At the forefront of testing and manufacturing new, innovative, and sustainable forest products to revitalize and diversify Maine’s forest-based economy.
Strand Pilot Line
In order to attract and support fiberboard industries in the region, the establishment of a regional pilot-scale R&D facility is essential. The Strand Pilot Line helps to facilitate moving lab-scale research to a full-scale production plant faster and with less risk. In addition, a near industrial pilot plant helps develop products and processes for a production scale plant. Most pilot plants are multi-purpose and can minimize costly downtime of a mill’s manufacturing line.
The UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center Wood Composites Pilot Line allows for production of oriented strand board (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), particleboard, Wood Fiber Insulation, and other cellulosic composites on a near-industrial scale.
CAPABILITIES
Log Delivery – Tree length or pre-cut logs with a maximum diameter of 12″
Conditioning
Stranding
Screening
Drying
Resin Blending
Pressing
EQUIPMENT
CONDITIONING
Log Soak Tank
Ten 5′ x 12″ diameter logs can be soaked and/or heated at a time to 150°F
STRANDING
Carmanah 12/48 Lab Strander
Converts logs into strands from 3″ to 12″ in length for OSB/LSL production.
48″ ring holds two knives that protrude into the inner face of the ring. Strands are produced by advancing the log through the rotating ring at a specified rate. Projection of the knives in combination with ring speed determines the flake thickness, and width is achieved by selection of the appropriate counter knife angle, and strand length through the use of scoring knives.
SCREENING
Acrowood Trillium & Diamond Roll combination screen
Screens strands into three size classifications (overs, intermediates and fines)
Trillium screen designed to strand green strands (as well as dried)
DRYING
Koch Bros. in-line conveyor forced-air dryer
3″ wide × 10′ long
Additional 4 or infeed and outfeed
Capable of evaporating up to 250 lbs. of water per hour
Maximum temperature of 325˚F
Fan capacity of 7,500 cfm
Used primarily to dry green strands down to ~10% +/- 5% in minutes
Nyle dehumidification drykiln
5,000 board foot dry kiln
Brings strands to within +/- 1% of the target moisture content within 24 hours
RESIN BLENDING
Large Coil Resin Blender
5′ x 10 spinning disk atomizing resin blender
Rotation up to 20 rpm
Spinning disk atomizer up to 15,000 rpm
Capacity of 120 lbs of (dry) strands
The resins, normally pMDI or PF, and waxes are sent by peristaltic pump.
Wax emulsions introduced via Spraying Systems air atomizer.
Small Coil Resin Blender
3′ x 6′ spinning disk atomizing resin blender
Rotation up to 20 rpm
Spinning disk atomizer rotates up to 15,000 rpm
Capacity of 30lbs of (dry) strands
The resins, normally pMDI or PF, and waxes are sent by peristaltic pump.
Wax emulsions introduced via Spraying Systems air atomizer
PRESSING
Dieffenbacher hot oil and/or steam injection press
450 tons
34″ x 34″ (typ. trimmed to 30″ x 30″ after pressing)
PressMan control system
Mats can be pressed with oil heated platens up to 450°F or Steam injection up to ~50 psi steam pressure, which allows for the pressing of thick strand composites
4′ X 8′ ERIE MILL & PRESS
1800 ton hydraulic press
Provides 725 psi on a full-sized 52″x100″ mat (top. trimmed after pressing to 4’x8′)
PLC controlled, with complete data collection and reporting
Press can be controlled in either position (to within 0.003″) or pressure control within 2 psi
Energy is provided by hot oil heated platens up to 500˚F
CONDITIONING & TESTING
Board may be conditioned prior to testing in a walk-in environmental chamber.
Advanced Structures & Composites Center
