Production of laminated veneer lumber - the path to success

28-03-2018

Building

This area has become a real bestseller in its segment. So, for example, the production of glued laminated timber in the Nizhny Novgorod region is among the top ten industrial sectors of this region.

In this regard, we decided to tell you about this production segment.

This persistent and aesthetic material has become a real hit recently.

A bit of history

We can say that the first ancestor of glued timber is a bow of Japanese samurai. In the second half of the twelfth century, gunsmiths of the land of the rising sun began to make bows by gluing bamboo and wood. As a result, they were more durable and elastic.

A kind father of this material is the architect Philibert Delorm. Back in 1548, he adopted the method of Japanese samurai for the manufacture of arched parts of the facade. This technology was also used in our country, in particular, the masters of wooden architecture.

At the end of the nineteenth century, Otto Hetzer perfected this technique by applying casein glue and giving curvature to the products. We can say that it was he who developed the equipment for the production of glued laminated timber, because before that it was made using the “artisanal” method. Today this material is used in all areas of construction, as well as to create furniture.

Production technology

Here such various forms can be at a glued bar

Now it is time to get acquainted with how the line of glued laminated timber looks. Consider this process in stages.

Wood preparation

First you should harvest wood. It is best to stock up blanks in the central part of our country, for example, in the Vladimir region. This is due to the fact that in these regions a more fertile soil and, as a result, the tree turns out to be of better quality.
Having gathered the required number of logs, they cut the debarked wood into flat boards.
After that, the lamellae are selected for quality and size. This operation should be entrusted to a specialist who does not miss a marriage.
Next, the selected blanks are dried in special temperature chambers. They must have a suitable degree of humidity (it can vary from 9 to 12%). Choose this indicator depending on the glue used and the type of future timber.

Here you can see the workshop for the production of glued laminated timber, located in the Kirov region

Tip: Properly selected drying mode prevents wood drying.

Lamella processing

When the slats are dry, they need to be trimmed. After this step, you need to sort by strength. At the same time, it is necessary to label and remove large knots and slopes.
Next, on the ends milled gear profile. Then blanks of the same length are glued together.
After that, the lamellas end up to a certain length and a layer of glue is applied on their surface. It should be no more than 1% by weight of the product.
Then the lamellae are packed in packages (of course, after sorting by sectional area) and pressed. The pressure in the press should be about 10 kg / cm2.

Note! If this indicator is less, the required strength will not be achieved, and if it is more, then the workpieces may be damaged.

This photo shows the packaging of slats in packages.

When the adhesive composition is completely hardened, the log product is planed and profiled. At the same time it is necessary that every detail be carefully inspected and marked.
Finished products are packed in a dense plastic film (to prevent moisture ingress) and sent for sale. The form of this material allows transportation by small vehicles.

The main features of the material

Adhesive compositions

Of course, the main characteristic of the above material is the glue with which it was created.

To date, there are several types of adhesive compositions:

Resorcinol. Thanks to them, it became possible to manufacture baths from laminated veneer lumber. This is due to the fact that they are perfectly resist high humidity.
Melamine. They have a transparent seam, which gives aesthetics to finished products. They are the most popular solution in Europe and our country.

In this diagram, you can see the entire production process.

EPI glues are similar in their characteristics to the previous variety. Their main advantage is high ecological purity. Currently, they are used for low-rise construction and the production of various decorative items.
Polyurethane compounds harden very quickly, which allows to increase the efficiency of the production line. In addition, they can be used to glue wood with high humidity.

You should also familiarize yourself with the main characteristics of the adhesive:

Water resistance (denoted by the letter D). D3 - carpentry, D4 - waterproof for outdoor use, D4 + - highly water resistant for outdoor use.

Tip: BASF, Akzo Nobel, Klebchemie and Dynea are the best glue manufacturers today.

Ecological safety (Е1-Е3). The higher the number, the safer the material.

Benefits

Now it's time to talk about the main advantages of this product.

If you decide to open your own production, then you should know them:

To increase the efficiency of the enterprise, it is recommended to arm yourself with powerful lifts that will deliver the blanks to the right place.

Eliminates the need for laying a heavy foundation for a house out of a bar. This is due to its low weight. As a result, the cost of construction as a whole is significantly reduced.
Shrinkage of a building built of laminated veneer lumber is 1-2%. According to this indicator, he is among the leaders. This is especially important for people who for the first time have ventured to build a house with their own hands, because it is rather difficult to observe all the canons of this craft the first time.
This material does not crack during the operation period. In addition, it does not need additional finishing, which significantly reduces costs. Therefore, it is beneficial for consumers to purchase such material.
Successfully resists various external stimuli, such as fungus, bacteria, insects, etc. This property is achieved due to the fact that the boards are dried before use.
Also, it should be noted, and such qualities as excellent heat and moisture insulation. In addition, in the event of a fire, beams of this material will retain their strength for a very long time, which prevents rapid collapse of structures. As a rule, it is often because of this that victims are obtained.

Aesthetics, of course, the trump card of this material

These are far from the only advantages of this material. In the end it should be noted the excellent aesthetic qualities of laminated veneer lumber. The houses of it have a magnificent appearance that can attract the envious glances of passersby.

GOST system

If you decide to open a plant for the production of laminated veneer lumber, then you need to know about all government standards that are designed for the industry.

8486: on the use of coniferous wood.
21779: determines the maximum discrepancies of the final dimensions of the beam.
19414: characterizes toothed joints in the production of timber.
8486: determines the quality of the source material.
17005: limits the water resistance of adhesives.
14192.1: defines transport marking.

Conclusion

Our story came to its logical conclusion. However, if you still do not understand these or other nuances, then you should not be upset. (See also the article Types of timber for building a house: the nuances of choice) In the presented video in this article you will find additional information on this topic, which will make it easy to understand them.