composites products
manufacturing |
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Our Composites Products Research Program offers members access to
a multidisciplinary team, full pilot plant and product testing facilities for wood composites products and engineered wood products. The major
product lines covered are softwood and hardwood veneer, plywood,
laminated veneer lumber (LVL), oriented strand board (OSB), particleboard
and medium density fibreboard (MDF).
The underlying goal of our research is to reduce manufacturing
costs, through increased efficiency and maximum use of fibre resources,
while maintaining and improving product quality and consistency.
This is accomplished by creating or adapting new processing technology
and customising it to meet individual member’s manufacturing capabilities
and optimisation criteria.
FPInnovations has a very effective research alliance with the Alberta
Research Council (ARC). The Forintek-ARC Consortium is the largest
and best-equipped wood composites research group in North America.
Together we have pilot plant facilities for OSB, MDF, plywood and
laminated veneer lumber (LVL) manufacturing, allowing companies
to mimic their own operation, explore new processes or test new
products without interrupting production.
The Consortium's R&D program covers all aspects of wood composites
manufacturing, from the fibre to the end product, including suitability
and variability of the wood resource, log yard management and wood
preparation, manufacturing technology, process modelling and simulation,
resins performance and application, as well as environmental aspects,
quality control, new products and market analyses.
For our members, the
2008-2009 Composites Products Program Summary and a description of its current
research projects
are available. A list of relevant publications is offered within
our sections Newsletter
(Publications Update) and Technotes.
Of special interest is the Technology
Road Map for Composites Products completed in 1999. This document
presents the current technologies as well as those which need to
be developed, in the short and medium terms, to maintain the industry's
competitiveness.
Our members may also be interested
in the following key innovations that have emerged over the years
from our Composites Products research.
- OSB
Processing - software to evaluate the effects of pressing
parameters on OSB properties.
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Alignment - software to describe the relationships
between the forming machine parameters and resulting strand alignment.
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Thickness Swell - software to estimate the expected
thickness swell values in OSB.
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Flaking - software to describe the relationships between
flaking parameters and strand quality.
- Logcon
- software to simulate log conditioning prior to OSB stranding
or veneer peeling.
- VPeel
- software to optimise lathe settings for both hardwood and
softwood veneer production.
- VYield
- software to simulate the effect of log parameters on veneer
recovery.
- VGrader
- software to link wood and veneer characteristics to final LVL
or plywood properties.
- MatForm
- software to evaluate density variation and strength properties
of OSB panels.
- MatPress
- software to analyse heat and mass transfer, mat compaction and
adhesive curing behaviour during the OSB hot-pressing process.
- GluScan
- software to measure adhesive resin distribution on OSB furnish.
-
Steam Press - a method of hot pressing.
- Incising
Nose Bar - a technology applicable to plywood and laminated
veneer lumber (LVL) mills.
- Wood
Adhesive, MDF and Particleboard Training Materials
Throughout the year, our Composites specialists organize and participate
in various technology transfer activities, with a clear focus towards
our members. For specific needs, we also offer contract
services with strict confidentiality guidelines.
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