Plywood Production Line Process

The process of making plywood, from log to final product, has a notable influence on the environment, economy, and society. Plywood, a commonly used building material, is produced by bonding thin layers of wood veneers known as "plies" with adhesives to create a sturdy and durable panel. It is made up of thin layers of wood and is commonly referred to as a sheet. Core pertains to those thin wood layers. These cores are joined and stacked in different orientations to form plywood.

We can offer customers the right solution and comprehensive information on the plywood production process thanks to our two decades of experience with woodworking equipment.

Plywood Is Of Two Kinds:

Hardwood

Softwood

Hardwoods that belong to deciduous species, like larch, maple, oak, cherry, and poplar, are frequently utilized in the production of plywood. Usually, the interior design of houses uses this hardwood plywood.

Softwood is likewise a member of the coniferous family. Plywood is made from softwoods such as pines and firs. Multiple layers of dried softwood veneer are bonded together with a resin to form softwood plywood.

The Plywood Manufacturing Process:

Log Selection and Preparation

Veneer Peeling

Veneer Drying

Veneer Grading and Patching

Gluing

Layup and Pressing

Trimming and Sanding

Finishing

From Log to Finished Product: Step by Step

Plywood is a type of wood panel made from layers of veneer bonded together with resin. To sum up the production process;

Step 1: Sourcing From the Forest

It is essential to ensure that all raw logs for plywood come from legal and sustainable forest concessions. Once trees are mature enough, skilled harvesters cut them down. Vehicles can be utilized to choose and cut down trees with the help of satellite images, depending on how the mill is operating.

Step 2: Selection of a Block

The next stage of the procedure is selecting logs, which entails classifying and sorting locks according to species, physical attributes, and quality. Producing veneer from species with desired physical and visual properties is the primary objective.

Step 3: Debarking

Rubber-tired loaders collect logs from the log decks when required and transfer them onto a chain conveyor that takes them to the debarking equipment. As the wood rotates around its long axis, this machine utilizes high-pressure water jets or sharp-toothed grinding wheels to strip off the bark.

A big circular saw that can cut logs into sheets of a certain length slices the bark-removed logs into pieces after they are transported to the mill on a chain conveyor.

Step 4: Logs Cutting

Once logs have had their bark removed, measure them and mark the length for cutting to the standard size. The process of cutting logs for plywood manufacturing demands equipment, skilled labor, and meticulous attention to detail to guarantee the quality and consistency of the final product.

Step 5: Peeling of the Logs

The next step is peeling. During the debarking process, the log leaves marks that are removed by a large rotary lathe. The log spins on the machine next to a long blade cutter, which cuts similarly to how a pencil is sharpened except that the blade is parallel to the log.

Step 6: Transforming into a Continuous Ribbon of wood

The wood is cut to a conventional 4′ x 8′ square in this instance. Plywood can be made in thicknesses ranging from 1/4′′ to 3¼”, but the final thickness is decided upon after the sheets are bonded and compressed together. The sheets are immediately scanned as soon as they emerge from the peeler. It is stacked for transportation to drying ovens after being scanned.

Step 7: Glue Application

The following action involves adhering the veneer sheets together. This is carried out in order to establish the required thickness of the plywood panels. Synthetic plastics like phenol-formaldehyde or urea resins are frequently utilized as adhesive in the production of plywood. The slender wood panels pass through the adhesive machine. While the sheet moves through, the adhesive is evenly distributed on both sides of the veneer. The unglued veneer is first overlaid with the glued veneer, and then another layer of glued veneer is added on top.

Step 8: Pressing of Wood

A heated press is utilized in the production of plywood, alternating between glued and un-glued sheets to achieve the desired thickness. One type of press that does this is a hydraulic or pneumatic press that puts pressure and occasionally heat on the layers. Once heated, the adhesive rapidly dries and solidifies as the veneers are pushed together. Once the pressure is no longer present, it is considered to be dry.

Step 9: Trimming, Sanding and Finishing

The board is pressed with heat, stabilized, and then cooled before undergoing further processing. After trimming off any extra veneer, the boards are typically sanded using a big industrial sander to make sure the edges are square. Dents and other flaws caused by handling, including those from woodworking machines, are eliminated as part of the Plywood Manufacturing Process: From Log to Finished Product.

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The specific steps involved in production may vary depending on factors such as the type of plywood being manufactured, the machinery used, and the unique needs of the manufacturer. Contact Miranda to learn more!