need our technical
expertise? |
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what our composites products specialists
can do for you...
FPInnovations can provide you with technical support
in all aspects of wood composites manufacturing, from the
fibre, through the mill, to the end product Our team can address
your specific needs related to suitability and variability of your
wood supply, log yard management and wood preparation, manufacturing
technology, process optimisation, modelling and simulation, resins
performance and application, as well as environmental aspects, quality
control, new products and markets analyses. These services build
upon knowledge gained through our Composites
Products Research Program.
Our own expertise in composites products is further enhanced by
a very effective partnership with the
Alberta Research Council (ARC), thus creating a highly responsive
and nationally integrated team to meet industry needs. Together,
the FPInnovations-ARC Consortium is the largest and best-equipped wood
composites research group in North America, with modern pilot plants
and product testing facilities.
FPInnovations services
- Analysis and optimisation of manufacturing operations:
pressing, resin application, curing, wood quality, blending, process
emissions
- Development of new technologies
- MDF/HDF Pilot Plant
- Product testing
- Strength properties: MOR, MOE, IB, fastener holding, surface
hardness, impact resistance
- Dimensional stability: water soak (standard and accelerated)
- Machinability: panel surface/edge, roughness
- Durability
- Adhesives
- Density profile
- Moisture content
- Support in developing new composite products
- Resin development, analysis and evaluation
- Certification program
for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde emissions
- Evaluation and optimisation of VOC emissions from composite
panels
- Assessment of environmental impact of new technologies
and products
- Development of test methods for a variety of specialised
tasks
- Training for staff
state-of-the-art equipment
To achieve its research objectives and provide technical support,
including on a fee-for-service basis, the FPInnovations-ARC Consortium
has key pilot plant facilities for OSB, MDF, plywood and laminated
veneer lumber (LVL) manufacturing. This allows companies to replicate
their own operation, explore new processes or test new products
without interrupting production. FPInnovations also has various testing
equipments for composites products.
expertise through strategic tools
Over the years, our Composites Products Manufacturing specialists
have developed key technologies, particularly software packages,
to support members in gaining competitive advantage. These tools
are available only to our members.
- DRYLOG - computer
model for log drying during storage
- OSB
Processing - evaluates the effects of pressing parameters
on OSB properties.
-
Alignment - describes the relationships between the
forming machine parameters and resulting strand alignment.
-
Thickness Swell - estimates the expected thickness
swell values in OSB.
-
Flaking - describes the relationships between flaking
parameters and strand quality.
- Logcon
- simulates log conditioning prior to OSB stranding or veneer
peeling.
- VPeel
- optimises lathe settings for both hardwood and softwood
veneer production.
- VYield
- simulates the effect of log parameters on veneer recovery.
- VGrader
- links wood and veneer characteristics to final LVL or plywood
properties.
- MatForm
- evaluates density variation and strength properties of OSB panels.
- MatPress
- analyses heat and mass transfer, mat compaction and adhesive
curing behaviour during the OSB hot-pressing process.
- GluScan
- measures 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.
For more information about our Technical Services, or to order
one of our software packages (members only),
contact us via the Service Request
Form. Our members can also
get in touch directly with our staff, by Speciality.
You may also be interested in learning more about our Publications
related to our
Composites Products research.
26/07/10
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