are confident that we are investing in a very good solution that will detect any surface defects.”

“I would define Finnish Fibreboard as a pioneer when it comes to optimiz-

Online demonstration of the new Dieffenbacher EVOsteam.

In the second half of 2020, Pfleiderer ordered an EVOsteam from Dieffenbacher for its MDF plant in Baruth, Germany. Installed directly at the press infeed, the EVOsteam preheats the mat by injecting steam.

Before the start of the EVOsteam retrofit in Baruth, a live demonstration took place at Dieffenbacher in Eppingen. The demonstration following partial commissioning at Dieffenbacher was intended to ensure that functions were tested in advance, thus significantly reducing the time required for installation and on-site commissioning.

“As a modern alternative, the online demonstration was a great experience.

More of my colleagues were able to participate than would have been possible at an on-site meeting,” says Markus Hlawatsch, project manager of the EVOsteam project at Pfleiderer. “The Dieffenbacher colleagues explained all the components and functions of the EVOsteam to us in detail and demonstrated them live. We were able to clarify our open questions and can now approach the upcoming conversion with confidence.” ➤ 42

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PROJECTS RAUTE ANNOUNCES SEVERAL PROJECTS

Veneer Patcher R3 offers “butterfly” patch and customization.

Raute reports that British Columbia’s Canoe Forest Products has ordered Raute’s latest Veener Patcher R3 (formerly known as P2 Patchpal). This patching machine is said to be more reliable and requires less maintenance than existing manual patching systems.

The high-quality die can last for sev-

eral decades, and up to 50 million individual patches before needing replacement. Raute’s Veneer Patcher R3 also has the ability to customize the patch shape including its latest “butterfly” patch (PS1-19 Standard approved).

The butterfly patch has higher patch retention than the current “boat” patches, the company reports. Veneer Patcher R3 can be customized to fit your application, including options to add tape or glue heads and to patching long or short grain. l Raute also reports several other projects and orders including green stackers to Scotch Plywood based in Alabama, as well as dry veneer random handling/stackers to Oregon-based Roseburg Forest Products, and a press charging system to Oregon-based Swanson Group.

Scotch Plywood operates a plywood mill in Fulton, Ala. and veneer mills at Beatrice, Ala. and Waynesboro, Miss.

The company has juggled operations since a fire destroyed the Waynesboro

mill in early January, moving personnel from Waynesboro to Beatrice and increasing operations there to maintain veneer movement to the Fulton plywood mill. The company plans to rebuild the Waynesboro mill, which Scotch built in 1969.

INSTALLATION PAYS OFF FOR SHENGSONG

Yalian press line at Shengsong Group, Hebei, China.

On April 2, ZST (Beijing Zhaoshang Technology) reports it visited the general manager of Shengsong Group, Yang

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PROJECTS

Jiancheng, and discussed how to increase production efficiency on the particleboard production line at Hebei, China.

Shengsong Group was founded in 1996, specializing in the production of wood-based panels. The group has four plants producing wood-based panels.

In 2017, they invested in a particleboard production line produced by Yalian. Now five years have passed, and as Yang comments, “That was a very cost-effective investment.

It has a great price advantage and the production performance is better.”

The investment in this new production line started to be profitable in a short period of time, according to the participants, and the return on investment came one a half years after acceptance.

The Yalian continuous press has now reached a press factor of 2.99 s/mm due to the new microwave mat heater. The production efficiency is increased by more than 25%, and the formaldehyde emission is controlled below 1.mg/100g.

Yang says that due to the attentive service of Yalian engineers and the reasonable price of accessories, they have also saved a lot of money and time in maintenance of the production line, reducing costs each year.

Yalian technology helps Shengsong’s panel stand out from a fiercely competitive market environment. Their product successfully passed EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) and CARB (California Air Resources Board) certification.

COLUMBIA FP WILL UPDATE CARRIAGE The Columbia Forest Products veneer processing plant at Klamath Falls, Ore. is investing to update its legacy Coe-brand lathe. The existing carriage has seen decades of service and is now worn to the point that it needs replacement. The new USNR lathe carriage will be installed in 2022.

The order includes a complete cast steel lathe carriage assembly with direct drive roller bar. The new carriage features: —Direct drive roller bar with precision roll assembly and pressure bar heads —Manual vertical bar height —Cast steel knife bar with knife bar heads —Hydraulic knife clamps The drive housing end caps have been eliminated, creating additional space to “nest” the large lathe spindles close to the ends of the roll. This is a far more robust design than vintage models.

RAUTE NAMED SUPPLIER OF YEAR Raute was named 2020 EWTA Supplier of the Year by Engineered Wood Technology Assn. in the Equipment and Tooling category. The EWTA Supplier Awards Program recognizes EWTA member companies that excel in serving APA-Engineered Wood Assn. member customers in developing innovative solutions to resolving problems and overcoming challenges.

“Raute is extremely happy to hear we are the recipient of this award. It suggests that we are on the right path to providing value to our customers via our equipment, parts and service offerings,” says Trevor Wendt, VP, North America. “We have more work to do. Raute is committed to customer service and satisfaction,”

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CLIPPINGS CPA SHIFTS FALL MEETING

With uncertainty around continued U.S.-Canadian border closures, Composite Panel Assn. has moved the 2021 Fall Meeting to Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va. to be held October 17-19.

The meeting was originally planned

for the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, Quebec, which will now be the venue for the 2022 fall meeting to be held September 11-13, 2022.

Lansdowne Resort is 12 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport, close to CPA’s offices and 30 minutes from Washington, DC. The resort is situated on 500 beautiful acres over-

looking the scenic Potomac River and the meeting dates should overlap the peak of the fall foliage season. The Resort boasts an award-winning championship golf course designed by Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr.

CHAMBORD IS COMEBACK KID West Fraser Timber reports its OSB mill in Chambord, Quebec has completed commissioning and panels are being produced and shipped to customers. The Chambord mill is ramping up toward its stated annual production capacity of 550MMSF. After significant reinvestment and with a strong available labor force and committed wood supply in the region, the Chambord mill is expected to be among the company’s lowest cost OSB operations.

West Fraser acquired the Chambord mill earlier this year as part of its acquisition of Norbord, Inc., including 17 plant locations in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Norbord had earlier announced it intended to restart production at Chambord.

Norbord had taken ownership of the Chambord mill in 2016 as part of an OSB mill swap with LP, with LP assuming Norbord’s OSB mill in Val-d’Or, Quebec. The Chambord OSB mill was curtailed by LP in 2008.

EPF ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP At its General Assembly held on March 24 by videoconference, the European Wood-Based Panels Federation (EPF) unanimously elected Martin Brettenthaler, CEO of Swiss Krono Group, and Tobias Schindler, CSO of Steico SE, to its Managing Board.

Brettenthaler was also named as Chairman designate of EPF, subject to approval by the General Assembly in June, when the third consecutive term of existing Chairman Dr. Paolo Fantoni of Fantoni Spa will end.

Brettenthaler, 50, is a citizen of both Austria and Switzerland, economist by training, active in the wood-based panel industry for more than 20 years and lives in Basel with his wife and three children.

The General Assembly also accepted, with thanks for their service and commitment, the resignations from the EPF 46 • MAY 2021 • PanelWorld

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CLIPPINGS

Managing Board of Max von Tippelskirch of Swiss Krono Group and Boris Buchwald of Steico SE. European Panel Federation has members in more than 32 European countries and represents manufacturers of particleboard, MDF, OSB, hardboard and plywood. EPF reports the EU wood panel industry has an annual turnover of 22 billion euro, creates more than 100,000 jobs directly and counts more than 5,000 enterprises in Europe.

RURAL SCHOOLS RECEIVE FUNDS USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen announced the issuance of more than $193 million to support public schools, roads and other municipal services through the agency’s Secure Rural Schools program. The funding will be delivered as payments to more than 700 eligible counties in 41 states and Puerto Rico.

In addition to payments for schools and roads, the Secure Rural Schools program supports Firewise Communities programs, reimburses counties for emergency services on national forests, and funds development of community wildfire protection plans.

The Forest Service retains a portion of Secure Rural Schools program funds to support projects that improve forest conditions and support jobs in rural communities. Resource advisory committees, made up of local residents representing varied areas of interest and expertise, review and recommend projects that meet their local needs.

Payment amounts are determined by a number of factors, including acres of federal land within an eligible county.

TIMBER PRODUCTS HITS THE ROAD TP Logistics, a branch of Timber Products Co., plans a series of investments in the coming years as it expands

nationwide, including the acquisition of a 20-acre facility in Thomson, Ga. last fall that will serve as its East Coast hub for logistics and trucking.

The facility in Georgia will provide full 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) services and bring TP Logistics’ customer-focused experience and company vertical integration to the Southeast U.S. “We are excited to expand our operations further into the Southeast U.S.,” says Tom Gennarelli, VP of TP Logistics and TP Trucking. “This will enable us to grow our logistics operation and expand our trucking fleet into the East.”

TP Trucking operates 160 trucks in 48 states with 120 company drivers and 40 owner operators. TP Trucking plans to increase its fleet size by 30% over the next five to 10 years.

Timber Products, based in Springfield, Ore., operates five panel production sites in the Western U.S. and a hardwood plywood mill in Mississippi and hardwood veneer and lumber operation in Michigan.

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CLIPPINGS APA SELECTS NEW PRESIDENT

Tibbetts brings more than 15 years of experience in association and nonprofit program management, environmental Mark Tibbetts has joined the staff of policy and business development. He has APA—The Engineered Wood Assn. as held leadership and management posihe transitions to the president position tions in the Air Conditioning Contractors July 1, when Ed Elias retires. Tibbetts of America, Tag and Label Manufacturwas selected by the group’s ers Institute, Thermostat ReBoard of Trustees through a cycling Corp., National lengthy search process after Electrical Manufacturers Elias announced plans in Assn. and American Public 2020 to retire.

Works Assn.

“Mark Tibbetts’ passionHe earned bachelor’s ate interest in and underand master’s degrees from standing of the role APA the University of Maine. He undertakes for its members and his family are moving and the industry clearly set from Alexandria, Va. to him apart,” says Jim EnTacoma, Wash. where APA right, chair of the APA is headquartered.

Board of Trustees. “The New APA President “For someone who has Board endorsed him as the Mark Tibbetts harbored a lifelong interest new APA president because in residential construction of his experience with team building, and building design, I’m thrilled to be leadership and communication, and we taking on this role,” Tibbetts says. are excited to add his expertise to our “APA has a proud history of supporting talented team at APA.” members by growing the market for en-

gineered wood products through product promotion, quality assurance and technical support. I look forward to working with the membership, the staff team and our industry partners to build upon this legacy.”

Elias has served APA and the engineered wood industry for more than 40 years, beginning as an associate scientist in 1977. After 10 years in various roles within the Technical Services Div., he went on to lead the International Marketing and Financial and Administrative Services divisions. He also served as corporate secretary and vice president before being named president in 2013.

“APA is in as strong a financial and strategic position as it has ever been,” Elias says. “I am confident that through Mark and the APA staff, the Board of Trustees and the support of this industry, this association will continue to grow.”

Tibbetts becomes the 12th executive leader in the group’s almost 90-year history.

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CLIPPINGS STORA ENSO PUTS EMPHASIS ON WOOD Stora Enso Wood Products, a leading provider of sustainable wood-based solutions, has launched its new digital center of excellence: the Wood House Effect. The digital hub aims to inspire and drive the construction industry toward a more sustainable and efficient future through greater uptake of engineered timber.

Compiling insights, research and expertise, it will showcase the positive and high-impact benefits of using wood materials such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) in construction.

“It’s important that everyone understands that in this critical period of history, there is a raw material that can make a genuine difference. Innovative solutions and new technologies allow wood to replace concrete and steel,” says Lars Völkel, Executive Vice President, Stora Enso Wood Products.

Visit storaenso.com

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WMF SHANGHAI IS ON SCHEDULE

Despite the worldwide pandemic and travel restrictions, Shanghai International Furniture Machinery & Woodworking Machinery Fair (WMF) will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hongqiao, Shanghai on

this September 3-6 as scheduled.

Along with CNFMA (China National Forestry Machinery Assn.) as one of the organizers of WMF, China’s leading woodworking machinery associations Qingdao Woodworking Machinery Assn. and Foshan Shunde Lunjiao Woodworking Machinery Chamber of Commerce are long-term partners.

WMF will stay the course September 3-6.

WMF states is the only woodworking machinery fair of its kind in China supported by EUMABOIS (European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers).

Since 2018, WMF has been collocating with CIFF (Shanghai) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center each year. A large variety of items including finished furniture products, woodworking machinery and components will be displayed, demonstrating the strength of a one-stop exhibiting and trading platform connecting upstream and downstream in the industry chain.

In 2021, WMF further upgrades its online and offline services and allows visitors to access exhibitors.

Facing the dramatic market changes in the post-pandemic era with the growth of digitalization and innovation, WMF also advances with the times by promoting intelligent development and application of the industry, advocating the industry to grasp the new market demand and seize new opportunities. In response to the rising needs of “industrial automation,” “going green” and “upgrading & transformation,” WMF provides multiple theme zones connecting the industry chain, which covers a full range of manufacturing solutions from first processing to finishing technology. There will be a wide spectrum of concurrent events covering the latest hot topics and trends in the industry.

Many of last year’s premium exhibitors are planning to participate in this year’s show such as Homag China Golden Field, Biesse Trading, Nanxing Machinery, China Foma Group, Yalian Machnery, Qingdao Godn Mechanical, Shang Gong Group, Leuco Precision Tooling and Tianjin Laminuo Woodworking.

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LDX PURCHASES WESTERN PNEUMATICS

LDX Solutions, Kennesaw, Ga., announced the acquisition of Western Pneumatics Inc. (WPI) and its manufacturing and service locations in Eugene, Ore. and Ruston, La. “WPI has been an important partner for LDX, providing fabrication and installation support on many of our projects in the wood products industry,” comments William O’Shea, CEO of LDX Solutions. “By bringing WPI under the LDX umbrella, we will be able to provide our customers across a wide range of industries integrated air pollution control and plant optimization solutions. The manufacturing, installation and commissioning expertise that WPI brings will play an important role in our traditional project business as well as our ongoing product development and rollout programs.”

WPI will work closely with the Air Pollution Control and Process Systems divisions within LDX. Integration activities between the two entities are ongoing.

DOOSAN ANNOUNCES TOP 2020 DEALERS Doosan Infracore North America, LLC announced its top-performing dealers of 2020. The top 10 dealers are among more than 160 Doosan equipment dealers in North America.

—Barry Equipment Co. (Webster, Mass.), fourth consecutive year —Bobcat of Mandan Inc (Mandan, ND), third consecutive year —Brown’s Industrial Sales (Lloydminster, Alberta) —CG Equipment (Guelph, Ontario), second consecutive year —Coastal Machinery (Pensacola, Fla.), second consecutive year —Equipment East, LLC. (Dracut, Mass.) fourth consecutive year —G. Stone Commercial Div. (Middlebury, Vermont) —Hartington Farm Services Ltd. (Hartington, Ontario) —Theco Inc. (Big Lake, Minn.)

—Wilson Equipment (Central Point, Ore.), third consecutive year “There are four dealers joining this list for the first time, which is reflective of their hard work growing the Doosan brand in their regions,” says

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S U P P LY

LINES Todd Roecker, Doosan Director of Dealer Management and Marketing.

STEINEMANN, STILES FORM PARTNERSHIP Steinemann Technology AG and Stiles Machinery have formed a strategic partnership, with Stiles responsible for the

sales, service and support of all Steinemann Technology in the U.S. and Canada.

Steinemann’s unmatched expertise in calibration and sanding in the composite panel industry, paired with Stiles’ industry leading service and support, will propel both companies to better serve their customers. In addition, both companies are looking forward to further contributing to the future of the composite panel industry and the growing cross-laminated timber (CLT) and mass timber industry in North America, according to a statement.

Steinemann U.S. personnel will be joining the Stiles team to ensure that the service and support Steinemann customers are currently used to receiving will be uninterrupted while both companies continue to expand the support opportunities for the market going forward.

“With Stiles as North America’s market leader for solutions in wood processing, we have found the perfect partner for USA and Canada,” says Christof Stürm, CEO of Steinemann AG. Former President of Steinemann Technology USA, Dan Murphy, has joined Stiles and is now the Regional Director for Stiles’ Great Lakes Region.

HEXION HAS BRAZIL FACILITY BACK ON TRACK Hexion Inc. announced the resumption of operations at its Montenegro, Brazil manufacturing site to reflect improving market conditions and customer demand for wood adhesives in the region.

“Following extensive retraining for our associates and taking all the appropriate steps to ensure the safe operations of the site, we are pleased to restart production,” comments Craig Rogerson, Chairman, President and CEO. Hexion opened the Montenegro site in 2010 to serve the engineered wood products market in Southern Brazil. The site had been temporarily idled since May 2020. Hexion will also continue to operate normally and maintain commercial activity at the company’s plants in Curitiba Paraná and Tacuarembó, Uruguay.

The Montenegro plant is strategically located to serve large customer plants in the region that use urea formaldehyde (UF) resin in the production of engineered wood panels such as particleboard, interior-grade plywood and medium density fiberboard.

56 • MAY 2021 • PanelWorld

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W H AT ’ S

NEW

KEEN CHICAGO BOOT The number of tools and tasks required to navigate the work day can be many.

Today’s contractors and skilled trades professionals face a variety of challenges that demand versatility and ingenuity, both in the skills that they develop and the resources that they rely on. KEEN offers the Chicago Utility packed with a number of modern features.

Its value-forward construction makes it a versatile tool for a variety of work environments. Built to offer rugged protection with a classic appeal, these non-metallic work boots offer all-day comfort and superior traction for a variety of industries and applications. The 6" work boot features a non-marring waterproof leather upper, non-metallic eyelets and lace hooks as well as weight-saving carbon fiber safety toes that are 15% lighter than steel and deliver ASTM-rated toe protection with a roomy, more unobtrusive fit.

The KEEN.ReGEN midsole offers superior compression-resistance and provides 50% more energy return for long-days walking and standing. Other

performance and safety enhancements include a KEEN.DRY breathable, waterproof membrane, heat-resistant, rubber outsoles rated up to 572° F that satisfy Mark II and Satra non-slip testing standards, 90°, 5⁄8" heel for added stability and an antimicrobial lining delivering natural odor protection free of chemicals and dyes.

The Chicago boot is available in several safety silhouettes in both men’s and women’s specific fits. Visit keenutility.com.

LEVEL SWITCH

Dynatrol DJ Level Switch for bulk solids provides high, intermediate or low point level detection of sawdust ranging from wood chips and coarse shavings to wood flour. It’s approved for Class I, Group D; Class II, Groups E, F & G; and Class III Services.

When the probe is uncovered, it is free to vibrate and produces an output signal. This signal operates a relay that indicates the probe is uncovered or that

a low level exists. When the probe is covered a dampening of the oscillations occurs, the output signal is no longer present and the relay indicates that a high level exists.

The level detector is mounted through a 3⁄4" half-coupling at the point of desired level detection. The vibrating probe tolerates considerable buildup and caking, resulting in extended capability of detection. Visit dynatrolusa.com.

AIR CLEANING BLOWER Air Cleaning Blowers, LLC offers ACBs that ventilate, pressurize and clean particles from even exceedingly dusty air without using any filter elements.

As ACBs pull the ambient air through their housings, they use the particles’ own momentums to separate them from the clean air in a multi-patented, novel way.

They then eject the debris back into the atmosphere from where it came, usually outdoors. Applications range from 50 to 3500 CFM. ACBs can also serve as prefilters for specialized downstream filters.

Visit aircleaningblowers.com

58 • MAY 2021 • PanelWorld

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VENEER/PANEL SUPPLIERS

DIRECTORY ■ Poland

■ Taiwan

ASIA ■ India

GREAT GIANT INC. VENEER AND VENEERED PRODUCTS 260 Dachang Road Niao Song District Kaohsiung, Taiwan 833 Tel: 886 7 3790270 Fax: 886 7 3790275 E Mail: jc.giant@msa.hinet.net

■ Switzerland

AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA

SPECIALISTS IN AUSTRALIAN & PACIFIC VENEERS FSC & PEFC ECO-CERT Veneers from around the world Over 150 species in stock Reconstituted veneer/spliced faces/rotary veneers Website: Email: Tel:

www.briggs.com.au admin@briggs.com.au +61 2 9732-7888 www.fsc.org

■ Malaysia

NORTH AMERICA ■ Canada

■ Italy

■ British Columbia

Manufacturer In Malaysia

6670 - 144th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 5R5 Plant: (604) 572-8968 Fax: (604) 572-6608

CARB P2 / EPA Certified

Producers of high quality fine face veneers.

Specializing in species indigenous to the West Coast. We manufacture Music grade solids and veneers. We also offer custom slicing, cut-to-size and log breakdown.

Fir • Hemlock • Spruce • Pacific Maple (Figured and Plain) • Alder Western Red Cedar

Fancy plywood/MDF/ Particle Board/ Blockboard Layon Veneer, Veneer Parquet, etc.

Lot 488, Jalan Jati Kiri, Kg. Perepat 42200 Kapar, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Tel: +603 3259 1988 • Fax: +603 3259 1886 E-mail: bungaraya@bungarayapanel.com Website: www.bungarayapanel.com

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VENEER/PANEL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY ■ Ontario

■ Mississippi A new “Dimension” in Veneer & Plywood

Dimension Plywood Inc. A FULL SERVICE PLYWOOD & VENEER COMPANY WE OFFER: Short turnaround time, In-house veneer mill—ROTARY, FLAT CUT, RIFT and QUARTERS, Custom pressing capabilities, Architectural specified plywood jobs, Huge veneer and core inventory, Over 100 natural species and engineer veneers in stock, All sizes and thicknesses–6'x4' to 5'x12', Internal logistics for fast on-time deliveries Contact us: Birchland Plywood-Veneer Ltd. TeL: 705-842-2430 • Fax: 705-842-2496 Visit www.birchlandplywood.com to view our “Live Log Program”

■ United States ■ Georgia

Custom Architectural Plywood & Doors 415 Industrial Blvd. • New Albany, IN 47150 Tel: 812-944-6491 • Fax: 812-944-7421

Dimension Hardwood Veneers, Inc. Rotary & Sliced Veneers 509 Woodville Street • Edon, Ohio 43518 Main Office - Tel: 419-272-2245 • Fax: 419-272-2406

www.dimensionhardwoods.com

Reserve your space today.

Call Melissa McKenzie 800-669-5613

NORSTAM VENEERS, INC. Proud to announce we have the “Newest Veneer Mill in the World” MANUFACTURER OF QUALITY HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD VENEERS

Green & Kiln Dried Hardwood Lumber

P.O. BOX 32 HWY. 135 BUS: 812.732.4391 MAUCKPORT, IN 47142 FAX: 812.732.4803 EMAIL: info@norstam.com

■ Ohio

■ Michigan

■ Pennsylvania

■ Indiana Amos-Hill Associates, Inc.

Quality Veneers Manufacturers of Decorative Hardwood Veneer Domestic and International Markets Species include: Walnut, White Oak, Red Oak, Hard Maple, Cherry and Birch “Quality is the Lifeblood of our Business” 112 Shelby Ave. ◆ P.O. Box 7 Edinburgh, IN 46124 Phone: 812-526-2671 ◆ Fax: 812-526-5865 E-mail: info@amoshill.com Website: www.amoshill.com The mark of responsible forestry FSC Supplier: SCS-COC-002445 * SCS-CW-002445

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VENEER/PANEL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY ESTABLISHED 1972

VENEER/PANEL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY NEXT CLOSING: SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Proudly serving our clients in the hardwood plywood sheetstock, plywood component, solid wood component, face and core veneer markets for over 40 years. Looking forward to applying our worldwide knowledge and resources to help create the solution you need. inquiry@pittsburghforest.com Office: 724.969.5000 375 Valleybrook Rd, McMurray, PA 15367

■ Vermont

North America’s largest manufacturer of fancy face rotary decorative veneer and platform solutions.

Offering FSC® 100% [FSC®-C017500] production in ash, basswood, birch, hard maple, tulip poplar and red oak in stock panel & cut-to-size lay-ons as well as unspliced veneer .4mm to 1.5 mm thickness.

Plain sliced Alder regularly available.

Submit, on a separate sheet of paper, your ad information and we will typeset it for you for FREE. Please be sure to include this form for payment/contact information and send any good-quality artwork that should be included. ❑ Payment enclosed ❑ $325-3x or ❑ $615-6x ❑ Bill my Visa or Mastercard Card# _____________________________________ Exp Date __________________ Signature _____________________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________________________ Company _____________________________________________________________ Street _________________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________ State _________ Zip ____________ Phone: __________________________ Fax: __________________________ Email: _________________________________________________________________ Please return ad info to: VENEER/PANEL SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY PO Box 2268 • Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 or send ad and above information to: melissa@hattonbrown.com

Offering domestically produced FSC MIX Credit, TSCA Title VI compliant platforms - both long grain and cross grain dimensions in a variety of thicknesses.

Contact Sales at 802-334-3600 • Fax: 802-334-5149 www.cfpwood.com 324 Bluff Road Newoort VT 05885 05/21

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Recruiting Services

1615

Executive – Managerial – Technical - Sales

JOHN GANDEE

& ASSOCIATES, INC Contingency or Retained Search

9237

Depending on Circumstances / Needs

“Your Success Is Our Business” Serving the Wood Products and Building Materials Industries For more than 26 years.

512-795-4244 Call or Email me anytime! john@johngandee.com www.johngandee.com 3220

Top Wood Jobs 1009

Recruiting and Staffing George Meek geo@TopWoodJobs.com www.TopWoodJobs.com (360) 263-3371

3779

Jon Olson Tel: (800) 985-5191 jon@olsonsearch.com Custom search & recruitment services for the complete range of composite panel and related careers in the U.S., Canada and Europe. www.olsonsearch.com

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4231

Austin, Texas

THE Forest Products Group

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EVENTS MAY 21-22 • Expo Richmond 2021, Richmond Raceway Complex, Richmond, Va. Call 804-737-5625; visit exporichmond.com.

JUNE 15-17 • Forest Products Society Virtual International Conference. Call 706-443-1337; visit fpsic2021.com.

JULY 20-23 • AWFS Fair 2021, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Call 800-946-2937; visit awfsfair.org.

17-19 • Composite Panel Assn. Fall meeting, Lansdowne Resort, Leesburg, Va. Call 703-724-1128; visit composite panel.org.

NOVEMBER 30-December 3 • Woodex, 17th International Exhibition of Equipment and Technologies for Woodworking and Furniture Production, Crocus Expo, Moscow, Russia. Visit woodexpo.ru/en-GB/.

Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.

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2-4 • American Forest Resource Council annual meeting, Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, Wash. Call 503-222-9505; visit amforest.org.

11-13 • Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Call 504-4434464; visit sfpaexpo.com.

18-21 • BIFA WOOD Vietnam, Binh Duong Convention, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam. Call +84 274 222 1735; visit bifawoodvietnam.com.

SEPTEMBER 7-9 • Decorative Hardwoods Association 100th anniversary celebration and meeting, Sonesta Resort, Hilton Head, SC. Call 703-435-2900; visit decorativehardwoods.org.

8-10 • Jyväskylä Fair, Jyvaskylan Paviljonki, Jyvaskyla, Finland. Call +358-14-334-0000; visit puumessut.fi.

27-30 • American Wood Protection Assn. Technical Committee meeting, Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe, N.M. Call 205733-4077; visit awpa.com.

27-October 1 • Ligna: World Fair For The Forestry And Wood Industries, Hannover Exhibition Grounds, Hannover, Germany. Call +49 511 89-0; fax +49 511 89-32626; visit ligna.de.

OCTOBER 16-19 • APA-Engineered Wood Assn. annual meeting and Engineered Wood Technology Assn. Info Fair, JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, Calif. Call 253-5656600; visit apawood.org and engineeredwood.org.

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This issue of Panel World is brought to you in part by the following companies, which will gladly supply additional information about their products.

ADVERTISER

AUGUST

I

Altec Integrated Solutions Baumer Inspection GmbH Biele Automation Process Buttner GmbH Clarke’s Industrial Sheet Metal CMC-Texpan Coil Manufacturing Con-Vey Corvallis Tool Custom Engineering Daubert Chemical Doescher Microwave Systems GmbH Dürr Systems Electronic Wood Systems Fagus GreCon Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH Hashimoto Denki Hexion Hymmen GmbH Imal S.R.L IMEAS S.P.A. IPCO John King Chains Johnson & Pace LRBG Chemicals USA Meinan Machinery Works Mid-South Engineering Modul Systeme Engineering GmbH Pal S.R.L Radian Robotics Raute Roo Glue Samuel Coding & Labeling Group Samuel Packaging Systems Group Sherdil Precision Siempelkamp Gmbh Signode Stela Laxhuber GmbH Sweed Machinery Taihei Machinery Works USNR WEKO Weitmann & Konrad GmbH Wemhoner Surface Technologies Westmill Industries Willamette Valley Yalian Machine

PG.NO.

5 32 43 17 51 48 51 35 56 23 52 6 14 30 45 39 41 63 58 15 47 64 53 51 42 7 56 57 15 54 11 50 8 46 40 2 19 44 10 37 9 55 55 33 31 49

PH.NO.

604.529.1991 +49 7531 99430 +34 629 429 620 +49 2151 448 844 541.343.3395 +39 035 737111 604.596.7578 541.672.5506 541.929.2234 814.898.2800 844.243.0855 +49 040 879 76 77 0 920.336.5715 +49 5151 5574 0 704.912.0000 +49 6621 81 3000 281.741.0410 888.443.9466 +49 521 5806 516 +39 059 465 500 678.364.1900 +46 26 26 56 00 +44 1977 681 910 903.753.0663 419.224.1554 +81 562 47 2211 501.321.2276 +49 8682 8928 0 +39 0422 852 300 905.639.7370 604.524.6611 877.766.4583 800.667.1264 800.323.4424 519.727.4010 +49 2151 92 30 800.323.2464 +49 8724 899 0 800.888.1352 +81 568 73 6421 800.289.8767 +49 711 7988 0 +49 5221 7702 0 877.607.7010 541.484.9621 +86 0433-6346788

ADLINK is a free service for advertisers and readers. The publisher assumes no liability for errors or omissions.

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