Weinig's width optimization offers improved yield.
More than 70 companies from 15 countries were briefed about innovative solid wood processing system technology and current trends during Weinig’s Solid Wood Days. The event was held at the Ohnemus Co., in Kappel-Grafenhausen, Germany.
Ohnemus has developed from a hardwood sawmill and trading company to become a manufacturer of high-quality sorted solid wood panels. The company has secured sustained competitiveness through adaptation to the market. With its refinement of cut pieces, Ohnemus was able to develop a customer base for staircases, furniture and interior fittings.
The concept of the Solid Wood Days combined an insight into running production at one of Weinig's partners with a comprehensive section for presentations. The focus was on increasing added value. Optimisation of cutting to size of widths and lengths, wood optimisation through the introduction of scanners, wood saved using planing machines and intelligent gluing systems were the main topics. Information on Weinig's fingerjointing systems was also included.
Weinig and Ohnemus collaborated on a state-of the-art linked solution from cutting to size through to the finished solid wood panel.
Optimized cutting to size of widths and lengths
Weinig's event in Germany drew representatives from 70 companies.
At the start of the process there is a Maxicut 800 pre-cut saw, which removes major defects such as warps and splits in the cut wood. The operator can then turn the boards and inspect the underside with an automatic turning station before measuring the width. Using a laser controller with a joystick the operator can then measure the unfinished board either by marking the whole width of the board or marking various quality zones along the surface of the board. The division of board width and quality zones into the corresponding cutting widths is then done automatically by the TimberMax width optimisation system. Based on the cutlist and optimization parameters (timber yield, achievable prices, required numbers), it calculates the optimum division of the board for each rough board measured.
The rough board is divided by the ProfiRip KR 450 M multiplied buzz saw. The laminate pieces and waste are separated from the oddments via a discharge belt conveyor downstream from the ProfiRip. These returns are fed back into the machine before the width measuring stage, measured again and cut into widths.
The wood then travels through the chalk marking station to the optimizing cross-cut saw. The OptiCut 304 calculates the best division into lengths based on the best combination of the cutting list and optimisation parameters and cuts the lamellae to size.
High-tech panel production
From here the workpieces are processed using the new Weinig panel line and a hall specially extended and fitted with climate control. The whole process, from feeding in the boards cut to variable widths to the finished, sanded and stacked panel, runs nearly fully automatically with only two operators required. The first station is a Powermat 500 moulder with automatic pull-in, measurement of width, mobile spindle, automatic discharge for the various widths and transfer to the sorting station. The laminates are then sorted according to colour and application of images. The laminates are then collected automatically in the buffer before the ProfiPress T 3500 HF where they are glued automatically and pressed nearly free of offsets into panels. Very short pressing times are made by using high frequency technology. Since only the joints are heated, no stresses or warping are created in the wood, especially in hardwood in comparison to other gluing processes. After pressing the panels are fed individually into the grinder. The finished boards are then stacked on pallets using vacuum technology. For more information see www.weinig.com.