Panels
O
ver the years, the development of decorative laminate manufacturing and in particular high pressure decorative laminates has more or less moved along at a pace in tandem with developments in press plate technology. With increasingly better and more sophisticated production methods, greater realism and naturalism has been effected in mimicry of natural products such as hardwoods and softwoods surfaces. With ever rising environmental costs of utilising natural wood and lumber products, alternatives such as wood based panels with decorative laminate surfaces have been facing greater demand both in Europe and in Asia. Depending on the manufacturer, decorative laminate panel production involves the superimposition of consecutive layers of core kraft papers, melamine-formaldehyde impregnatured decorative papers and overlays on top of a substrate of plywood, medium density fibreboard (MDF), or high density fibreboard (HDF). A wide range of equipment are available in the market ranging from multidaylight presses, single opening short cycle presses and double belt continuous presses.
Wear & Tear Pressing involves arranging the ‘books’ or assemblies of impregnated paper overlays on top of the wood based substrate in a hot press. The heated press plates or platens will effect bonding reactions between the decorative paper surfaces and the underlying substrates, resulting in the finished products. Typically press plates play an important role in determining the final surface characteristics of, for example laminate flooring products. Surface layers are infused with alumina to provide better wear and scratch resistance of laminate flooring surfaces, however this can cause the surfaces of press plates to be worn out relatively quickly. The press plates themselves are often made
Recreating Nature: Photo: Pergo
The development of press plates used in laminating wood based panels have progressed in tandem with the latest techniques for creating realistic depictions of surface textures. By Goh Tz’en Long 34 FDM ASIA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
Progressive development
of s s e Pr Plates