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Siempelkamp to supply two new MDF/HDF plants for Yekalon in China and Vanachai in Thailand

Siempelkamp to supply two new MDF/HDF plants for Chinese Yekalon-Jiufngyuan Panels, Inc. and Vanachai Group Public Limited in Thailand.

Yekalon, one of the leading suppliers of building and decoration materials ordered an 8th Generation 9’ x 33.8 m ContiRoll® press as the core of the line. The scope of supply will include a flash tube dryer by Büttner as well as a fiber screen made by Siempelkamp’s subsidiary CMC, Italy, the resin dosing system with Ecoresinator, and the compactor including a mat preheater.

The finishing equipment for the order includes a diagonal saw system, a cooling and stacking line as well as an automatic high-stack storage system. Siempelkamp’s process control technology Prod-IQ® will manage all production-related processes. Connected to an ERP system, Prod-IQ® also covers the areas of quality assurance, servicing, and maintenance.

The special feature of this plant is the equipment package for high-speed thin board production including a compactor which provides additional compression in front of the press. Material lumps and other impurities are destroyed by the compactor.

The Thai Vanachai Group, leading company in the Thai wood-based materials industry with a long-standing tradition in this sector, ordered a complete forming and press line for MDF/HDF with an 8’ x 25.5m ContiRoll® press of the 8th generation. The scope of supply for the finishing line includes a cooling and stacking line and an automatic storage system. As in the case with Yekalon, the production line is designed for high-quality thin board production. The objective is to manufacture boards with a thickness starting at 1.0 mm.

Both companies plan to produce an annual capacity of 250,000 cubic metres MDF/HDF after the startup of the new Siempelkamp lines. The installation start at Yekalon is scheduled for summer of 2017, at Vanachai for fall of 2017.

New Dieffenbacher CPS+ Press Produces First Board

Only 17 months after Dieffenbacher unveiled the new continuous CPS+ press at Ligna 2015, the first plant with a CPS+ press has been successfully put into operation. After a seven-month assembly period, the first board was produced according to plan on October 1, 2016 at Kronospan’s new particleboard plant in Bjelovar, Croatia

“The process of commissioning the first CPS+ was absolutely seamless,” said Bernd Bielfeldt, Dieffenbacher Head of the Wood Business Unit. Only two weeks after first board production, Koronospan increased production to three shifts, citing the reliability of its CPS+ press. Kronospan has also said it is extremely satisfied with the project, adding that the joint approach to project processing has proven to be reliable. It was not apparent either in the planning phase or installation phase that this was the first project involving a CPS+.

Dieffenbacher began development of the new generation of presses in 2014. One ambitious goal was to improve the thickness tolerances of manufactured boards. Due to the modular frame with its new arrangement of press cylinders, the CPS+ ensures perfectly even distribution of pressure when pressing the board. For Dieffenbacher customers, this provides  consistently high product quality and low raw material consumption.

“We are confident that Kronospan and other customers will benefit from the advanced CPS+ technology,” explained Bielfeldt. For example, new thermoactive roll plates ensure that the mats can be heated at an earlier stage. The CPS+ Press also offers improved accessibility for servicing. Its clear distinction between the supply side and the maintenance side enables faster and more convenient press maintenance.

The CPS+ has all the advantages of the original CPS model, proven over decades of service. These advantages include the variable double joint press infeed, thermal expansion of the frames—which allow product changeover on the fly without interruptions—and the Parallel Press Gap System (PPS), which stops the mat “breathing out” between the cylinder banks.

Two CPS+ project commissions in Thailand will take place in the first half of 2017. Dieffenbacher has sold eleven plants featuring the new CPS+ press.

Second Dieffenbacher plant for S.P.B. in Thailand

S.P.B. Panel Industries Co. Ltd. broke into the wood-based panels market in 2006 with the commissioning of a Dieffenbacher particle board plant.

Now, a new THDF/MDF plant will be installed on the same site in Surat Thani, Thailand. Based on its excellent experience with the first project, S.P.B. has selected Dieffenbacher once again. A 28-meter-long CPS+ press will form the center of the plant. With a press speed of 1,800 mm per second and a capacity of 800 cubic meters per day, the plant will produce both extra-thin THDF panels—with thicknesses from 1.5 mm—and MDF panels with thicknesses of up to 32 mm. According to Bernd Bielfeldt, Manager of the Wood Business Unit at Dieffenbacher, the contract confirms the success of the new generation of presses.

“The S.P.B. plant is already the ninth project to feature the new continuous CPS+ press,” he said. Other special features of the project include the Z-sifter, which can reliably take out the latex part of the rubber plant wood that is predominantly used in Thailand, and the PROjet gluing system, which saves up to 15% of the glue compared to conventional gluing systems. In addition, the Dieffensor, combined with the cross profiler in the forming station, ensures exact forming, thereby minimizing the use of raw materials.

The S.P.B. plant contract also includes the drum chipper, dryer, raw board handling, pneumatic transports and the automation of the whole production system. In awarding the contract S.P.B. expressed its satisfaction with the local service provided by Dieffenbacher Asia Pacific in Kuala Lumpur. “Over the last 10 years with our particle board plant, we have experienced the speed and reliability of support in southeast Asia. This was a key factor in our decision to invest in this plant once more,” said S.P.B.’s Managing Director Sontaya Sirianuntaphat.

UPM Otepää plywood mill rises to world class

The expansion of UPM Otepää plywood mill, started in the spring of 2015 along with the building of the new bio boiler plant, has been completed and will be inaugurated today. The expansion increases the mill’s production capacity to 90,000 cubic meters per year. The new bio boiler plant, in turn, enhances the mill’s material efficiency and reduces fossil carbon dioxide emissions by 85%. The investments total to approximately EUR 40 million.

“The investments now completed, take Otepää mill to the world-class of plywood mills. Consequent to the increased production capacity, the mill will be able to better respond to the growing demand for highquality plywood products in our key customer industries in construction, transport equipment industry and LNG shipbuilding, “says Mika Sillanpää, Executive Vice President of UPM Plywood. During the expansion, the mill was installed with the latest technology veneer peeling line and drying line, added veneer jointing and composing capacity and the new gluing and pressing lines. In addition, log sorting and soaking capacity was increased to meet growing production volumes. The new 18 MW bio boiler plant produces all of the mill’s thermal energy using the production byproducts as fuel. Therefore, all of Otepää mill’s wood raw material is used either in plywood production, as raw material to other products or in energy production.

Founded in 2000, Otepää mill is the largest plywood mill in Estonia. It manufactures uncoated and coated birch plywood mainly for construction, vehicle floors and LNG carriers. 95% of the plant’s production is exported, mainly to Central Europe. Along with the completion of the expansion, Otepää plywood mill’s personnel has grown by about forty to 240 people. The mill is one of the biggest industrial employers in the Valgamaa County in Estonia.

LOGLIFT and JONSERED forestry cranes on camera

Hiab, part of Cargotec, has opened the order books for the camera-based HiVisionTM control system for LOGLIFT and JONSERED forestry cranes.  HiVisionTM, which moves crane operation to the truck cabin, was first showcased in the Bauma exhibition in April 2016 and it has been demonstrated in several locations in Europe and Japan. Orders for the HiVisionTM system have started in October and the first customer deliveries will be in January 2017…

The HiVisionTM concept is unique in the industry. It has four cameras on top of the forestry crane that enable a realistic 270-degree view for the operator. This enables the crane operator to see the working area and operate the crane from the truck cabin using virtual reality goggles.

“In the Bauma exhibition, HiVisionTM was already tested by 3,000 visitors. Since then, customers have shown a growing interest towards this new technology. During the past two months we have run several HiVisionTM tours where more than 1,000 customers have had the opportunity to test the crane in real conditions. We have received excellent feedback and there’s been a lot of expectation of opening sales to the market. It’s easy to see the advantages for the crane operators in terms of safety and comfort,” says Jon Lopez, Vice President, Forestry Cranes at Hiab.

In June, HiVisionTM was awarded the KWF-Vision award in connection to the KWF exhibition in Rodin, Germany. According to the jury, “the novel camera-based 3D technologies provide important steps for improved functionality, ergonomics and safety, pioneering new ideas in crane control in the forest.”

Jon Lopez says: “The KWF award is considered as the ‘Oscar Prize’ in forestry business and we were very proud to receive it. This year, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of LOGLIFT forestry cranes and this prize together with the success of HiVisionTM crowns the jubilee year. We were the first in the industry to bring the cabin to the forestry crane and now we are introducing the groundbreaking innovation in the development of crane operation,” Lopez concludes.

Hiab will presented HiVisionTM as a simulator at the Pollutec exhibition in Lyon, France from 29 November to 2 December.

 

More power and torque with John Deere’s G-Series mid-size forwarders

The rollout of John Deere’s G-series forest machines continues with the mid-size 1110G, 1210G and 1510G forwarders. All the models have the new 6.8L John Deere 6068 PowerTech Plus engine meeting the latest Stage 4/Final Tier 4 emissions regulations. The powerful engine offers more output and torque, and the even better coupling with the power train results in a significant improvement in tractive force…

The control system and user interface on the G-Series forwarders have been further developed and improved to maintain operational reliability. The TimberMatic F-16 control system features a configurable user interface, cruise control and inclination display. The new software version enables service personnel remote access to the machine. New control modules, simple CAN busses and a streamlined electrical system improve the efficiency of machine functions. Performance and precision provide a combination of balance and strength never before seen in forwarders.

The optional Intelligent Boom Control for the machines rolling out now makes load-handling more efficient and increases productivity by as much as one load per day. In the new 2.0 version of IBC, the precision of the grapple control has been improved, especially in long reaches.

The John Deere 1110G is a general machine-class forwarder with an engine that has 6.6% more power and 4.1% more torque than the previous model. The 1110G is also available with a short wheelbase. The shorter wheelbase has been achieved by moving the rear axle forward by 40 cm and thereby allowing the load space to remain unchanged. The machine’s stability remains good and its agility improves, which is beneficial particularly in thinnings.

The John Deere 1210G forwarder engine has 7.6% more power and 7.8% more torque. There are several load space alternatives with different widths for different uses. Variable Load Space (VLS) consists of three special bunks with telescopic stakes that can be extended hydraulically.
The headboard moves both horizontally and vertically and extends with the load stakes. The area of the VLS is 4.0-4.8 m2.

The John Deere 1510G forwarder’s new engine increases the machine’s power by 5.1% and the torque by as much as 8.7%. The added power and tractive force increase the machine’s productivity correspondingly. The 1510G is also more agile than the previous model because the slewing angle has increased from 42 to 44 degrees.

Long bogie for soft terrain

The John Deere 1210G and 1510G forwarders are also available in a long bogie version. The distance between the front and rear wheel hubs in the rear bogie has been increased to 1890 mm, i.e. 390 mm longer than in the standard model. The power train and turning radius are the same
as with the standard HD portal bogie-equipped machine. The low ground pressure of the machine’s front and rear chassis make the machine an excellent choice for logging in soft terrain. The long bogie functions well also on normal terrain and brings stability when navigating over obstacles
in rocky terrain

Operational reliability and cost management with ForestSight service solutions 

The JDLink remote control system and ForestSight service solutions help to keep uptime high for John Deere’s forest machines. Services customized for each machine help customers to save in servicing and maintenance costs and make it easy to monitor the machine’s key data on a mobile device or at the office. The machine’s uptime remains high when changes in productivity are shown early on and can be addressed quickly.

Excellent quality and operational reliability are visible in our new machine models. We test our new models for at least 2,000 hours before starting serial production. Our machines are also known for the unique rotating and levelling cabin that improves the operator’s working conditions. It offers significant improvement both in the machine’s productivity and in operator comfort by reducing vibration by as much as 30-50% during operation.

John Deere introduced the first G-Series forest machine models in autumn 2015. The big 1270G and 1470G harvester models and the 1910G forwarders have been extremely well received by our customers. When investing in a John Deere forest machine, the contractor gets a comprehensive solution for logging. John Deere’s G-Series is more than a machine.

880D Logger debuts at DEMO 2016

The 880D supersedes the highly successful Tigercat 880 — a heavy duty, purpose-built forestry carrier that can be configured for loading, shovel logging or processing…

The 880 stands out against converted excavators with higher horsepower, more robust construction and superior productivity.

The first Tigercat 880D logger was a part of Tigercat’s live demonstration at DEMO 2016. The D-series has been upgraded to the Tigercat FPT N67 engine outputting 230 kW (308 hp) at 2,000 rpm. The engine is available in Tier 2 and Tier 4f configurations. Both deliver excellent fuel economy in a simple and reliable package.

The swing bearing diameter has increased from 1 370 mm (54 in) to 1 565 mm (62 in). The larger bearing provides increased capacity and swing torque. The twin swing drive system reduces gear tooth loads. A massive single-piece, forged pedestal strengthens the undercarriage and improves durability.

The 880D logger now shares the modular main hydraulic valve with all other Tigercat 800 series carriers for improved parts commonality. With the ability to easily swap out a valve section, the modular design simplifies maintenance.

Another advantage of the 880D logger over competing excavator-based carriers is Tigercat’s forest duty undercarriage. Long frames and a wide stance carbody provide excellent stability. Track components are co-designed with Berco to provide maximum durability in forestry applications.

The 880D has plenty of cooling capacity with an automatic variable speed fan for improved fuel efficiency and an automatic reversing cycle to clean the heat exchangers. Another fuel saving feature is the energy recovery swing system. A closed loop drive feeds power back to the engine when swing decelerates, reducing fuel consumption and recovering energy for other machine functions.

Service access is outstanding with the power operated side engine door and overhead roof enclosure. Shields separate the engine from the hydraulic pumps and valves. The entire upper assembly is designed for extreme duty. Heavy wall side bumpers and a solid cast counterweight protect the upper assembly from impacts when swinging.

The 880D provides an ideal work environment. Convenient walk-up access to the rear entry door leads to a generous interior cab space. The cabin is quiet and comfortable with excellent visibility. The full-length front window and additional floor windows provide clear sightlines. The high output climate control system keeps the operator comfortable even in ambient temperature extremes. LED lighting provides higher output and improved reliability.

See more at: http://www.tigercat.com/880d-logger-debuts-demo-2016/#sthash.v1LgKnvk.dpuf

Mikko-Pitkänen

Voma and Westas Pihlava invest in Valutec timber kilns

Valutec has won contracts to supply timber kilns to two sawmills in western Finland with a distinguished heritage, namely Voma Oy and Westas Pihlava. The mills are investing in three batch kilns and one FB continuous kiln, with kiln commissioning planned for early 2017.

“Valutec is an experienced supplier. This investment will give us access to proven solutions combined with the latest technology,” says Pekka Luoma, owner and CEO of Luoman Puutote, which Voma Oy has been part of since 2014.

The mill is situated near Parkano, Finland and was operated under the previous owner as Marjolahden Saha until production at the mill ceased in 2008. Luoman, a company specializing in garden structures, has resumed operations at the mill. The company is now expanding its efforts by investing in three batch kilns, which are equipped with pressure frames and are designed to dry center cut pine in dimensions ranging from 32 to 50 millimeters. The total capacity is approximately 20,000 cubic meters per year.

“It’s also important to us that Valutec provide on-site service in Finland,” explains Pekka.

The second contract secured over the summer was with the Westas sawmill Pihlava, not far from Pori, about an hour’s drive from Parkano and Voma.

“Pihlava chose an FB continuous kiln with a capacity of about 55,000 cubic meters per year. Like with Voma, we aim to have the kiln up and running in January of next year,” says Mikko Pitkänen, General Manager at Valutec OY.

The contract with Westas also included Valutec’s Valmatics control system for ten of the sawmill’s existing kilns.  For about three years now, the sawmill and Raunio are part of the relatively young company Westas Group, which is owned by CEO Pekka Kopra and A. Ahlström Kiinteistöt Oy.

“Both Pihlava and Voma have a long history and we appreciate the chance contribute to their continued development. An investment in kiln equipment is always long-term, and is also a matter of constantly refining the way of working. Here in particular, Valmatics is a powerful tool,” explains Mikko Pitkänen.

For further information, please contact: Mikko Pitkänen, General Manager, Valutec OY Tel. +358 400 889 806 mikko.pitkanen@valutec.fi

Wood Mizer Log Splitter

Wood-Mizer introduces new line of Log Splitters

Wood-Mizer LLC, the world’s leading portable sawmill manufacturer, introduces three new log splitters to their diverse line of wood processing equipment. Manufactured in the USA, Wood-Mizer’s new log splitter line is designed for farm operations, small businesses, and commercial wood splitting companies.

Offering three portable, heavy-duty log splitter models, the Wood-Mizer FS300, FS350, and FS500 Log Splitters offer many unique features to the log and wood splitting market. Portability, bi-directional splitting, uniform firewood production, and an efficient and ergonomic operator location make Wood-Mizer Log Splitters a profitable investment for firewood producers. “Throughout our history, Wood-Mizer has been committed to providing the best quality equipment to process logs into marketable wood products,” said Wood-Mizer COO Darryl Floyd. “The introduction of our log splitting product line now offers firewood producers a safe and efficient product backed by the high-quality and service you expect from Wood-Mizer.”

FS300 Log Splitter

  • One-directional splitting
  • Honda gas 390cc engine
  • 29 ton splitting force
  • 22 GPM, 2-stage hydraulic pump
  • 1 full cord/hour production

FS350 Log Splitter

  • Bi-directional splitting
  • Honda gas 390cc engine
  • 29 ton splitting force
  • 22 GPM, 2-stage hydraulic pump
  • Up to 2 full cords/hour production

FS500 Log Splitter

  • Bi-directional splitting
  • Honda gas 630cc engine
  • 42 ton splitting force
  • 28 GPM, 2-stage hydraulic pump
  • Up to 3 full cords/hour production

The Wood-Mizer FS300, FS350, and FS500 Log Splitters are now available to order in North and South America. Visit www.woodmizer.com/logsplitters or call 800.553.0182 for more information.

About Wood-Mizer

Since 1982, Wood-Mizer has earned the reputation as the world’s largest manufacturer of portable band sawmills with tens of thousands of bandmills sold around the globe. Today, Wood-Mizer offers an extensive line of portable sawmills, industrial headrigs, resaws, edgers, kilns, log splitters, material handling equipment, bandsaw blades and blade maintenance equipment for woodworking hobbyists and forestry professionals all over the world. For nearly 35 years, Wood-Mizer has provided top quality wood processing equipment and exceptional customer service for people who want the freedom of sawing their own lumber for projects or production. For more information about Wood-Mizer, call 800.553.0182 or visit www.woodmizer.com

 

 

Joe Scan JS-25 X6B

JoeScan Introduces New JS-25 X6B Scan Head for Carriage Headrigs

JoeScan, Inc., one of the leading manufacturers of 3-D laser scan heads for sawmills, has released the newest scan head in its JS-25 X-Series, the JS-25 X6B. The JS-25 X6B is a high-performance, six-laser scanner, specifically designed for high-density, snapshot-scanning of logs on carriage headrigs.

Each JS-25 X6B scan head can be mounted end-to-end to scan any length of log on six-inch spacing. The JS-25 X6B was designed to make it easy for optimizers and sawmills to upgrade obsolete carriage scanning systems, often reusing the existing scan frame. “Because of our dedication to sawmills, we felt it was important to give sawmills a better option for upgrading obsolete carriage scanning hardware. The JS-25 X6B is an easy upgrade that provides higher scan rates, double the scan density, and is based on the sawmill-proven reliability of the JS-25 platform,” says Joey Nelson, the president and founder of JoeScan.

The JS-25 X6B requires only 24VDC and an Ethernet connection for operation. The scanner’s Ethernet interface allows the optimizer to communicate directly with the scanner without special hardware. “The JS-25 X6B’s built-in profile processing eliminates the need for large numbers of PCs to process the image data, resulting in a simpler, more reliable system,” explains Nelson.

JoeScan’s scan heads have been made for sawmills since the company introduced its first scanner in 2002. “JoeScan is committed to the sawmill industry,” says Nelson. “We stand behind our products to make sure our scanners are a good long-term investment for sawmills. That’s why every scanner model is backed by a 5-year warranty and a 10-year support life policy to protect against obsolescence,” concludes Nelson.

About JoeScan

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., JoeScan develops reliable, easy-to-use 3-D laser scanning technology that improves recovery in sawmills. For more information, call +1.360.993.0069, visit www.JoeScan.com or email sales@joescan.com.